SCS Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 I did a quick search, and sorry if this has been answered before, but what is the proper use of the big WHOA lever on the panel of my 2007 Granite crane truck? Does it operate the rear brakes, front, both? It sure seems to be a unique feature, I have had fun pointing it out to others, I just wish I knew what it does, when to use it, if at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedBullDog Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 It's a trolley brake lever. It allows for operation of the trailer brakes independently of the tractor service brakes. I use mine all the time to hold trailer when dumping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mackdaddy2030 Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 We call them "Johnny Bars" out here.My '12 has the stupid dummy setup where it won't hold when you pull it down. I'm in the process of figuring out a way to modify the setup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick harper Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 The hand control valve is suppose to be spring loaded and not used for parking. If it is tractor/trailer it is used to apply air to trailer brakes. If you have a straight truck it operates the service brakes on the drive axles. I had a customer pull his valve down and went inside our shop. When the drive came out the tractor/trailer was down below the hill, crashed into the fence and stopped in the lumber yard. The driver was quite embarrassed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCS Posted April 16, 2015 Author Share Posted April 16, 2015 I was installing a new radio in the dash the other day, and pulled the lever down while doing so. About 24 hrs later I noticed that the brake lights had been on that entire time. Not making the connection, I checked the foot brake pedal switch, the lights remained on..... finally I pulled the breaker for the stop lights, that worked! A few hours later putting the panel back together I finally figured out the deal:hand brake off, brake lights off, nothing like getting used to a new rig! I have used mine a couple times now when on a steep hill backing into a job site, to hold the rig while I engage the clutch, it's handier then using the parking air brake. Mine seems to pretty much stay where I put it, but I'd never trust it as a park brake, but if I ever have someone else drive the rig I better tell them what it's for, and NOT for. I like it, makes the rig even more unique. Thanks for the info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_martell Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 We call it "the spike". My old granite had one and it did nothing lol. I'd use it during pre trip to check the brake lights. It was also spring loaded to return to off. But my flashlight was heavy enough to hold it down. Quote Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MackTech Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 There's also a setup where you can have a "dual function hand control", which will allow the truck service brakes to work with the hand control and when the red button is pushed in it works for the trailer service brakes. Right now there are two different types that you can get from the factory. One that is momentary and one that can be locked "on". But by all means, it isn't to be used as a parking brake. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MackTech Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 There's also a setup where you can have a "dual function hand control", which will allow the truck service brakes to work with the hand control and when the red button is pushed in it works for the trailer service brakes. Right now there are two different types that you can get from the factory. One that is momentary and one that can be locked "on". But by all means, it isn't to be used as a parking brake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCS Posted April 18, 2015 Author Share Posted April 18, 2015 This one stays down when left there, and a few times I've used it coming up to a stop light, it's quite effective though hard to modulate as easily as the foot pedal. I don't plan on using it in normal driving, except for when I'm giving someone a ride and want to mess with their head a little! It's not something you see every day, point being. Am I correct in assuming it controls only the rear axle brakes? The other day I was doing a job at a grain mill and had all of the 110' main boom out plus the jib and it's stinger, and was working at a tip height of a bit over 160'! Never worked that high before, my previous crane could only go 130'. At that height I was hoisting 1500 to 2200 lb loads of roofing material. I really wanted to get a picture but was too busy, especially as I would have needed to get some distance away to get it all in the frame. the heavy dutyness of the Mack is useful simply as counterweight in this application, the heavier the better. My local competition in the crane biz have Sterling chassis equipped rigs, real plain jane outfits left outside between jobs. Mine is kept inside my radiant floor heated shop, just a different way of looking at how to take care of the equipment I guess. One guy does more work then me but has no rigging boxes or dunnage rack, I guess he just keeps his rigging in the bed and tries to find dunnage for the stabilizers on a job site, the rigging exposed to the sun as he parks it outside. He does more work but makes less money, getting all the cheapskate jobs, I do the less frequent but better paying crane jobs and the appearance of this rig is proving to be a real job getter for me, plus it's a hell of a lot of fun to drive around it! Signs going on this weekend. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MackTech Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 Yes it only operates the rear service brakes, if you have a brake application pressure gauge on your instrument cluster, it may help you gauge the amount to pull down to brake enough. You have a straight truck truck, correct? Or do you have a full trailer application? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCS Posted April 19, 2015 Author Share Posted April 19, 2015 Straight truck, no trailer. I am welding a lightweight receiver hitch on the rear bumper this weekend though. Actually I'll be welding the receiver sq. tube to some angle iron, and then I'll bolt the assembly to the stainless step bumper. I don't want to weld plain old carbon steel to that pretty stainless, bad enough drilling holes in it. This hitch will be for when I need to tow my Toyota Rav4 (light weight). So, no hitch weight to speak of, just push/ pull, and the bumper can easily handle that. The new backup camera is working out great, wish I would have had one on the last rig. It works at night also, it has built in LED lights and a sensor, plus a mike for sound, haven't played with those features yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCS Posted May 4, 2015 Author Share Posted May 4, 2015 Today I fired it up inside the crane shed, I just needed to move it back about 5 feet so I could start work on the end wall of the building. It's a few feet longer then my last rig, and though it fits I don't have room to walk behind and in front, so I am framing out 2' of the end wall, kind of a bump out. That will make all the difference in convenience while being not so big a mod to get the county building folks too excited, or involved. Anyway, the air pressure built up and I put it in reverse and no go. Long story short I messed with it for several minutes before I realized the frigging hand brake was on, as I had wrapped up the reverse camera wiring under the panel and had moved the brake lever earlier, not thinking! That hand brake is very effective....... A picture of a job last week, lifting a 3400 lb swimming pool 55' away and putting it 58' away the opposite direction, after going over the house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MackTech Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 Very nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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