j_martell

I hate to sound cocky....but this shits gravy!!!! Other than the paperwork (which is only tricky because it's new) this is easy....machine is simple to understand....just follow the hook up/setup procedure, and watch the the truck do the work.... And due to my years in a different area, I'm not so good at getting around, but that's will come.... More training with the same guy tomorrow, who has been really helpfully and understanding....and more than willing to answer any question. Oh yeah....he's been working there for OVER 30 YEARS.....the last 17 in the same truck, 1.7million km cat powered western star.....and even at 30 years, he's only #4 on the seniority list..... Boss man offered to let me go alone tomorrow, Vaughn (trainer) thinks I'm good, but I want one full day to work out the paper trail....boss man said that will work, as my rig is in the company owned full service shop being checked out, and will be ready Wednesday ish..... I hope it's a star....lol

Thanks Keith. Sitting here now waiting for the boss to get here.....

F**k yea!! If/when it's ready, let me know, I got 50$ says you can't get it stuck!! Lol

Outside....unless the bin had shit frozen to the floor, or a load of gravel, then box up slightly in the "heated" (few degrees above freezing) shop for the night. We would often load gravel a few day ahead and block the bin in the shop to "cook".....just so it could freeze again in transit.....one thing I'm not gonna miss....frozen loads

So, Friday (dec 05) was my last day.....kinda sad to have to clean out my truck after all this time.....Had a chat with the bossman when I handed in my phone etc.....said he knew why I was quitting, and wished me luck......told me I was a pleasure to work with and should **** hit the fan, "call me, I've got a spot for you here"......always nice to have a backup plan.... My buddy Nick is ******....lol.....now he's all by himself doing everything me and him used to split.....he bought a jetta so I was over there tonight checking it out.....next week hasn't even started and he's already behind.... Training starts Monday @ 0800....here we go

Same here....I'd like to see that...sounds neat, and overly complicated....you would need locator links to keep the cab on the frame.....

Good call....didnt think that through, *thumbs up*

2% of.fuel usage from what I know...

Are we talking front drive axles of a tandem, or the steer axle??

Cruise switch should work as an electronic hand throttle with the parking brakes set....just saying...but they will not set with the clutch "In" (switch open) or foot on the brakes (brake lights on)

agreed.....not pretty but neat none the less.....

Well done.....and i 100% agree...small and warm is better that outside this time of year.....wife asks all the time why I make space in the garage to work on the car.....it's not heated but it's still warmer than outside....If it's really cold, I'll get the kerosene heater out!

update: It did it again in the yard a few weeks ago. this time the boss said take it to the dealer after he and I farted around with it in the yard for about an hour. Mack had it a few days and finally got back to me saying they replaced some line (guy on the phone sits at a desk) and it was working fine. Got it back and same shit again, right off the hop. Took it back and said its not fixed....fix it again. tried it in their yard and low and behold it worked, still left it there and told them the boss authorized removing/replacing the PTO/pump. sure as shit, the shaft from the PTO to the pump was stripped....and would catch and work fine for a bit, then start slipping again. so 4 days, new pump, new PTO, new suction line, other driver goes to pick it up as i was away, tries it in their yard again, no go......shit hit the fan.....its now been over a week....i go back to get it on tuesday, and ask the mechanic i chat with what happened the last time, he says "the suction line ball valve was left closed from the pump replacement....." tried it in their yard, and all is good.....been good all week...and there's shiny new parts on my (until next friday) rig:)

I almost spit out my beer....

Looks good....

10-12psi @ idle? Or cruising rpm

" (Liebherr said the engine disintegrated at 965 horsepower)." I wanna see THAT test hahaha....

Ill try and dig up a pic.....old glow plug light.....in the granite its in the left hand light pod.....to the left of the co-pilot screen.....orange "two loop" squiggle

Arg, i hurt just thinking about getting my ass kicked riding around in that stubby rig......wonder if you jumped on the binders bobtail if it would nose-wheelie

No official handle, "white mack roll off", or "roof rock removal" is the way to get me now.....People I know that I see know my name, so that's easy enough.....finally bought my own radio.....well, buying my own radio, cobra 29...running a cobra 29 nightwatch now. In my jeepin days the black one had a cheap cobra (not sure the model, but it was small, no SWR meter, got it from summit racing for 100$), the red one had a uniden (model # unknown)when I bought it, only used em off roadin and appolgizing to trucks on the highway, the black one topped out @ 90KM/H and the red one tapped at 98KM/H....the things i did to not get stuck lol . Truck I'm in now has one, not sure if the new gig will, want to be covered. Don't use it much, but it's always on 19, saved me enough times to warrant buying one....If the new truck has one, then I guess it's going in the Jetta....

Likely the same (ish) as.my granite....turn the key to on and watch for the indicator light to go out, then crank....my little jetta is the same.....

Its fine....drive on.....thats why theres two axles, right? lol

It hurts to see mack at the wreckers....there was most of a dm at the scrap yard we deal with awhile back.....cab was pretty solid, lots of good usable parts.....sad really. Last time I was in there, he had just got three v-12 locomotive gen sets in....i wasted a good 20mins just looking them over.....i want a scrap yard..... Sorry, didn't mean to hijack......

Yep....Could been worse....but s***in on your rig....THAT'S the friggin line......ima start picking em off on purpose if that's the game!!

Agreed....more.often than not you get what they give...... Gonna try and talk my way into a Western star when I start my new gig in two weeks....because the alternative is a....*shudder*, V**vo.....ugh..... Have fun with it and be safe, Driver