RedBullDog

Good job getting back going! Really nice that dealer had the rad. in stock. Pretty rare these days it seems.

The local dealer has had almost every part I've wanted in stock, a couple of times I've ordered things next day.

I have been having a really slight water leak at the lower radiator hose that came and went for the last week. Many days it wouldn't leak at all, and others there was a real slow drip. I was going to deal with it over this weekend, but got to do it Friday on the road.

No drips early Friday morning, but on the way home with the first load, the engine shut down buzzer and code 17 went off. Pulled off and put in a gallon of coolant and made it to town. No sign of a drip after I dumped, and coolant still at the top, so off I go again.

No problems on the second round. But on the last trip to the quarry, the buzzer lights up again. I got out with a jug but saw a river of green running by. Under the truck, the lower hose was hanging down from the radiator with the plastic lower bung or whatever still in the hose. I freaked out for a second then pulled the truck into a church parking area. I called the wife and screamed the situation to her, then called Enid Mack to see about finding a radiator for it, they said they had one in stock. I was surprised and relieved figuring I would have to try to find it in Tulsa. I had my wife drive it over to me, while I got the old one ready to come out. About an hour and a half after she got there with the new one, it was in and operational. Main lesson learned: carry more tools. All the tools I had with me fit in a plastic toolbox the size of a tennis shoe box, but every time I looked in that box I found something that would work. I think the big "Shop Foreman" helped out a lot.

$110 per hour is the shop rate at my local Mack dealer. The local independents are a little less but one is notoriously terrible and the other has a waiting list a mile long.

Probably got the mechanic running all over doing "rush" jobs.

They may be pulling your mechanic to do other jobs and quick easy money jobs since they have a night guy on it and they figure you are in bed at home and won't know. Might ought to check in on them tonight, and check for legs sticking out from under your truck. A simple clutch job with flywheel grind and rear main might take some folks a solid couple of nights but a whole work week is a bit much.

Are they charging on book time or actual hours, if the latter I would be camping out there to make sure they are not screwing you around.

You better put your socks on and head over there. The best time to really check it over is if the engine is cold and you can see it start cold and warm up. I hate when I call about something and the guy goes out and starts it up or drives it before I get there, it seems like they are hiding something.

I have a Dodge in the garage right next to a Ranger, and they don't tell each other dirty secrets

The brake lights work as they should with the lights off, but in the dark when the maker and tail lights are on they stay on all the time. The trouble is on the tractor side of things, and I've spent all afternoon trying to figure this out. Whenever I turn the headlight switch to the first or second position, the brake lights on the trailer light up with the taillights.

I like the remote diagnostic feature and the locator service, but the in cab coaching wouldn't wear well. Kinda seems 'Swift-ish'.

It's a good transmission with the exception of the range syncro being a weak point. Mack has an updated part for the syncros,and it is used when they rebuild them. Always preselect your shifts. It will handle way more torque than any engine that bolts to it can make. 18th gear is ~.70:1 ratio. The b at the end means lower speed reverse although mine is still plenty fast when loaded.

Thank God you've never seen me run, if that is now a qualifier.

Update story says they caught the suspect at his mommy's house. Story makes it sound like his mother turned him in. If she did, thank the Lord because they would have never got him going by the media description: "man 20-25, 5'10"-6', white shirt red shortsin a red pickup,"

Boost is a little low for 460. Seems like it might be a little long legged for heavier loads. What rear ratios does it have? Also is it a Mack 18 or a Fuller 18.

Swishy I think maybe they are Blondies with a black bottom.

No its a white bottom, it isn't protrusive enough to be black

More zoom for clearer goats.

Pretty cool, they should have kept it on as the pace car too.

Always heard the old timers say to start new recaps in the fall when it cools off. It gives them time to "cure" or something.

In the more modern trucks the gold dog symbolizes all mack driveline. Depending on the age of the R you are looking at, that may not be the case. My truck is "All Mack" but has the chrome pooch cause it was born with an eaton trans, but had an addadiktome.

I love that sales info, Very neat. I have a 1950 Chevy 6400 bought new by my grandad. Still runs good, but haven't had it outside in a year or more. Also a 48 5 window my cousin has with a repower 261 that is used around 5 or 6 times a year. I have the original sale bill for mine.

I guess we're all thinking about filters. I was going to change the spin on fuel filter on the Cummins NTC 855 (small cam). Looks like only the one. Any experience with priming or any other suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

I have always filled fuel filters with marvel mystery oil before spinning them on. On my international the Webb water separator was mounted right in the way of the primer plunger. On my big tractor there was a Racor filter that interfered with the primer. The Mack is not blocked by anything and is easy to get to but old habits die hard.

Thank you KS, I stand corrected. Rubber 44s must not be popular where I'm at, all the 44ks I have seen are sealed type.

If you have rubber bushings and open trunnions design it is a 38k suspension. 44k and larger used brass or steel bushes enclosed behind a cap. If axles seem misaligned, measure them to see. Broken leafs or loose ubolts would be easy suspects.