Underdog

My wife "discovered" the cool TELESTEPS ladder I carry in my side box. She thought it was the best for hanging the Christmas lights. Folds down to 24" to fit in the box, and extends out to 14' or anywhere in between. Great for truckers. I have been putting my tool set to good use this week. I am home doing some front end work on the CX. Front brakes, kingpins, tie rod ends, shocks, new steer tires. Today's project is front cab mounts.

Rob, the diameter of the bolt hole pattern will be the same for 22.5 or 24.5, but there are a few different styles of spoke hubs. It seems eah OEM had their own look, 5 or 6 spoke, and center opening. There are "universal" drums with multiple mounting holes to fit more than one style hub. I remember from my years in the shop having several drums in stock but still lacking the correct one from time to time.

My core hand tool set is Craftsman, because it is the first large tool purchase I made. When I was in trade school in 1989, I got the "1,700 piece mechanic's tool set" out of the catalog. I have been adding to it, all different brands, ever since. I have my roll-away at home, plus quite the comprehensive set I carry in the truck. My toolbox and spare parts costs me probably 1000 lbs. tare weight, but the day I leave my toolbox home is the day I will need it. 10 years with this truck I have never been broke down so bad I couldn't get myself going again. Gregg

I have just been lucky so far. I have seen it happen to the best, but then again I have seen brain-dead mistakes too. Fortunately for me, I do a lot of industrial freight, dumping at mills and plants. Not a lot of off road. They can't pay me enough to tear up my equipment in a landfill every day. Gregg

I always enjoy a good hot sauce. Be glad to take some off your hands. Gregg

Got a bit off topic but for anybody interested, the Aussie road trains are on SPEED channel tonight at 10 eastern followed by the Rocky Mt. Loggers.

I have heard that for years. I don't plan on joining either club anytime soon. Knock wood, 12 years still on the wheels... Watch what happens to me Monday. Gregg

This truck is a bit newer than my 2000 CX I don't know if the fault codes read the same on the EGR engines. The lightning bolt in the dash is your "checkengine" lamp and you need to read the code in the V-MAC book or post it here, someone should be able to help. Definitely want to solve this one soon. The X with circle is the shut down indicator. Only a serious fault code would trigger this one. I don't know if the Auto trans would trigger the fan clutch or shut down, but I would start there since the symptoms appear under load and on grades. Hard to be sure without a specific code though. Good luck. Gregg

There aren't many guys out on the road anymore that would think to crawl under the truck, much less carry tools. I love the crazy looks and comments I get at the truckstop when I get out the coveralls, creeper and grease gun. Or better yet, "OMFG, he's changing his own tire!" I still consider it part of the job if you own a truck. Gregg

A few of us at Page Trucking got calls from the producers of "Dangerous Drives" a few years ago. Nothing ever came of it. I guess our job isn't dangerous enough for TV.

Great stories and welcome to the forums! Everyone here has something to share, some good, some bad, but we are all basically harmless. Gregg

You are correct, Sir. If your auto slacks need constant adjustment, they are either not functioning or they were not set up correctly when installed. Don't assume it was done correctly at the factory, either. Another tip for maintenance of slacks and cams. Release the parking brakes on the axles you are greasing. Brake mechanical parts will take grease better, therefore last longer. Gregg

Another show to keep an eye out for... I read in the Allentown PA newspaper that Dennis Slagle, CEO of Mack Trucks, will be featured on an upcoming episode of "Undercover Boss" on CBS. No air date has been announced.

Agreed, a good indicator of lining and drum wear. The problem nowadays is that many automatic slack adjusters can be ruined by repeatedly backing them off. Auto slacks are "set them and forget them" and should only be manually adjusted when lining is replaced. Gregg

She always reminds me of that when I try to take too much credit... She really is the brains of the operation. Another blessing I can be thankful for. Gregg

The day after and now I am rethinking the whole going out thing... NO LEFTOVERS!!! We did have a fine meal and then dessert back at my home, so I will have to make do with all the leftover pie, if daughter Maggie saves some for me.

Many new brake linings now include a wear indicator groove molded in, much like that idea of drilling the hole, Tom. Most I have seen indicate 1/4" remaining thickness. At the roadside, it depends on the officer's judgement and mood at the time. Drum wear can also hide some of the visible lining thickness. I carry my own creeper on the road, so I am always willing to assist the officer in checking under my truck. Don't take their word for it, keeps 'em honest. Gregg

The day before thanksgiving and normally sweet Polly Purebred flatly refused to let me use her kitchen oven. I told her this is the recommended method for changing bearing cups in an aluminum hub, to heat said hub in a suitable oven. While she was flattered to hear that I considered her oven to be a suitable device, Polly was concerned about the smell of gear oil throughout the house. To this I countered the point that I had taken great strides to assure the cleanliness of my hub, and no oil was present, the worst may be a faint odor of cleaning solvent. Polly again refused, fearing that the subsequent holiday pies would be tainted with noxious odors. Stymied with this latest argument, and the thought of a holiday pie sanction against me, I retreated to my shop with my thinking cap on my still intact skull. It was then I realized that I had my own oven in the shop! I put the hub on top of my pellet stove and covered it with an overturned metal drum to bake for about 8 hours. No set time, I just got busy with other things in the meantime. The bearings came out with ease, new bearings in, and I can't wait to taste those pies! Gregg

We are bucking tradition this year by eating out on Thanksgiving. My Mom is getting lazy in her old age and thinks her daughters-in-law should be responsible for the family feast, and my wife has done it the last 2 years, so we are all going to relax and enjoy dinner out today.

I would like to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. Hope all the road warriors get to where you would like to be and can spend the holiday in good fellowship. I am already home, been here since Monday afternoon, spending some quality home time with the family and some quality wrench time with my trusty steed. Well deserved R & R for us both. We had a good year and I hope you all can say the same. Gregg

truck has been sitting 5 years so has the fuel. Drain the tanks, make sure all the fuel lines are open & in good condition to ensure proper volume of fuel, and start again with fresh fuel and filters. Also check that no brakes are dragging.

You say Momma is smooth for now with the trucks. How is she with houseguests? Gregg

I don't care who you are, that's funny right there... Sad but true. Gregg

I am not quite sure I follow what you are looking at, the mounting brackets look fine. The only issues I can see in the pics are some slop between the slack adjuster and camshaft, as it does not appear to be riding square. Also the shoes overlapping the drums would be DOT bait indicating the wrong shoes or drums were fitted, or perhaps loose wheel bearings.