Underdog

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.

two kinds of end dumps

those who have, and those who will.

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

What do you guys do that's 'dangerous'?...not tryin to be a smartass...

That was my thought exactly... All in a day's work as far as I am concerned. My boss is college buddies with one of the show's producers and he was trying for some free ad time I think. We haul some placard loads, and dumping a 40 footer can be thrilling at times, but not enough WOW for TV.

truck drivers used to carry a 9/16 wrench and a hammer to set the brakes up with, if that was all the tools they did carry.

Whenever i'd go across rt. 60 from Charleston i'd always pull in the church parking lot at Boomer and set the brakes up before I went across Hawk's Nest, whether they needed it or not. This was before jake brakes were invented of course.

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

I think it's the 'Dangerous Drives' show on Speed channel. It's a pretty decent show and I've seen the one about the Aussie trucks, pretty neat stuff. They've got quite a few episodes about different variations of trucking...windmill haulers, gas tanker haulers thru the 'million dollar highway', the Aussie road trains, loggers...etc etc.

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

A DOT man told us that if you adjust automatic slack adjustors manually they will lose the ability to adjust automatically.

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.

The best gauge of worn out ling and drums is a cam rotation !Back the brake off till the slack pulls away from the brake pot.mark the cam and turn the slack back till ith shoes are tight to the drum if the rotation goes past 90 degress of rotaion the lining is border line but still OK If the rotaion aprotches 120 deg of rotaion the lining and possibly the drum are done!Time to replace! Anything after 120 is pushing a cam over situation!

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

Fine idea!..and no cleanup!

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

Thank you, and same to you and yours, and everyone else too.

I made a trip to Marietta, Ohio from Petersburg,Va,reloaded back to Petersburg where I delivered,then loaded in Petersburg for Tampa-and it doesn't deliver until Monday,so i'm off 'til Sunday.Unless I decide to leave Saturday...hope this turkey thaws in time to cook it-still hard as a rock.

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

I recently started restoring a 1980 F700 Cabover Mack. 350 cummins, 10 Speed. The tractor had been setting for about 5 years. I installed new batteries and she fired right off. I drove her about 30 miles home with no major problems. I've been starting the tractor at least weekly while working on it and no problems. Last nite I took her out to knock the cob webs off her and she started fine but had no power on acceleration. I just barely got it into fifth gear before she ran out of steam. I changed the fuel filter today with no improvement. Stumped and aggrivated.

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.

I wish you the best of luck as you tread the dangerous waters of changing a womens mindset.

May the force be with you my friend. They tend to take exception to being told to "accept and like" without repercussions of the act.

I do have an extra bedroom for trucker's in despair.

Rob

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.

She might have to settle for an F700 as that is currently the object of my pursuit.

Gregg