mechohaulic

if only the younger generation could understand. we weren't careless just ambitious , sounds better. i tell my 23 yr old grandson all the time practice safety . hope over 50 have meaning to it. for me over70 and doing the wrenches FOR 50 yrs i'm reminded every morning trying to get out of bed of my yrs gone by "ambitions"

definitely ;; every job has the ==what if factor == for me. swapped out complete tandem suspension on a 53ft trailer last week. outside , soft ground , NO jacks. lowered the landing gear brought nose to ground. blocked up the ICC bar with 2ft dia x 2ft tall logs ,4x4 on the ground under the logs. cranked landing gear back up highest point .raising the entire trailer. pulled suspension out (short version) install newer suspension, point is the "what if factor" was there every minute. unit was blocked more then it had to be . job would have been alot better in the shop on concrete floor with air jacks ; wasn't possible. having a number of jacks for different projects AND common sense makes all the difference in the "what if factor" and safety.

if the jack purchase is based on $$$ highly recommend a good jack stand to go with it. hate to see someone buy a cheaper jack figuring " if it picked up the front end i can jack up the back and pull tires" etc. be under it doing brakes or what ever and have the jack give way. seems with old age the first thing i consider lately when doing a project is :: how am i going to get hurt. same as buying tools in the past, some projects will do well with a cheaper brand . then there are the jobs that require a better quality (snap-on or so) tool

A clunking/ vibration in front end !!! i don't think " how long can i drive it " would be a proper question. more like i need a jack NOW , who's got one. i would be buying a jack before buying lunch. might go with a vibration ; possible out of balance tire. clucking no way

don't know about today, Toce bros were always a pleasure to deal with when Sonny was there. they had one service worker called "evil" . never saw anyone work as hard as him. hot blazing sunny day he pulled 8 tires off unit, dismounted old / remounted new ;; reinstalled on tractor out side, didn't want to tie up load out bay which would have put him under cover in some shade.

other side of the coin ; might not be a dumb question, but dumb not to ask when looking for answers. for some real dumb questions : check out the questions "people "ask on articles from amazon! 😄 some are as good as the pictures from walmart..LOL

some one has an interest in furthering their knowledge ,it's not to be considered dumb questions.

got the yr '71 see it in topic title , could be alt or gen. i question power source only due to a gen will make its own power an alt needs power to make power.

If there is a S/P switch on your unit, doubt it is between seats (more in B models). unit has one ; which i'm starting to think not it will be in the battery box. quick look at the cables will tell if a S/p is there. cables are short going from battery box to frame for ground it's 12 v. what yr is truck ,is it alt or gen?

working at Mack yrs back, I got in big trouble with parts room manager. new kid at the parts counter. I took a worn 3/8 bolt to the counter and asked the kid for a new crankshaft bolt, it looked just like a crankshaft worn so bad, he searched then asked the manager. manager came to counter and let me know the kids got other things to do ! we didn't get along in the first place.

what are these apps on the phone everyone talks about. i keep looking at the black and white rotary phone in my house and only have the 9 +0 numbers LOL.

i know i'm always thinking in "old terms" , no one asked if the fuel filters were changed recently. low voltage doesn't sound right . good pressure does n't mean its good fuel if the filters are full of water .

going off topic a tad. short version;; yrs ago i go to truck dealer i once worked for. new kid in parts room. i'm looking for an oil pump pick up tube gasket for a 6-71 i put together, i can make gaskets ; NOT that one, too important. kid says i don't have that gasket. i know that parts room i been in it. ' i says = you don't have an engine kit in there( i know he did) . take out the gasket and replace it later" he says i can't do that its not in the computer system. i took the pick up tube and said you want this pipe around your neck. i was p--sed . i got the gasket and paid for a number he had on the computer system. older manager had been there it would have been " take the gasket , i'll mark the kit and call you when gasket comes in and you can pay. so different times

this is one of many reasons i'm from the "grumpy generation" , i (we) know what our parents and grandparents had ;; not much. we see the next generations have so much (except common sense) just can't understand. If =when the electric grid is shut down this world is in a heap of trouble.

two days ago I went to the reputable truck parts store - i've delt with for yrs , asked for a trailer hub cap WITH removeable center cap for filling, they had no idea what i was looking for. they weren't aware of a difference . new caps are made with NON-removable red center cap. need to take out the allen screw and fill from the side. the unit had glazed over "window glass" on hub couldn't see oil level.changing it to older style for easy of filling. another trip to auto parts looking for wheel lug nuts ; standard 1/2 x24 nuts, kid can't find on computer . says what's it for ? knew i shouldn't have answered. i said a boat trailer, reply " we don't sell boat parts". its the same hub and lug nuts as a car a--ole!! too old for this LOL

a little off topic , being i'm as old or older then the truck in picture and brain cells are same as paint on door;;FADED ! question is what is the duct work on right side of hood??? new and improved air conditioner inlet, 😀LOL

maybe we should ask Jessica her thoughts on the matter..

that's why i questioned the disc on that chassis.as with every item , each application has a specific need . a fire truck in city stops alot but much different than a firetruck in country hill setting. disc first came out in truck application it was a total nightmare. then there's the opinion factor;; everyone has one. what works for one situation won't always be best for another.

look for the obvious first. tracing the cables not only looks for a problem but can also be a learning experience to see what makes the truck run . either way, hope there is a follow-up to let the members here know the end results. was a response given as to the unit having a generator or alternator ?

I never gave that a thought . All the older series =B's, L's, some very early R's etc had button start. another factor is in the day a key was on/off ONLY. no acc position. key was one wire in one out. newer key switches gave the acc position no need for button start . B's didn't need acc position to turn on the AC !

ALL the pictures are fine.. can't post anymore "likes" so my approval is there. the use of disc brakes on such a large unit better in todays world ?? another example of changing technology i'm guessing. did brakes on daughters car couldn't believe the tiny little brake pads.

a series parallel switch is (WAS) the big bulky switch located between seats in cab under a metal box (B-models). later units had some mounted in battery box. ALL the battery cables went to the S/P switch. key on- push button; power (12 volts) went to the S/P, internally the switch took the two sets of 12 volt batteries connected them in SERIEs ---- 2x12 = 24 volts to starter. truck starts ; coil in the S/p clicks off unit is a 12 volt with 24 volt starter. the S/P was basically the same as soliniod on a starter. large power to it , small power source to click it on. like the use of 55 rears many things in the good days were "over kill". todays electronic world it only takes 2 0r 3 batteries in PARALLE to start things.

i second the motion!! motor oil dripping should have the "wet look". spring had the heavy gear oil (steering box) mix with road dirt etc. i would concentrate on the oil pressure. might be within spec. even oil gotten complicated. and $$$$$ . wifes car runs 0-20. who the hll ever heard of 0-20. higher vis oil might help the pressure on this unit with shorter intervals . nothing else shorter intervals might show improvement. no improve go back to 200 + hrs.

looking at the first picture, doesn't seem to show the white milky color on the cable or spring assy that would indicate coolant mixture . post also didn't say using coolant , as with many post, not being there to physically observe challenges. inside of vent tube should have milky film. i've seen brand new trucks with blow-by. not saying it's ok just lesser of the two evils.

what type of maintance are you doing to it in terms of oil change intervals? blow -by not an issue . possibly shorten the oil change interval up grade oil type with hopes of raising oil pressure.