b61fred

Hi Dale, I work in a Ford dealer, the way it sould work is, the truck should have been looked at by a tech, the tech makes an estimite, the estimite is presented to you and at that time you either decline the estimite or commit to the work. if you decline there would be a diagnostic charge to pay the tech for his work. If there was a problem YOU WOULD BE CONTACTED with another estimite, like broken bolts, or whatever. So, if there was no new estimite made I would only pay for the work you approved, Fred

Hi, I have two trucks with duplex transmissions, one is a trd720, the other is a trd72. I will start with the trd720, this is simple, 5 speed box with low and direct rear box, this trans has 5 progressive ratios, with no overdrive, so it is shifted 1st, low then high, 2nd low then high, and so on, 10 gears... the other trans screws things up some, the front box has 5 progressive ratios BUT 4 th is direct and 5th is overdrive( also known as overgear) and has the some low and direct two speed box on the rear. This will give yo 10 gears right? well yes and no, 4th gear in direct is 1.0 to 1.0 ratio, ( input shaft turns 1 turn output 1 turn). now if you shift into 5th low the main box is in over drive( 0.69 to 1) but the low gear in the 2 speed box lowers the ratio, this will give you a ratio of 1.04 to 1 , almost the same a 4th direct, so you have no need to use this gear sence it is the same a 4th high and uses two gear reductions to get the same ratio as conecting the input shaft to the output shaft. So the the proper shift for the 9 speed overgear trans is the same as the 10 speed other than you omit the 5th low because it is a duplcate ratio. If thats not enough for you you can get into your trdx72 and trdx720 trans, these trans. have a very low gear in 1st. for heavy work, this realy misses up things, this trans you have to shift very differently than the other two. All 4 of these transmissions are duplex transmissions. So I would say that all of you are correct. I believe that is why all of these trucks have those little tags up by the sun visor, there are so many variations, it just comes down to what your truck was designed to do, and if the guy that ordered the truck knew what he was doing. Fred p.s. the triplex and the quadraplex have some duplicate ratios also because of the overgear 5 speed front box and overdrive in the rear box.

Hi, I would say that a rust converter would be a good choice. I have used it on floor boards. You can get it through petersons. I is a liquid that will turn rust into a epoxy like substance that can be painted, It will make the rust turn black and being a liquid it will flow into the area that is between the frame rails. Fred

Sounds like you got it down, Now for the double clutching.. that was the hardest thing for me to learn, I have found the triplex was easier to learn on than the 9 speed duplex, the gears ratios were closer together than the 9 speed. Fred

OUCH!!

HI The gear you get when both sticks are in neutral... double nothin' usually when I find double nothin' I just have to stop and start over. Ha Ha Fred P.S. I think everyone has hit double nothin' a time or two.

Which b61 are you wanting to trade? you had about 3 very nice ones in front of your house the other day. I hope it is not the red and black one, Mikey told me a really good story about the original owner of that truck. I think that the history of a truck is worth more than the sum of the parts that make it up. All of my macks really have no history, or at least any that I can trace down, which is a shame because there is a driver somewhere that would like to see that truck again, or at least I would like to think they would. So I would say trade if it is just a truck, You can rebuild another b61, but if its a truck that you have had for a long time or is special in some way, there will be another deal later on.... It would be like selling the family dog. ( no pun intended ) Fred

Hi, I have got my new prize home and started scrapeing off the greese and crud and finding numbers on the engine, trans, and axles. The engine is a NH220L cummins, the trans is a 15 speed triplex, the front axle is a 9500# with no brakes, any ways the rear tandem is not Mack it is a timken worm drive with power divider, 7.45 : 1 ratio, Is this factory?? it looks like it belongs there and also it needs some work on the bushings and rods that center it in the truck, where do you get such parts?? I never seen a old mack with anyting other than a mack rear. I have sent in to the museum for the info but that will take some time to here back from them. the truck was from montana, It has a jake brake and a exhaust brake, Let me know what you think Fred

hey packer, Made it home all right from my great western trip, only had to cross the scales twice, something like 32,000 on the rear tandem on the trailer, anyway, I got a two speed rear axle out of a school bus, dayton hubs and all, so, what you need to do is get that other b73 and put it on the trailer and drive on out east...........

Hi I have posted more on this board than the on the last. At first I had lots of problems with logging in, but that has not been a problem for a long time. I have to say a first I hated it, but in retrospect it has been a change for the better. I like the Avitar on the side, I can tell who is who very easily now. Fred

hi sounds like a good match! I worked at greatdane trailer in Brazil Indiana for a while. I dont think that is what you have because their name was all over everything on the trailer. Maybe a picture would help ID the tailer. Fred

barry, are these the same for the rear? alot of firetrucks had them on the rear. Fred

Hi, Where can you get a good Mack hat now days? My local dealer quit stocking the classic mack hats, black or red cap with a swen on patch. I have found some of those floppy kind that seems to be what is in style, but I dont like them. Any one here know where to get them? let me know if you do. Fred

Looks like its coming right along, wish I could paint like that. looks like it is straight as a die! Fred

Hi, Hey barry, Thats the kind of cars that were new when I started working at the Ford dealer that I still work at. I remeber that Ford recalled all the 3.8 engines in the taurus and sable cars. I got where I could change the head gaskets on them things in about 6 hours, and when you got that one done there was two or three waiting. I haven't seen a wagon for a while though. The timing covers were another recall also. I always liked those cars, not too bad to work on. compared to todays fords. The taurus is the car that brought ford back from the brink back in 86. There's a little old lady that brings one in every so often that is like a new car. I think is a 88 or 89 model. Fred

well I guess I cant give you a picture, oh well.....Fred