Rob

There has been changes going to the lowest cost contractor..........

I'm doing fine and performing my part for the american work force. More later as I'm back into the pit today. Rob

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/wsh/for/2947500677.html Always kinda liked "Lime Twist".

And the sister: http://eastky.craigslist.org/cto/2947494318.html

http://eastky.craigslist.org/cto/2947492336.html

http://fortdodge.craigslist.org/cto/2947679436.html

A doctor from France says: "In France , the medicine is so advanced that we cut off a man's testicles, put them into another man, and in 6 weeks he is looking for work." The German doctor comments: That's nothing, in Germany we take part of the brain out of a person, put it into another person's head, and in 4 weeks he is looking for work." A Russian doctor says: "That's nothing either. In Russia we take out half of the heart from a person, put it into another person's chest, and in 2 weeks he is looking for work." The U.S. doctor answers immediately: "That's nothing my colleagues, you are way behind us in the USA. About 3 years ago we grabbed a person from Kenya with no brains, no heart, and no balls and we made him President of the United States. Now the whole damn country is looking for work!

The very early TS-442 series hit on the B, MB, R, U, F, and a few others. Mine was printed in either 1965, or 1966 and hits into the B models a bit, but is still more heavy into the R series and later.Rob

No problem Jim and I appreciate the insight. I was starting to take off in third when bobtail and second was alright with the trailer empty. I don't like to punish a clutch myself and this could be a problem in the future with a new and inexperienced driver so didn't mention skipping anything but stuck to a textbook approach to build upon. I did teach him to use the clutch only to start off, and unload the driveline during a downshift and other than starting and stopping leave it alone. There will be several hours of learing taking place with an empty trailer for a while I'm certain.Thanks, Rob

That is exactly what I plan to do but right now the files are all the even pages, then all the odd pages. I want to get them interleaved so they read like a book. The paper book is about three inches thick so a lot of pages!Rob

There was quite the trail on the roadway too. Tires really pick up a lot you don't think about that throw off during acceleration. Truck still starting good? Rob

I can't say much about the engine as I really don't know what it is but don't believe it is original to the truck, or has been worked on. The heads and valve covers are the red color my 1980 R612ST is, yet the block is dark gray. I was told by the deceased owner, (prior to his demise) the engine had been rebuilt. The pump itself has a "Remack" sticker on it so it's anyone's guess.If I had to guess after working on this thing I'd say the pump is calibrated for the "Maxidyne" style torque curve. It was very responsive in the low rpm's and did not seem to be really linear in pull as the rpm's raised. It was however very manageable. With the trailer loaded it still didn't take hardly any throttle to get the truck moving from dead stop with no clutch slippage, or hopping. It did however, (now that I think about it) really "peak up" quickly as you would run out of gear. It drove so much different loaded from empty and I had limited time to familiarize myself that I think all will work together. At first I didn't like how "low" the lower gears were as they run out very fast. Loaded was a whole different story and I quickly gained an appreciation for them. I do like the transmission better than I do either an RTO-125413, or RTO-14613 although this Mack trans takes a bit more "oomph" to pull out, and into the gear selections. Rob

I don't really know what engine it is. The truck is an 88 R690 and originally had a straight five speed of which the former owner changed to a T2100 ten speed. It was too high geared in the low range and hence I installed the nine speed. Most of the 690 series trucks had 300's in them and this one is chassis mount CAC.Rob

You may have had bad injector tips for quite some time. Sounds like a couple of cylinders were overfueling and melted the pistons. Sometimes you can feel this, sometimes you can't. I like to pull injections periodically and send them in for recalibration as they really are a neglected wear item.Rob

They have about doubled in price within the past couple of years. They do work well.Rob

Guess I never did update this thread. I did install both upper and lower bearings into the original steering column. This took care of the binding problems complete. Also got the truck inspected on Saturday morning after it failed for miscellaneous problems like brakes too thin, mudflaps too far from pavement, broken shock absorber on rear...... I removed the shocks, installed new flap hangers and flaps, adjusted the brakes up tight, purchased new flags, triangles, and fire extinguisher and a couple other little things and had no problems. I then took the truck to the owner's place, backed under an aluminum dump trailer, got familiar with the truck now that it had somewhat of a load, and then proceeded to the fertilizer plant where they dumped 20 tons into the trailer. This is where I can tell you I really like this T2090 Mack nine speed transmission. No hop, jerk, or argument from this thing at all; just smooth on all the upshifts, and downshifts. The splitter does work well when up to the right, pull the range up, and go back to the low, or first gear position. This takes some getting used to as the natural rythym is to go down from fourth to fifth, then pull the splitter. I will tell you that 300 Mack engine has enough power to do the job for the weight it was pulling. The brakes stopped the load very well also so was a good day. I then took off for Chicago to be with my granddaughters and all the family mentioned earlier today. Glad to have that thing gone. I have a wreck to start tomorrow after work and will continue to try to get my RL797LST going for the Springfield, and Macungie shows later this summer. Rob

College educations for everyone but ole Rob took all the money. That's why I don't have anything done for myself. Rob

Personal preference. Go with what you like. The only diamond, or treadplate I personally like is the underhood steps on the Western trucks.Uncle Rob

There are a couple of different pullers for those that make the job easy. After removing the capscrews, and grease zerk, this cup type affair slips onto the ear of the drive yoke, and the legs bear against the driveshaft yoke. When turning the push screw in, the joint and one cap is forced out. After the cap is pushed out, the shaft is rotated, the puller remounted, and the operation repeated. The installation is the reverse of taking it apart. Another way is to remove the capscrews and zerk, and use a jack against the bottor front of the driveshaft yoke and lightly tapping the area with a hammer. The weight of the truck and vibration of the hammer will usually break them free. These can be a real bitch to get loose if they have been in for several years. Upon reassembly ensure the capscrew holes are aligned before pushing them in with a jack or "C" clamp because you cannot rotate them once pushed in. I have a tool for that too. Mine are made by Tiger Tool out of Canada. OTC also produces them but not as high of quality part in my opinion. I have the #102 tool for removing and installing the joints. Go to www.tigertool.com to see it work. Rob

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/wsh/cto/2947017194.html

Probably the same as you have; TS-442 series. There are three in total.Uncle Rob

Don't think I've ever seen a B series parts manual on ebay myself. I have an original B, and very early R series original service manual, (1966, I think) scanned of my original, but cannot figure out how to interleave the pages. Took the file to "Kinko's" and they won't touch it because of copyright. The morons don't realize the manual is over 40 years old! I've been thinking of purchasing Adobe Illustrator and doing it myself then everybody can have a copy. I also have a set of manuals from 1975 my grandpa got me from the St. Louis Mack dealership as a gift when new. I'd like to scan and have those electronically also.Rob

Glad you got back and hope you enjoyed your vacation. Listen to your mom as she is correct on the school work. Believe it or not, also on the room. Don't hesitate to check in when able to let know how you're doing. Uncle Rob

Some "top notch" detective work there Neil. Good job and thanks for posting.Rob

I don't think I would have done that. Anne was kind and compassionate enough to sit in a piece of shit B model Mack with marginal floorboards sitting on a milk crate to film you learing to drive a two stick truck while bouncing her guts out in the spillways of the fields. Seems to me kicking her out into the rain, (it was coming down pretty good when this was going on) might have been a bit much. I might have had to loan her a 2X4 to fix that situation as "Momma" would have demanded. Rob