Rob

I'm wanting to purchase one of these things to use in the shop. Have always used a tire hammer in the past, but after twisting myself up this last time and not able to work on my stuff for going on four months now, I'm going to spend the money to get one of these things. Has anyone used one and are there favorites? As of late I've been hauling tires to the dealer and paying to have them broken down, then remounted after the rims are blasted and repainted. This is only about $18.00 per tire but that is money that could be saved after just a few tires services are performed. Rob

I echo Herb's statements. R.I.P. Lance. Rob

Hi Larry, the one from Chicago is amber. The one from St. Louis is red. Illinois has always required amber caution lamps where Missouri was red until recently. Rob

I too like the Power Service line of products. Use it quite frequently in fact. Our local oil distributor, (Mobil Products) and good customer of mine for many years custom blends fuel adding some type of cetane booster. I believe it is Siloo, or Schaefer brand. I also have one gallon of two cycle oil mixed in at the plant per 100 gallons to make up for the lacking of lubricity these older engines require. Not noticed any problem with too much smoking but old Mack, and Cat engines really put it out anyways. Later this spring or early summer when I have my B67 back together, (I'm still healing) I'm going to start using it often as you do yours. A friend of mine wants me to have his 1968 Austin Western grader which is about the same size as yours with a full cab that needs reskinned. It also has a 3-53 and runs well. It is small and could be very useful around here. Rob

Looks home made to me. The only rops on Galion, and Champion graders around here were formed round tubes. Rob

Sure looks like a wrecker headrack to me. The gumballs were very popular around St. Louis and Chicago when I was a kid on everything with the globe being glass. I have a couple of them by Federal Signal. Rob

Although I could be incorrect, I believe the dot law concerning air brakes is federal. Rob

I assumed you either worked for Bell/Textron, or operated one of their helicopters. I don't know much about rotary winged aircraft and just a few fixed wing. Myself, I work for the Federal Aviation Admin. full time and have for over 25 years. It's been a good job that I still find challenging, yet rewarding and enjoyable. As I near retirement within the next few years, I worry. The ethics and participation of the younger set is not what it needs to be. Another few bits of useless trivia about me: I retain the remnants of my autobody shop that ran full time in conjunction with the federal job for 23 of those years. The autobody shop is how I funded the college educations of my wife, son, and daughter with no education loans to repay. I, with my wife was non wavering in demands of unencumberd scholastic participation with good grades as reward for the effort expended. Our goals were achieved as envisioned, with little sidetrack. I then shut the shop down to allow me some personal "playroom" with my trucks which have always kept my interest. This is why I have such concern of someone expending great funds to satisfy a personal need, or want when they have serious expenditures to make and endure in the future. Budgeting for college education needs to start at a very young age as there is no greater responsibility in this world as parental support for their offspring. Our kids are our future, as we are theirs. I do not believe in credit as in consumer loans. One check, one payment is the way things need to be done. There is no way to get ahead in constant debt. Our country, or the world for that matter, would not be in the mess we are if others practiced life such as we. The tangent is concluded. Rob

I'd bet if you ate the chihuahua pie the "dimimutive" wife would be a force to be reckond with. Rob

Someone told of maintenance on the accelerator pedal also. Rob

I actually enjoyed watching that one. The gent looked comfortable, and right in place. No hot rodding, showing off, trick shifting, quick moves, etc. Just looked natural. Everybody scratches gears no matter how good they are and there was no effort to hide it. Incidently, the truck sounds just like my B67 with the duplex. Mike you done well. (I'll take my commision check now)LOL. Rob

But does a "total douche bag" driver spray in an omni directional pattern when they piss? And does it smell like vinegar, or just sudsy with a high foam content? Rob

That's what I thought he'd posted. Working at the current employer has apparently changed his attitude towards reality, and for the better. Rob

The "LT" series was much more popular in the 50's, 60's, and early 70's than they were in the 80's. The last produced were in about 1955 if I remember correctly. I think you will be surprised at what the "LT" series of trucks bring in either moderate, or rough condition. One could easily have 50-100 large bills in it if done up period correct with a modern driveline. Always nice to see one of them operating, but not too many around any longer. From your posts my own beliefs are that you would be well served by an RL, or RS 700 series tractor just as I am. My trucks are all hobby units and do not need to justify their existence as I make my living in the transportation industry, but non truck related. There are still several copies in existence and I believe them to be the next "up and comming" units of collectability. I too would like to have a Superliner someday, but acknowlege I will probably need to build my own from several donors. I have the capability, space, equipment, and limited knowlege, (very limited) a lot of folks do not to perform this type of work, but truthfully, time is lacking for work on my own stuff. Just as you, I know how to ask questions and it's always got me through the rough spots. This is a very good website for explanation and clarification, (Mack related) that offers many unbiased opinions. Of course there are a few "shady characters" on here too but I'm not one of them.............. Rob

You have a hermetically sealed scroll type compressor. Very cheap to manufacture and basically a single moving part internally. Best to replace that and the other associated hardware I mentioned and also do away with the dedicated inverter that is built in. Purchase a stand alone type to power the truck off the shelf as mentioned earlier. That proprietary way of doing things is only cheap to the vendor, not the end user. Rob

Hi Tom, lets look at this a bit further. The ten tires currently installed onto the Superliner are at about 30% if memory serves, and they have been setting for several years as mentioned. By this factor alone, they need replaced. It would not be in one's best interest to try to run these out on a working truck at rated capacity and expect them to deliver good service. This truck sure is nice but I've repaired/rebuilt so many hoods and lowers from exploding aged tires through the years that I would not entertain anything other than replacing them. If you swap over the 10 new tires from the KW, you have detracted from the resale value of the truck, (KW) considerably. You, as the owner of both vehicles may not see this action as detrimental, but it will certainly not help matters should you decide to turn the unit. A vehicle that has brand new rubber installed will always be worth more than something with 30% remaining, if only in appeal. You have already stated tires were $4500.00 and that is quite a bit of money to me. Something else that has been mentioned is that you were comfortable with an $18,000.00 purchase price on the Superliner. If it is given 10 new tires, it is in the ballpark on price, and your comfort level. This would be a bargaining tool for me. I would also look at the appeal to an operating trucker of the COE itself. Those guys are much fewer and further between than someone with a "hood" as they say. The COE has a real possibility of being a losing proposition with the exception of someone reliving their "glory days" or retirement an I think it would be with some difficulty to realize say $18000.00 for an older unit no matter how nice, and that could be just me. I'm certainly not trying to be negative on your purchase but it sounds like this purchase is not prudent to be positive. Personal likes and desires is another factor that can only be reconciled within oneself. Rob

An inverter of that size should readily carry the load of your mentioned items without unplugging anything. Before scrapping that inverter get it to a shop and look for an internal fuse or take it apart yourself. Most have either an internal fuse, or thermal link that is to break open stopping current flow in addition to the customer replaceable fuse you can get at. Have you checked the fuse on the inverter? A 3KVA unit is not going to be real inexpensive. I wouldn't write it off quite yet. The fridge can cease to operate anytime. If you take the housing off the refrigerator there well be a number on a tag that is usually spot welded to the housing which can be converted. Matsushita, (Panasonic) makes jillions of different compressors for small appliances and generic replacements. If that tag can be located, the capacity can be converted, and a universal compressor could be fit, and maybe you wouldn't have to change your truck's appearance. Never seen the inside of a Rawhide so don't know the arrangement. Rob

If the compressor locked up and the surge current did not take out the inverter power supply fuse it would be shot also. I would not repair proprietary items if they are that way but rather go with a replacement COTS, (commercial off the shelf) unit. Basically get a small refrigerator at Best Buy or the like and install it. Replace the inverter with a large fan cooled unit with as low of wow and flutter measurements that you can afford to offer a long lifespan. Rob

I can't tell you from personal experience because the furthest I've driven a Volvo product has been from the repair stall to the paint room, back to the stall, then to the parking lot. Couldn't tell you how it rode or drove on the road. Anytime I've had one in the shop, it's been wrecked or damaged, (lots of plastic). Rob

Yup, I received the radar equipment and it was wet. I'm glad you didn't have the Clifford band aids on the tarps because around back there was a couple pallets of freshly painted fire hydrants and they did not need pissed on. Rob

Expressing unsolicited opinions only: By reading the threads the starter has posted both here, and Large Car, he should probably move to another truck. Not meaning any negativity at all but this truck does not fit close enough to what he wants to end up without a cost prohibitive influx of funds to get it there. It is a very nice truck and probably worth the money for someone that plans to use it to make a living, but that kind of cost is not prudent for a part time operation and with, (as has been mentioned) upcoming education expenses for the kiddos. This is reality in pure form; "Family comes first and the toys wait". Robbing, or negating family expenses to fund personal wants and desires is really not the way to go. There is a very nice KW cabover restored and personalized as a "sunken investment" already in the collection that has been mentioned to rob parts from to get the new Superliner up to par; If one has to consider robbing Peter to pay Paul, nothing is gained. Unless the poster is an independently wealthy trucker, or likes to post searching for ideas to do nothing with, nothing should transpire, or any transaction take place. For those that don't know what a "sunken investment" is: Simply stated it is the sum of monies invested into something that may, or may not pay dividends upon sale, or discharge of the investment. Automobiles, housing, and companies all have the possibility, and at times probability, of being losers. I wouldn't take enjoyment seeing this truck back on the market in a couple of years with a new Double Eagle sleeper, extended wheelbase, and other possible personal touches offered at a significant loss to the owner due to being "upside down" in the value, but I do see this as a real possibility. Be interesting to see how this shakes out. Rob

Took a delivery from FedEx Freight today and noticed he was driving an older Volvo single axle, (on spring) tractor pulling a 53' van. I asked him how he liked that truck and was surprised when he explained they had new Internationals, and Freightliners at the yard and he preferred an old Volvo rather than one of the newer trucks. Also said the older Volvo's were much more comfortable to drive and negotiate traffic. Though he didn't know what engine was under the hood, it was clear that he had a strong favoritism towards these trucks. Also said they were very reliable where some of the newer ones were in the shop a lot. No favoritism by me, just relaying what I was hearing. Rob

Sounds like a case of "Keeping up with the Jones". Sounds like you may be correct as I've seen the same scenario played out many times through the years. Rob

I used "Gorilla" tape many times in the shop for grinding shields, cut lines, and weather tight integrity with visqueen plastic to seal cars up outside, etc.... Much better than the normal duct tape and retains it's grip through hot/cold cycles. Most times you have to use solvent to remove adhesive residue, but nothing really gets though it. Although I don't believe I would use the product to band aid something that was my livelihood, it has it's uses. Rob

There have been three different places try to represent Mack trucks in the past few years in the Peoria, IL area. Not one has remained. Maybe if they tried to be a satellite from a different parent than the one all have used, it may have a different turnout. Rob