Rob

I never really had any problems with mine as the engine and compressor had been rebuilt just prior to my acquisition. I had a rollback bed installed to haul cars which it done a real fine job of. The injectors were not touched during the engine rebuild so I wanted them gone through. Never did anything with the turbo, or pump and it still had the lead seals on it. I also had a funny noise in the drivetrain which turned out to be a couple of scored rocker arms. I replaced them all and the noise was gone. I ran the truck almost five years without a single breakdown or oil usage. Finally sold it when I slimmed down my operation(s) in 2004. Only real drawback was that most parts needed to be furnished by a Mack dealer and they are about 100 miles from me so always had to be shipped. Fortunately they were right most times. Mine never smoked either. Rob

I didn't drain the coolant in mine when I had the injectors "freshed up". It had the six individual cylinder heads as I believe yours does. Those pump parts are readily available at your friendly Mack dealer and really not out of line on pricing. I think mine was about $40.00 for a rebuild kit for the transfer pump including the stripped plastic plunger you mention. This was in 2003, so pricing may have increased a little since then. Remember when timing that engine that the #1 cylinder is at the flywheel end. Save you a whole bunch of headache when running the overhead!! Rob

Ran across a guy that has a couple of these trailers that are both 48X102 (single drop) with good frames, 17.5 tubeless tires, and brakes, and is ceasing operations. They are both early to mid 80's models and the curtains are in good shape. I'm kinda interested in one of them as I need a trailer to haul a couple restored trucks and they could be a kind of "portable garage" so to speak. I could park the trailer along one wall inside the buildings' new addition with trucks inside, and move the whole unit outside if need be. Kind of an interested thought process requiring more investigation. Rob

I used to be that way also. When someone wanted too much to make something for me, I usually did it myself, (on my own stuff I'm a bit difficult to satisfy). Before the kids needed funding for college expenses, I had a lot of free time to work on personal interests, and made a lot of little "trinkets" that would be either difficult to obtain, or expensive. I taught myself to weld aluminum after I purchased an industial tig welder and some sheet to form a set of rear fenders from. I had a very loyal customer/friend that was a real artist with a tig machine to help me out, (since passed). These came out pretty nice for a first attempt. Did save my plans so will make another set someday. Sad that Mack would not stand behind their product satisfactorily. Seems that hardly anybody does anymore. Is your current truck still marked up in the same color scheme? I like the green/white/red layout personally. Rob

Damned metal munchers got to my exhaust. Guess I'll need to get a new one. Thing is, you couldn't see this behind the burn guard. The pipes were readily apparent. This is a Donaldson muffler. Are there rules that you have to run a muffler at all? My R795 did not have a muffler and it sounds nice but is not objectionable through five inch stacks. Rob

Very nice job on the rear fenders. I know it's a lot of work because I've been there. Still a good looking unit. Does it still look the same or a bit for wear? Rob

Do you have cast steel backing plates, or stamped steel? Are the rears 38,000, or 40,000 or greater? Rob

Great to hear from you Jim. I've been wondering how you were progressing. Just this morning I helped to ensure PAI's continued success by robbing the kids' college fund, and spending a bunch on money on your "R" model parts!! Momma aint gonna be pleased when she finds out. Maybe you could con your superiors into producing more B model parts when they see your truck!! Great to see progress! Rob

Probably a V20 series pump. Several redesigns through the years of the shaft seal. Great pump on a Detroit because of being smooth. Do not like vibration very well, but will run in the filthiest of environments for a lengthy time. When the phonelic vanes are replaced with steel, they run till catastophic failure takes them out. Rob

Hi Herb, was that on a Eaton/Vickers, or Parker Hannefin pump mounted to the rear of the injection pump? I'm not particularly fond of Parker stuff due to seal leakage from what I've experienced. I've never been around a hydraulic power steering Mack truck with an inline engine, so not an authority there. Rob

Sorry I didn't see your post earlier. I would have laid odds on the pump being bad. The Eaton/Vickers "V" series are a vane type pump and most have phenolic blades which tend to snap off if the pump cavitates for any reason. This could be from a clogged filter element starving the pressure section, or a system leak and refilling the reservoir when the engine is running. Be real careful when you check a pump by itself and not "T'd" into an operating system. Most of the smaller hydraulic pumps do not have internal pressure relief valves and do not hold up well when they have no path to discharge pressure/flow into. I run ATF in power steering units myself. A lot of heavy equipment specifies engine oil and it will not hurt anything if the proper sealing materials are used to stand up to the polymers incorporated into this oil. ATF does not have a lot of additives and is much more neutral in composition. There are no combustion by-products present in a steering system, just heat to contend with. Both fluid mediums readily accept this heat and circulate easily. Either will work. Glad to hear you have your problem addressed. Rob

AssHoles???? I resemble that, and Canton is eight miles south of the shop!!! Rob

While I've not driven a large truck or commercial vehicle I have driven several Rt. hand drive sports cars, and light trucks. The shifting is really not difficult to master at all, just takes some time in the saddle. What was difficult for me was to stay on the correct side of the road, and negotiate traffic. Now that took some getting used to. I sure wouldn't want to start right off in a different country learning in heavy traffic that's for sure. I drove around London and that took some getting used to to say the least!! Rob

Like to see photos of the LTL. Always kinda liked them. Don't really matter what condition they're in. Rob

Almost a daily thing for my boss and I to express differences of opinion on how my reports are written concerning a repair, or the logging of such. I figger if someone wants to know what I've done, they'll ask me, and I'll explain. If they don't ask, I don't worry about it. For some reason, the entities above my boss that always seem to ask the questions don't want to speak with me direct, but would rather talk to him. Wonder why that is...... Rob

Wonder if your brother recognizes this emblem? Rob

And here ya go. The brown dash is the 73 RL797, the gray dash is the 77 R795. The dash is in pieces of the 78 RL755 and with the exception of the "Brakesaver" gauges, is oriented just like the R795. Here is one from a 72 R model also. Rob

My 73, 77, and 78 are all different in the cluster packaging and orientation. The tachometer is on the left, the speedo on the right in the center quadrant on all trucks. I'll post a couple photos later today. Rob

The lawyers are going to have a "field day" with the plaintiffs altering/tampering of the evidence.

Momma likes me to use conditioner on my back hair so she can snuggle up and not get stabbed at night. She also rubs me down with "Bounce" sheets nightly so I don't shock her with static electricity. Rob

You're thinking with the wrong head. Rob

Yeah, we have learned to keep a close eye on Other Dog. We'll keep him on the right track no matter what but we surely thought we'd lost him there for a while. Your brother works at General Truck in Memphis? I bought my R-190 IH there to pull our mobile home from the base in Millington, to Norfolk when I transfered. Couldn't find an acceptable lot to park it at in the Tidewater area, so pulled it back to Decatur, IL and sold it, (trailer, not truck as I still have "Fred"). Going to a 4L80 series transmission with a shift kit installed and the transmission will be near bulletproof. Run fully synthetic fluid in that thing no matter what, and install a bigger cooler. Heat, and the sloppy shifting nature of automatics are their greatest downfall. Rob

I'll have to ask Momma about my belly. I used to see my toes without bending forward at the waist but no more. Even with as big as my size 14EEE feet are these days, I still can't stand erect and see my feet. That is why I don't drive my A, B models much anymore. It is a real "chore" to get into the cabs let alone leather strap restrain my gut so I can steer. But she still says she loves me. Rob

Yes, there is nothing wrong with it and it will be installed in it's rightful place, a dump truck. Rob