Rob

Look familiar?

If I were a little smaller physically, I wouldn't "plop" when I sit down on anything. Right now I'm so top heavy that I cannot maintain balance from the standing to the sitting position easily. Been really hard on chairs at the kitchen table as they tend to collapse at the most inopportune times. Usually Momma helps me everywhere except the bathroom where I'm on my own. Rob

Sorry 'bout that; I just couldn't help myself. I feel bad too.... Rob

As Herb would say: Tonight's edition of "Fix that post". Rob

Sounds like the pins and bushings are worn out in the governor as you state Herb. I've had a couple of inlines, and one V8 idle erratic, and respond abnormal to throttle input due to worn parts. Rob

I'll have to take a bunch of photos so we will both learn something. I've never seen the 465 engine, but have a few of the 475's in years gone past. Thanks, Rob

Driving on ice while loaded with a large vehicle is "hairy" any way it is looked at. I can side with you on the nerves bit after an experience like that. I've never smoked, drank, or used illicit drugs to calm them, just performed more work to accomplish more. Glad you got through it. Don't know what I'd do without you to harrass. Rob

I've got a slight leak from the water pump on one of my V8 engines and want to rebuild the pump myself. Have you ever rebuilt one of these yourself? The service manual does not really call for any special pullers and such so I'm willing to try. The pump is not difficult to remove from the engine, and we have an industrial seal supplier in Peoria should I need some special packing. Thanks, Rob

A couple of friends that haul Caterpillar equipment will not run recap tires on their trucks, or trailers. They do not stay together due to weight and heat of the application. Several years ago one of them gave me eight 9.00X20 recaps that were new, but never mounted with a Goodyear G159 tread. I installed them onto a rollback carrier that I was selling, and the purchaser ran them for at least five years that I know of without problems. He hauled and delivered farm equipment with the truck. I've seen a lot of damage from them comming apart on trailer and trucks so I was always hesitant with their use. Then again you see so many out there that there has to be a reason. I don't know how detrimental the sidewall dryrot would be if you are not hauling heavy. It would seem that if the tread to carcass is sound the tire could be run. I'm basing this on my own inexperienced interpretation and speaking of a minor case only. Rob

I do take care of and maintain my tires along with the rest of the vehicle. I drove my 89 Dodge Spirit car to 392,000 miles, (2.5ltr turbo) before replacing it as it was literally falling apart. I did go through two cylinder heads, and four head gaskets during it's lifespan. Also totalled three times from being hit in the rear. I borrowed a really neat homemade tool from a guy that maintains trucks: A regulator mounted to a manifold through a check valve with by-pass using four "whip" hoses with clip on ends for the valve stems. You took shop air attached to the regulator, and it flowed through the check valve into the manifold where the whip hoses attached. The whip hoses attached to four tires, (if needed) and it became a central point inflation system to the regulator pressure setting. The check valve had a button on the side that would let you deflate to reduce pressure in the tires. This really worked slick and I plan to make one for myself. All connected tires would inflate evenly. Without good casings to use for a cost offset I'm going to spend near $5000.00 for tires this next year. I think with that kind of cash outlay, I'll most likely care for them properly! Rob

Relinquish job related stress. Ditch the Pete. Rob

And there's your problem right there. The induced stress of driving a Pete relinquishes human "will power" and causes unsuspecting operators to ingest tar, nicotine, and by-products of combustion into the body. This is commonly referred to as "smoking". Rob

Hello and welcome to the site. Excluding myself there are a few folks here that know these older trucks quite well, (I just guess a lot). First off I see your truck is listed as an RS 700 series meaning that it has straight steel frame rails building a conventional ladder type frame from front to back, and an extended hood. You also mention Maxidyne, which is the engine series with an engine brake which would be called a Dynatard system. This is a Mack design and although most say they do not work quite as well as a "Jake Brake", if maintained properly they perform adequately in their intended application. Pertaining to the V8 engine that you mention: It is a choice of three in that style of chassis if original to the truck: The first choice would be an ENDT865B. This will be rated at either 322hp, or 325hp depending on the calibration of the injection pump. The other choice of engines would be an ENDT866B engine that is rated at 375hp. There should be an aluminum tag riveted to one of the aluminum rocker covers on the engine with the specifications stamped into it. Typically the 865 engine would have either a single stick five speed, or twin stick six speed transmission installed behind it as this was the "Maxidyne" series of engine. The 866 engine is of the "Thermodyne" series and typically had many more gears such as nine, ten, or so. Parts for the two valve V8 engines are getting increasingly difficult to locate and acquire. On top of that, expense is ever increasing. If you plan to work that truck be cognizant of the cost of operation especially breakdowns. It has been said those engines were hard on head gaskets, but I've not seen that problem myself. My experience is that the injection pumps are very expensive to have worked on. Ebay has a consistent supply of service manuals available and you want the TS-442 series. These are easy to use for the mechanically inclined. If you go that route, be sure to ask the seller the latest reprint date as that series of manuals ran for many years. You want to ensure that your chassis is covered. I personally like the V8 engines. They are smooth, powerful, and seem to be dependable. I've not worked one myself, but remember them well when popular. Good luck with this one. Rob

Glad to help. Rob

Hi Chuck thanks for your insight. The manager and I had discussed the benefits, as opposed to the detriments in using recapped tires for my application. With a projected mileage of about 8000-12,000 miles annually with a maximum load of 40,000# gross, all are pretty confident that this is a good way to go. My trucks also reside inside the shop when not used or in the way of progress. This D4300 series tread pattern is said to be a good balance of wear, noise, and traction. He even says they'll take them back if I'm dissatisfied with them to purchase new. Assuming this to be a truck I keep for several years, (I really do like it) these should be a good evaluation for me to get used to. I'll never work a truck as it was designed to do in reality, and plan to remain in the hobby stage with them. Rob

Yeah, keeps me busy. I'm happy I don't live a complicated life. Rob

Why would I lie? Rob

Practice makes perfect. You must be comfortable in the operation of your equipment before trying to impress upon someone else that you are qualified to operate it. Common sense and safety practices will get you through the formal testing with ease. It's not a matter luck. Confidence, sure. Smarts, definately. I'll bet you'll do fine. Rob

Thanks for all the wishes and thoughts there guys. Really appreciated. I'm now a whopping 49 years old. Momma say I need to grow up now but NAHHHHHHHHHHH!! Tom, you must have an unbelievable set of NADS hangin on ya to trust a Pete to 75MPH and expect to get home with it or; You peddle really fast. Hmmmm, I don't feel special. Rob

And my daughter got me this:

Get home from a long hard day at the office and Momma presents me with this shirt so I had to grab my daughter and sit for a photo op to show you my appreciation. Rob

Hi Adrian and thanks for your suggestion. He actually brought that up that their capping process ensures the tires measure withing 1/4" circumference of the tire. I guess the old casing is ground to the correct diameter to accomplish this. He also stated that capped tires for trailer service were not as closely controlled as ones destined for a power unit. Let me go a little further with this: Little over two years ago I took 16 10:00X22 tires and rims, and four 10:00X20 tires and rims them to have broken down. All of the tires were junk and unusable, and I wanted to blast and paint the rims. This was in late May, or early June and not stiffling, but hot all the same. Four of their guys busted their nuts breaking these down, (they did not come apart easily), and it was almost six hours later that I got out of there. They charge $16.00 each to mount and dismount heavy truck tires so I got out of there at $8.00 each for a total of $160.00 for the work done so far. The manager, (since departed) would not let me tip those guys for their work, so to make things right, I had a 16 gallon keg of beer, (their choice of brand) delivered right at closing time by a local distributor. When I returned to have ten new 22", and four 20" tires mounted, they got right to it without problems. I got out of there in less than an hour with no bill. Tommy House Tire has taken good care of my family for years and we exhibit dealer loyalty for it. Rob

Thank you. He did mention that also and wants the time to ensure it can happen. They deal with a lot of fleets from the area and have many casings ready for capping. Rob

Today I did it. I just ordered eight D4300 Bandag recap drive tires for my RL797L. I don't have any casings for the 11.00RX22.5 tire size, so I'll have to pay for them. I've got a real nice pair of Cooper CXMA-354 radials, (one new, one 85%) in the same size for the steer axle so I should be set. I've purchased tires from Tommy House Tire for many years and the heavy truck side manager is going to personally ensure I get good casings less than two years old. I've got time before actually needing them, but they should be finished within a couple of weeks. Going to need to get my rims finished up quickly. Thanks for the input Herb, and Jim. They actually recommended against caps on the steer axle even with their own product. It was not a consideration, but thought I would ask anyways. I've never had a white truck before so I think that is the way this one is going with my corporate emblems on the doors. I don't know if I'll be able to get the tanks and such polished up in time for show season this year, but I do want to make some of them, especially the closer ones, and Macungie. We'll see. Rob

The pressure is limited to 60psi with those regulators. They do go bad from condensation, or wet air from the tanks. Never understood the reasoning behind three pressure regulators when a single one on the input, (supply) line will reduce all air to all functions to the proper level. Rob