" Million Dollar Fluid "

[Mike]

With the shutter filter cleaned and I used the same gauze but cleaned in fuel bath. I looked the Mack manuals over real good like and still can't seem to figure out what is the fluid that is supposed to go inside my shutter filter that is mounted on the firewall. Thinkin it is possible to be either light oil or antifreeze. All the manuals sy is RF- A Radiator Shutter # 104-SF-11P1. Would someone give me a clue as to which fluid goes into this small chamber ?

THX

mike

[Rob]

With the shutter filter cleaned and I used the same gauze but cleaned in fuel bath. I looked the Mack manuals over real good like and still can't seem to figure out what is the fluid that is supposed to go inside my shutter filter that is mounted on the firewall. Thinkin it is possible to be either light oil or antifreeze. All the manuals sy is RF- A Radiator Shutter # 104-SF-11P1. Would someone give me a clue as to which fluid goes into this small chamber ?

THX

mike

You could probably get by with a light machine oil such as 3-in-1, or non detergent 10WT, or hydraulic fluid. You are just keeping the slider/shuttle valve lubed in the shutterstat, and possibly the leather packings in the shutter cylinder are kept supple by this same supply.

I've never had one apart so don't really know.

Rob

[Mike]

You could probably get by with a light machine oil such as 3-in-1, or non detergent 10WT, or hydraulic fluid. You are just keeping the slider/shuttle valve lubed in the shutterstat, and possibly the leather packings in the shutter cylinder are kept supple by this same supply.

I've never had one apart so don't really know.

Rob

The 3 in 1 sounds good to me cause it will keep things cleaner inside airlines and shutter cylinder unit near the radiator. As you know, the shutter cylinder has the large rubber valve inside and I would rather use a fluid that will not be harmful to those million dollar rubber parts inside. LOL......when I took these units off the truck, only small amounts of motor oil had by-passed and got into these units. They are now cleaner than my old mess kit was.

mike

[Freightrain]

Hmmmm, I'd like to see the picture of what you're working on Mike. I know my shutter gets it's air from a "Manifold" on the firewall(don't know what all it actually does), but no fluid that I know of in it. Air straight to shutter thermostat and then to shutter actuator. Works like a charm for years now.

[Mike]

Hmmmm, I'd like to see the picture of what you're working on Mike. I know my shutter gets it's air from a "Manifold" on the firewall(don't know what all it actually does), but no fluid that I know of in it. Air straight to shutter thermostat and then to shutter actuator. Works like a charm for years now.

Hi Larry,

My set-up is air coming into a two chamber unit on the firewall that has a cotton gauze material inwhich I have cleaned and got paint off of. Next an airhose leads into the Shutterstat on the water manifold ( that I have bought new but have not changed yet. As the water temperature increases the shutterstat valve opens and lets air flow into the shutterstat air cylinder by way of another airhose, pushing the valve in the cylinder thus closing the shutters in front of the radiator. Larry I hope this will help. I would send a picture but i'm at work and it's a little difficult doing this. When I go to my g/f house she takes the 5th most of the time.

mike

[Freightrain]

Sounds exactly like mine. Maybe I'll get a picture of mine and you can compare it to yours. I'm not sure where any kind of fluid would be used, that is why I'm concerned.

[Mike]

Sounds exactly like mine. Maybe I'll get a picture of mine and you can compare it to yours. I'm not sure where any kind of fluid would be used, that is why I'm concerned.

Yea Larry i'm concerned also about it. There is a bolt, 1/2 inch that is taken off to pour fluid inside a small opening. Shutterstatt fluid is supposed to be used. The unit I will call it, has 2 chambers that have wicks or I called it gause inside. Air comes inside and I guess pushes the fluid through the temperature shutterstatt, to the shutter cylinder and then closes the shutters.

mike

[Freightrain]

Okay, here's my set up.

First picture, the flexible air line comes from air compressor:

The hard copper line goes down to the junction block:

The air line(clean new one coming towards camera) goes to the shutterstat.

Here is a top/front view of motor and you can see the new line to shutterstat:

When I got the truck, the shutters were open and non functioning. The feed line was clogged shut, so I replaced it. The control cylinder was packed full of sludge so I dismantled it and cleaned it out. It's been years and it works like a charm.

[Mike]

Larry thats an interesting setup but simple. Mine looks like a small brake reservoir with the copper lines from the air governor running to it about five inches away. Man if I only could remember how to post pictures. I'll find a way.

mike

[Freightrain]

While in reply box, there is a "attach this file" box towards the bottom that will add pics. I use Photobucket and works fine that way.

[Mike]

Larry, here comes the picture of my airfilter on the firewall.

mike

[Freightrain]

Well maybe they put that on to keep all the slobber oil out of the system? How much oil does your air tank get? Mine used to fill a mug every trip out. I had the a/c rebuilt and now it's dry as a bone. That is why I pulled my shutterstat and controls apart to clean the sludge out.

As you can see, it will work without that gizmo, but depends on the condition of your air compressor.

[Mike]

Well maybe they put that on to keep all the slobber oil out of the system? How much oil does your air tank get? Mine used to fill a mug every trip out. I had the a/c rebuilt and now it's dry as a bone. That is why I pulled my shutterstat and controls apart to clean the sludge out.

As you can see, it will work without that gizmo, but depends on the condition of your air compressor.

I get about 4 table spoons full each time I get out. I know it needs rebuilt but i'm waiting for the little truck and tractor show this weekend about 5 miles from home. It will be the first time for me to show it if it don't rain. Larry, got a question about the oil change.... I filled the crankcase to the full mark and also added about a gallon inside the duplex clarifier. It is not full but wondered if it will have to be filled to the top or start it wait and see if oil comes to the top until it starts to escape out the filler hole to get air out? I have poured 20 quarts of oil in him thus far total.

Thank You

mike

[Freightrain]

I used to put 3 gal in the pan and 3 gal in the filter housing and start it. I didn't used to bleed the filter, but started to the last couple years. Don't think it has made much difference? Mine has always been slow to build pressure after sitting for week or so.

My oil dipstick isn't original? It's been changed/marked and not really sure where "full" is? I was told 6 gal, so that is what I put in. Then I heard 7 gal, so I added one this year.

There is a check valve below the filter and I pulled it, cleaned it and still no difference. I know it's leaking down, but it doesn't seem to affect anything but start up. It runs 55-60 psi down the road, so I don't worry much about it.

[Mike]

I used to put 3 gal in the pan and 3 gal in the filter housing and start it. I didn't used to bleed the filter, but started to the last couple years. Don't think it has made much difference? Mine has always been slow to build pressure after sitting for week or so.

My oil dipstick isn't original? It's been changed/marked and not really sure where "full" is? I was told 6 gal, so that is what I put in. Then I heard 7 gal, so I added one this year.

There is a check valve below the filter and I pulled it, cleaned it and still no difference. I know it's leaking down, but it doesn't seem to affect anything but start up. It runs 55-60 psi down the road, so I don't worry much about it.

55-60 lbs. sounds mighty good to me. Has that motor been rebuilt since you've had it? I was wondering if the filter housing needed to be filled to the top or start the engine at idle and fill until the unit is running oil out of the top of the housing?

mike

[Mike]

Got my answer last night about filling the filter. I filled the crankcase to the H mark and proceeded to fill the filter housing with a second gallon of oil. Got in and started the truck with the oil vent or fill plug open. Next things got a little exciting for me cause I needed to be under the hood instead I was inside the truck watching for oil to trickle out the filter housing. Instead it came gushing out. I immeaditly shut down the engine and rushed out to plug the filter housing. Man did I have a real cleanup later. I checked the dipstick and was very little oil left on the stick. So I filled the crankcase back up to the upper mark. All seems well now. Pulled the truck outside the garage and started to clean up my mess.

mike

[Freightrain]

LOL! I was going to make a statement about "bleeding" the filter, but figured you wouldn't do what ya did LOL!!! I've left the plug "loose" and then tightened when it seeped. I KNEW I wouldn't get the motor shut off in time if I left the plug out! 60psi sure does make a mess even for second.

The motor is all original for what I know. It's got 50 yrs of oil leaks, including the seeping head gaskets(I think-it's always damp). Runs likes a champ though.

[Mike]

LOL! I was going to make a statement about "bleeding" the filter, but figured you wouldn't do what ya did LOL!!! I've left the plug "loose" and then tightened when it seeped. I KNEW I wouldn't get the motor shut off in time if I left the plug out! 60psi sure does make a mess even for second.

The motor is all original for what I know. It's got 50 yrs of oil leaks, including the seeping head gaskets(I think-it's always damp). Runs likes a champ though.

Larry,

ya we can laugh together about the valdez oil situation I had the other day. This morning I got up ready to go to the truck and tractor show five miles from me. I went in the car instead, thinking that the rains were still around the area. When I got to the show site, an R-Model Mack was there with a lowboy. Apparently showing a farm tractor with his setup. I finally found this guy thinking I could pay him to pickup my truck, since I had no escort cause I have no brake lights yet only emergency flasher. As I talked to him he told me that my tanks would drag his trailer and would be a bad idea. So he decided to interagate me about my truck and finally got up from his chair in the middle of the conversation and walk off to talk to someone else. I'm kinda standing their scratching my head about this thinking, what did I say to deserve that kind of disrespect. Well as usual I turn and look to see if the other guy sitting beside him was looking at me incase he may have been listening to me but was not, so I turn and walk away. I'm getting real good at that these days. I just want to participate with people not compete with them. I've spoken about my car show days in previous threads knowing how the politics get fierce. I hope this doesn't bleed over into my joy of this truck. I'm not out for anymore trophy's, only out for a good time and mainly want to learn from someone else about these trucks.

So I go home and take off the radiator shroud and shutter assembly. The shutter assembly was EXTREME GRIME shut and finally got it free to travel ok but will take it apart soon. Also I can give Rob credit in knowing that if I didn't replace the felt etc. on my shutter cylinder I would mess up my paint job on it. So yes it leaks and now i've. taken it back off to redo that problem later.

mike

[Rob]

Larry,

ya we can laugh together about the valdez oil situation I had the other day. This morning I got up ready to go to the truck and tractor show five miles from me. I went in the car instead, thinking that the rains were still around the area. When I got to the show site, an R-Model Mack was there with a lowboy. Apparently showing a farm tractor with his setup. I finally found this guy thinking I could pay him to pickup my truck, since I had no escort cause I have no brake lights yet only emergency flasher. As I talked to him he told me that my tanks would drag his trailer and would be a bad idea. So he decided to interagate me about my truck and finally got up from his chair in the middle of the conversation and walk off to talk to someone else. I'm kinda standing their scratching my head about this thinking, what did I say to deserve that kind of disrespect. Well as usual I turn and look to see if the other guy sitting beside him was looking at me incase he may have been listening to me but was not, so I turn and walk away. I'm getting real good at that these days. I just want to participate with people not compete with them. I've spoken about my car show days in previous threads knowing how the politics get fierce. I hope this doesn't bleed over into my joy of this truck. I'm not out for anymore trophy's, only out for a good time and mainly want to learn from someone else about these trucks.

So I go home and take off the radiator shroud and shutter assembly. The shutter assembly was EXTREME GRIME shut and finally got it free to travel ok but will take it apart soon. Also I can give Rob credit in knowing that if I didn't replace the felt etc. on my shutter cylinder I would mess up my paint job on it. So yes it leaks and now i've. taken it back off to redo that problem later.

mike

The few truck shows that I've been to I have met some really nice folks. Nothing like the car shows that I used to attend for the most part. Of course there are always going to be some that care about nothing but themselves and/or equipment. Those are usually the type that paid for the restoration or the commonly referred to "Checkbook Builders". Never really cared for that much myself either; Too shallow. The ones I truly enjoy speaking with, (and admire) are those that have an open photo album, or story showing phases of the restoration they actively participated in. There are some good stories about triumphs, failures, and lessons learned. It would be foolish to expect every truck that showed up with a beautiful paint job to be 100% completed by the owner. Some things we do not have experience with and it's best to sublet that type of work. I like the personal touches applied to a restoration; some ideas I like, some not, but respect them all.

If the gent walked off in the middle of a conversation it is probably because he seen someone he knows, or is very tired of telling the same stories over and over. I've spoken with people and they do get tired of that, but if it becomes troublesome, or lessens the enjoyment of those that come to admire/gaze upon their work, they should probably switch hobbies. While it's true that telling a single person something in the small town I live in the whole world eventually knows, it is not always the case. Personally, I enjoy talking about trucks, (mine and others) and helping others with theirs.

Rob

[Mike]

Thanks Rob,

You can come down to my garage anytime and help me out. I could use an extra hand with knowledge to go along with it as long as your not more than the cost of all tha ROADKILL I can cook. Also bring Niki along with ya so I can entertain her while you work. I can take her up in the plane or ride tha Harley or she may like a ride on my Honda GoldWing for a little comfort. Be lookin forward in seeing ya.

mike

[Freightrain]

Sorry to hear you found a bad apple in the crowd. Some people AREN'T personable, no matter what hobby. I've found that in drag racing(talk about competition LOL! ), though most are okay, some don't want to "talk". I always smile or nod and go on my way. Some people take alot of prodding to open up and be friendly. See that alot too. They aren't mean, just "shy".

[Rob]

Thanks Rob,

You can come down to my garage anytime and help me out. I could use an extra hand with knowledge to go along with it as long as your not more than the cost of all tha ROADKILL I can cook. Also bring Niki along with ya so I can entertain her while you work. I can take her up in the plane or ride tha Harley or she may like a ride on my Honda GoldWing for a little comfort. Be lookin forward in seeing ya.

mike

You may be in luck. She is about to dispatch another boyfriend. Always has liked her "down time"; Impede that, your done.

I'll keep you posted.

Rob

[Mike]

Got the shutter air cylinder completely rebuilt today without messing up my previous paint job. I wanted a flat neoprene washer, about a 5/16 and a rubber o-ring to aid the back side of the cylinder. I'll let ya know how it goes. It sure gets enough oiling inside the cylinder. Thats ok for this winter i'll be completely dismantleing this truck for restoration. I've noticed that everything on this truck must have ben RED in it's earlier life. For looks I like a black frame as opposed to everything being one color, it depends on the vehicle, some I think looks great with one color on everything.

Larry, I've been through the same difficulties when I hung around the dragstrips also. I loved drag racing better than eating cake back in the 60, 70's, and 80's but my late brother leaned toward oval track racing. So in the 90's I helped sponsor my nephew in his B modified. Later when they started a new class they built a open wheel car so I started building alcohol 356 ci. motors for them. Yes, this became addictive also. I can still remember brother and I standing next to the fence with that car screaming around the track with 7,500 RPM's throwing dirt over the fence. I have the photo's to prove it. I don't have any of my Mustang drag car, situations in life caused them to find file 13 if ya know what I mean.

mike