Popular Post cf685f Posted October 21, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted October 21, 2016 I have been looking for a little while, but haven't pulled the trigger. Last month I was talking to a lady at a wedding, she said she had an old Mack out back. Her husband died, the trucks been sitting two years and the grandchildren didn't want it. So I said, I will take a look. Needless to say, she tossed a number out and I thought what the heck since its local. Its been driven, but I believe it was loved. So here's too my first tractor trailer! I picked this trailer up two days later, the stars must have aligned. I bought them quick, so hopefully I didn't make a big mistake. 1988 Mack R 6885st, (350 with a 9) and wetkit, pulling a 1975 SmithCo 40 ton trailer. I plan to pull my antique fire engines and farm tractors with it. 1 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
41chevy Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 Looks like a clean and taken care of unit to me. Good luck with it!! Paul Quote "OPERTUNITY IS MISSED BY MOST PEOPLE BECAUSE IT IS DRESSED IN OVERALLS AND LOOKS LIKE WORK" Thomas Edison “Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely, in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘Holy shit, what a ride!’” P.T.CHESHIRE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j hancock Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 Looks Great! Quote JimIt doesn't cost anything to pay attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryS Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 Very nice. Should do the job nicely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cf685f Posted October 22, 2016 Author Share Posted October 22, 2016 Just spent the day going through it with the dmv. Been so long since they seen a old R they had no idea what they were looking at. Good news is that I got through it and its now titled in my name with plates. Did have two problems. It appears to be wet stacking. I noticed its blowing very black smoke when I romp on the peddle and I saw some diesel fuel in the exhaust. Its my first e6, so I'm going to dig into the puff limiter. The second problem was a leaking big (maybe 3/4) wet line. It looks to need replacing or just tightened. Its suppose to be nice again tomorrow, so I hope to get some more miles on it. Runs nice, shifts smooth, doesn't even know that trailers back there when its empty. Picked up a complete filter kit for $50 at Mack, so I plan to get some new oil too. Fresh fluids throughout should make it feel better also. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j hancock Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 11 hours ago, cf685f said: Just spent the day going through it with the dmv. Good thing you brought the doughnuts! Probably a previous owner "tuned up" the puff limiter. Maybe disconnected or plugged so it doesn't work properly? 2 Quote JimIt doesn't cost anything to pay attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave41855 Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 Looks like you did well!!! Yet another old Mack comes back to life!!! Enjoy it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fxfymn Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 Congrats Tim. Is that the one you told me about last year? It looks like there is room for a sleeper as well? Quote Money, sex, and fire; everybody thinks everyone else is getting more than they are! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cf685f Posted October 23, 2016 Author Share Posted October 23, 2016 Yeah, I just saw the owner for the first time a couple of weeks ago and she finally decided to take my offer on the combo. She wanted it to go with a detachable neck lowboy, but it was way out of my price range. Just happened that she had a fix neck too that was in my price range. I saw this other trailer which was just refirbed and I was sold. I'm excited as I was able to get my setup for a descent price and I can stop messing around with pickups& goose necks that I always overload! Its definitely a 25 footer, but its an R model that worked its entire life without being garaged. Really wanted a steel dash, but my CF will fill that void. Just put 100 miles on it today for fun. It runs out good, shifts nice. It runs out to about 80mph, that's exactly what I hoped. Now I can get on the freeway hauling my firetrucks and have no issues with speed. I just couldn't get my self to rip out the original 5 speed on my CF to make it go faster. It appears to have never been detailed or cleaned , so I have to give it a good cleaning. Change the fluids and replace the two aluminum rims on the front. Only thing I found that doesn't work so far is the air condition and the heated mirror on the passenger side. Other than that, I still going through it. Time will tell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted October 24, 2016 Share Posted October 24, 2016 Yeah glad you could rescue it. Looks like a winner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freightrain Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 Nice score. Ya, you won't know what to do with all the power over using a pickup truck. Quote Larry 1959 B61 Liv'n Large...................... Charter member of the "MACK PACK" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terry Posted October 26, 2016 Share Posted October 26, 2016 Should run alot of years on what your going to do with it ! terry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gearhead204 Posted October 26, 2016 Share Posted October 26, 2016 great score!........if my memory serves me correctly the only issue you might have with that combo could be the cam in the 350, I would suggest adjusting the valves and checking the valve bridges.........I'm not trying to scare you...just a heads up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post cf685f Posted October 28, 2016 Author Popular Post Share Posted October 28, 2016 Now that's good advice gearhead204. This is my first 350, so I am learning all about its little quicks. I have a 237 and two green leakers, so Ive got alot to learn. Stopped by my local Mack and all the good guys retired this spring. Talked to the two new service advisers and they didn't even know what a r688st was or meant. I miss my old team, they had been at Mack 40 years and could help me through anything. The new guys may be able to change the oil....on a good day. I will have to look around and see who can do that in Raleigh. I like to watch and learn, so I'm going have to find someone I trust to help me with this. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post gearhead204 Posted October 30, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted October 30, 2016 look up one of the retired guys, if they have been retired for 6 months they need to get away from their wives for a while and probably for a box of beer will coach you thru it 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1965 Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 ^ that's a good idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cf685f Posted November 6, 2016 Author Share Posted November 6, 2016 Thanks. Been digging in, alot of cleaning and the past mechanic's wiring skills are questionable. I am working on cleaning up the wiring under the hood. Ive got more unconnected hot wires, than I have ever seen. After examining the ac, the compressor and condensor are completely unconnected, so now I'm guessing the system is in worse shape than I hoped. Ive got to get a wire diagram and get power to them, to see whats broken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cf685f Posted November 6, 2016 Author Share Posted November 6, 2016 Puffer valve frozen, engine kill broken in half, tank gauge not working and the dash lights are all out. More to go.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gearhead204 Posted November 6, 2016 Share Posted November 6, 2016 common problem on that series with the fuel senders, also check the dash light dimmer switch (next to the windshield wiper knob) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cf685f Posted November 7, 2016 Author Share Posted November 7, 2016 Thanks gearhead, ill check that switch. I like going through a new truck but this one been interesting. Last mechanic did everything but use chewing gum so far. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cf685f Posted November 8, 2016 Author Share Posted November 8, 2016 Interesting dimmer works, but someone has removed half the bulbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j hancock Posted November 9, 2016 Share Posted November 9, 2016 Only half the bulbs...? With an older truck, there is going to be a good chance of some modified wiring. Here is a PDF diagram for an 1983 if you need some info. 1 Quote JimIt doesn't cost anything to pay attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cf685f Posted November 10, 2016 Author Share Posted November 10, 2016 Jim thanks, that is exactly what I needed to track down these issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddog13407 Posted November 10, 2016 Share Posted November 10, 2016 I think one of my favorite discovery in old trucks is wire nuts....... welded new sides in a dump truck at work. farmer used household romex 12/2 and wire nuts for all the box lights. come to find out he did it cause hes on a farm and the mice and rats chew the wiring(household yellow romex has something in the insulation supposively to keep the rodents away) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j hancock Posted November 10, 2016 Share Posted November 10, 2016 Farmer was just getting creative! My favorite was pulling a dash harness out of an early Camaro with about 20 Scotchlok's installed. What a plate of spaghetti that was. Quote JimIt doesn't cost anything to pay attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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