Willie dog Posted July 28, 2018 Share Posted July 28, 2018 Ok, question and answer time......I got the tanker running good, brakes and everything else works. So far I have put a whopping 7 miles on it, venturing out a little farther each time. I have never driven a truck that large and old, so my questions are....., does it really take a literal football field to turn it in a complete 360 degree circle? I'm sure the turning radius is not so tight but.......and BOY DOES IT WANDER. Next question is to clutch or not to clutch when changing gears while driving? I can double clutch and not grind the gears too bad but, down shifts to make it up a hill or something are another story. I'm waiting to see if I have any teeth left on the gears. I know I have to get some more practice under my belt before venturing into traffic around town and the highway. Any ideas, opinions or thoughts are always welcome 😀 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/53933-questions/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatcity Posted July 29, 2018 Share Posted July 29, 2018 Quote The song-"Gimme 40 acres..." was no lie back in the day up shifting is pretty easy without the clutch, but you need to know and listen to the engine. downshifting even now is easier WITH the clutch Quote Success is only a stones throw away.................................................................for a Palestinian Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/53933-questions/#findComment-403229 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willie dog Posted July 29, 2018 Author Share Posted July 29, 2018 3 minutes ago, hatcity said: Thanks hatcity. I feel kinda dumb asking such questions. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/53933-questions/#findComment-403230 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post hatcity Posted July 29, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted July 29, 2018 22 minutes ago, Willie dog said: Thanks hatcity. I feel kinda dumb asking such questions. Never a dumb question. You may get dumb answers though 4 Quote Success is only a stones throw away.................................................................for a Palestinian Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/53933-questions/#findComment-403231 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post 70mackMB Posted July 29, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted July 29, 2018 With time and practice (10 X practice ) before you know it you won't even be looking at the tack or using the clutch Just by the sound of the motor you'll know when to shift. And then they will just slide in and out of gear as if on their own. Good luck and be patient. .....Hippy 4 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/53933-questions/#findComment-403232 Share on other sites More sharing options...
1965 Posted July 29, 2018 Share Posted July 29, 2018 rpms need to come down to shift up; rpms need to go up to shift down. Bunch of patients & practice; everybody has been there. 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/53933-questions/#findComment-403233 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post h67st Posted July 29, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted July 29, 2018 1 hour ago, Willie dog said: Thanks hatcity. I feel kinda dumb asking such questions. Believe me, there's a lot of us that learn when someone asks questions like these. 3 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/53933-questions/#findComment-403238 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddog13407 Posted July 29, 2018 Share Posted July 29, 2018 there were not many B42's made with a tach and in my experience the 77 series trans behind a 401 or the smaller transmissions are not forviving like the bigger 67 and 72 series and they HATE being shifted without the clutch. the wander could be in the steering box. did you set the toe on the tie rod an 1/4 inch in? and i know the later B42's had stops on the frame for the pitman arm and they sucked. made the turning radius horrible, you could also have the stop bolts in the backside of the spindle screwed out too far 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/53933-questions/#findComment-403241 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobert62 Posted July 29, 2018 Share Posted July 29, 2018 I've been driving truck for a living for 18 years now. I find myself using the clutch a lot more in my B then the other trucks I've drove. Just seems like things work better using it. Biggest thing is patience take your time and don't force shifts. It will get easier the more time you have in the seat. 1 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/53933-questions/#findComment-403255 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobert62 Posted July 29, 2018 Share Posted July 29, 2018 4 hours ago, hatcity said: Never a dumb question. You may get dumb answers though Heard an instructor at a driving school tell a guy "grind it til you find it" 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/53933-questions/#findComment-403256 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post carlotpilot Posted July 29, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted July 29, 2018 the clutch was put in there for a very very good reason use it its much cheaper to replace than a transmission or set of rears or both 2 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/53933-questions/#findComment-403257 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hayseed Posted July 29, 2018 Share Posted July 29, 2018 8 hours ago, Willie dog said: down shifts to make it up a hill or something are another story Keep an eye on your Tacho. How many revs you lose on upshifts This will be how Many revs you'll have to "Blip" on the down shifts... Mack Boxs you will need to use the Clutch. Roadrangers not so Much(Except for Compound Shifts).. Just My 2 cents worth. 1 Quote "Be who you are and say what you feel...Because those that matter...don't mind...And those that mind....don't matter." - Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/53933-questions/#findComment-403262 Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryS Posted July 29, 2018 Share Posted July 29, 2018 Confirm on the shifting, practice practice. As MD suggests alignment may be causing the wondering. I had the same problem and alignment made a big difference. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/53933-questions/#findComment-403271 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willie dog Posted July 29, 2018 Author Share Posted July 29, 2018 Thanks for all the advice and suggestions. I agree with the practice, practice, practice idea. If nothing else, it's a good excuse to get some behind the wheel time in an old truck. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/53933-questions/#findComment-403274 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmackpaul Posted July 29, 2018 Share Posted July 29, 2018 Many older Australian trucks wandered all over road and you tack ed like yacht when driving, or least thats how I have heard it described Have been told the castor angle is wrong from new as it makes it much easier to steer at very slow speeds as trucks never had power steering Have been told that changing the wedge in between the springs and front axle helps a lot As for changing gears , lots of real good advice here Slow down the changes ,use the clutch and if you make a mess of it coast to stop and start again We all gotta learn some time Paul 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/53933-questions/#findComment-403289 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freightrain Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 If you don't have a tach, count and see how long it takes to get it to shift. 2-3 seconds? Find the rythym and just repeat it. It takes time, believe me. Sometimes, if you can get the load off the gears you will be able to shift without the clutch. Sometimes it is just hard to find that sweet spot, as the motor does not decel fast enough. Just use the clutch. 1 Quote Larry 1959 B61 Liv'n Large...................... Charter member of the "MACK PACK" Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/53933-questions/#findComment-403303 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freightrain Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 (edited) Lucky you only have a 5spd. I spent ALL SUMMER trying to learn to drive my Triplex! Note: keep track of what SPEED you need to be traveling to upshift. You can't upshift too soon, as you won't have enough RPM to match the next faster gear. I learned that quick with splitting gears on my Triplex. You have to keep accelerating to upshift. Unlike a car where you can just put it where you want(synchronized trans). Learn what SPEED each gear accels to, then remember the count it takes for it to match RPM to shift. Get to that speed, clutch, count, shift, accel. Repeat. Get a piece of masking tape and stick to dash: 1st gear, 5 mph, 2nd gear 15mph, etc. Then you will have quick reference. Edited July 30, 2018 by Freightrain 2 Quote Larry 1959 B61 Liv'n Large...................... Charter member of the "MACK PACK" Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/53933-questions/#findComment-403346 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddog13407 Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 also keep in your head,''it is gonna take 5 gears to get to 55mph.... space them accordingly. same with a triplex or quad within reason, its gonna take me 15 or 20m gears to get to 55mph loaded.... and don't let anyone fool you, if your empty even with a triplex you only have a 5 speed, the rest we're all just showing off 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/53933-questions/#findComment-403361 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willie dog Posted July 31, 2018 Author Share Posted July 31, 2018 Thanks to all for the great advice. If it ever quits raining I'm gonna put all that info to good use. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/53933-questions/#findComment-403393 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted August 3, 2018 Share Posted August 3, 2018 only drove 1... 2 stick gas job....in a 1960 reo.....that was 43 years ago......best advice....definately double clutch....the rest is just going to take alotta practice......good luck ...bob 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/53933-questions/#findComment-403581 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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