Popular Post Joey Mack Posted May 12, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted May 12, 2023 I have been posting on a thread about a Mack ASET-I engine. Turns out, the 'poster' is in Maine.. Turns out, he knows of the shop I used to work at.. Maine Mack, currently O'Connor motor's. ( I was there when the buyout happened).. This post is hard for me to write, because I cant see the key board very well, through my tears.. I asked our BMT brother about a guy that worked there, another BMT brother posted an article about the person I was asking about.. It was an obituary.. It was my Old Timer friend that I worked with at that Mack dealership.. ''Earl Harnden''.. He hated me for about the first year I was there.. Then He came to me one day to tell me he was wrong about me... He was a cranky Old Coot.. From then on, he became my Mack Daddy.. He took me under his wing, and would willingly teach me all he could about E-6's and E-7's.. We didnt have many 'B' models back then, but he knew them well.. He taught me how to do Really Good work, and to take notes, and to work neatly, and cleanly, and organized... and on and on... He could just stand next to a Mack, and listen, and then tell you where to look.. He just had that way about him.. I have that way too, but , just a drop in the bucket compared to Earl.. He gave me that knowledge.. Every job, especially, engine jobs I did after I left Maine and came to N.C.,,, I always had him in the back of my mind.. ''Ronzo'' he would say,, ''Pay attention!!'' This is how you do this.. He is still in the back of my mind today, even after building dozens of Mack engine's, I always have him with me.. I found out 2 days ago that he left us in Sept. 2022.. Earl, and Men like him, Much like the Mack Truck, are a dying breed.. I am greatful for the knowledge he gave me.. I am also greatful when I see postings that show young'ns who want to carry on the Legacy.. Be that Old Timer that Earl was to me.. It still means something.. Jojo 8 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/72853-a-mack-old-timer-my-friend-earl/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post 70mackMB Posted May 13, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted May 13, 2023 When l started driving over the road in 1979. I was delivering candy to an old warehouse in Chicago. Had a COE 4070 with manual steering and a 42' trailer. As hard as l tried to back in that day it just wasn't going to happen. This old local driver next to me had watched me long enough. He stood out in front of the my truck 25'/30' and said "You have the trailer were it needs to be, now pull up and put the truck in place. And if you are not in in three attempts pull out, go around the block and try it again" Joey l can't tell you how many times l've seen that guy standing out in front of my truck the past 44.5 years! .....Hippy 3 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/72853-a-mack-old-timer-my-friend-earl/#findComment-531342 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey Mack Posted May 13, 2023 Author Share Posted May 13, 2023 Amen !! Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/72853-a-mack-old-timer-my-friend-earl/#findComment-531343 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mowerman Posted May 13, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted May 13, 2023 God love the old-timers all we got now is snub nose kids around us … sorry Joey it’s the circle of life. Nothing any of us gonna do about it. Everybody goes away sometime or another another 20 years will all be gone. Hopefully it’s so much better place than this ha ha and you know what I mean. Thanks for the cool story…. Bob 2 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/72853-a-mack-old-timer-my-friend-earl/#findComment-531353 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MACKS Posted May 13, 2023 Share Posted May 13, 2023 Sorry for your loss.. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/72853-a-mack-old-timer-my-friend-earl/#findComment-531355 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted May 13, 2023 Share Posted May 13, 2023 I remember back in the 80s we had a fella like that Los Angeles Mack dealership real nice guy. He was a German from the old country. Funny thing his name was max …had the accent complete crackerjack he was there fuel pump man I was floored just to hear him talking about the many parts inside a pump …are used to trade with them all the time I knew everyone in there …and they would lend me tools kind of getting off the subject but those old days are sure gone I don’t even think the dealership is there anymore … but again there’s very few people walking around as smart as this guy was… Bob 1 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/72853-a-mack-old-timer-my-friend-earl/#findComment-531356 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechohaulic Posted May 13, 2023 Share Posted May 13, 2023 change a few names a story I could have written. the ole timers back then had sooo much knowledge , one inspiration for me was the shop foreman at Mack. if i could have tapped into a small part of his knowledge . unknown secret he had was ; he couldn't read or write well.it was hands on that taught him. started as a gas pump boy before it became a Mack dealer. I had/have the highest respect for him. as with many ; he's no longer with us. always figured You must have had a great foundation for the knowledge You express. willingness to learn is important , a concrete influence plays a major role in the desire to learn. SORRY for Your loss. 1 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/72853-a-mack-old-timer-my-friend-earl/#findComment-531357 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechohaulic Posted May 13, 2023 Share Posted May 13, 2023 waterbury Mack had "ole man Dixon" in the machine shop. all he did was transmissions and rear ends. i was told he knew every gear by location from any transmission or rear. put Him to the test . found a gear identified the number / trans model and location. showed it to him . he told me exactly where it went and trans model it came from. I spent many a lunch hrs listening to Him. 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/72853-a-mack-old-timer-my-friend-earl/#findComment-531358 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted May 13, 2023 Share Posted May 13, 2023 We had a terminal manager like that high school dropout Wayback when I was working for the trucking outfit years ago, guy was a cracker. Jack had that place running like a well oiled machine. Lots of business and as the old story goes, father passed, son took over got rid of that terminal manager because they thought they were paying him too much. hired to brain dead idiots to replace him company. He was out of business in two years. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/72853-a-mack-old-timer-my-friend-earl/#findComment-531359 Share on other sites More sharing options...
other dog Posted May 13, 2023 Share Posted May 13, 2023 Sorry for your loss. 1 Quote Producer of poorly photo-chopped pictures since 1999. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/72853-a-mack-old-timer-my-friend-earl/#findComment-531366 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Joey Mack Posted May 13, 2023 Author Popular Post Share Posted May 13, 2023 You guys speak the truth.. I can relate to you even tough I am younger. I wanted to learn the CRAFT.. Earl, would cuss me and shake his head... and then when I did quality work, he would say so... He's an old military man who was an airplane mechanic.. He wasnt a large sized man, but he was Huge in knowledge.. I aspire to be an Old Timer, but I dont have children, or even a young'n that wants to learn... So I come here.. and try to help in any way I can.. Thank all of you for your kind words and stories that are just like mine.. Like I said... We need to BE the Old Timer's... It's about pride and purpose for me.. 2 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/72853-a-mack-old-timer-my-friend-earl/#findComment-531385 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Mark T Posted May 13, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted May 13, 2023 Sorry to read this Joey. One of the things that sucks about getting older is we all experience this.....as dumb as it sounds , if we're lucky maybe a couple times. For what it's worth to ya ? most guys that have an effect on us, by just being themselves, never know just how much they did . 3 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/72853-a-mack-old-timer-my-friend-earl/#findComment-531389 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey Mack Posted May 13, 2023 Author Share Posted May 13, 2023 I wish he knew... You hit A nail on it's head Mark... jojo Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/72853-a-mack-old-timer-my-friend-earl/#findComment-531391 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted May 14, 2023 Share Posted May 14, 2023 Might be getting a little off the subject but I used to do business with a lawnmower shop right here close old timer been dealing with small engine since 1959. Sometimes I would just go in there to bullshit even if I didn’t need anything, he sold the place now I don’t even mess with the only other supply house they’re crooks. I just order everything over the Internet. We had two other cool mower shops all three of them pretty much sold out and retired. I think bottom line I’m trying to get at most of the hospitality is gone as well .. I would rather just go through the computer. I have had very good luck with Jack’s mower parts. They were in the Midwest someplace. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/72853-a-mack-old-timer-my-friend-earl/#findComment-531418 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted May 14, 2023 Share Posted May 14, 2023 Like how many businesses will just let you go around the back and look around these days employees only you can’t go back there ha ha Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/72853-a-mack-old-timer-my-friend-earl/#findComment-531419 Share on other sites More sharing options...
70mackMB Posted May 14, 2023 Share Posted May 14, 2023 18 hours ago, Mark T said: most guys that have an effect on us, by just being themselves, never know just how much they did . l am making an effort to find and speak to those who made an impact on myself in the past. The few l have spoken to are surprise to be thanked for something that they did. Small or large doesn't matter so long as it was an important moment. A friend who towed my truck home from Hartford Conn, no charge. Repair shop owner that put other work on hold so l could get fixed and on my way. Terminal manager assuring my wife l would have a job after l recovered from back surgery. The one guy l can't find is the one that taught me to drive tractor trailer. Ed Armstrong last known to drive for Bemis Bag in Pepperell Mass. And there are several more to go yet. ......Hippy 1 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/72853-a-mack-old-timer-my-friend-earl/#findComment-531429 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mechohaulic Posted May 14, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted May 14, 2023 20 hours ago, Joey Mack said: We need to BE the Old Timer's... to be the "old timers " is the easy part ; we will all get there some day. the challenge and hope is that a next generation has the interest and desire to learn and carry on that to which is being past on by this generation of "old timers". after attending the deerfield truck show seeing the iron was good; what has impressed me and became the high light of the show was meeting Hippy( 70 mack MB) and his Son. staying in topic ; reason I mention the show was learning how his son is following in the footsteps of Dad as the next generation of diesel mechanics. I wouldn't give a thought to going to school for the modern electronics in todays trucking industry: I'm the ole timer now. 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/72853-a-mack-old-timer-my-friend-earl/#findComment-531433 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted May 14, 2023 Share Posted May 14, 2023 Funny thing when we were back in our 20s we never thought we were going to get there now here it is I guess it’s faster than you think Bob 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/72853-a-mack-old-timer-my-friend-earl/#findComment-531443 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey Mack Posted May 14, 2023 Author Share Posted May 14, 2023 Well Mech.. it's like I said,,, We need to Be the Old Timers.. You are one, 70MackMB is one, ( God Bless him) and I WILL be one.. whether its here or in the shop, I will Be one.. It means a lot to me.. Pass it On !! 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/72853-a-mack-old-timer-my-friend-earl/#findComment-531445 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjc transport Posted May 14, 2023 Share Posted May 14, 2023 while not in a real make money shop, i have been "the old timer" here on my neighborhood for the past 25 years or so. even when i was a young know it all askwhole in the body shop, i tried to teach the new guys the tricks i learned to do it rite, but easier. unfortunately the new kids just don't want to learn. one of my first real students now works for Caterpillar Entertainment systems as a diesel generator technician. he flies all over the world to babysit very large gensets, and repair when needed. he was in Saudi Arabia for 2 months for the world cup,, and just last week he was in New Orleans for three weeks for a jazz festival. and he still calls me to ask questions when he gets in a spot he is not sure on. 2 Quote when you are up to your armpits in alligators, it is hard to remember you only came in to drain the swamp.. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/72853-a-mack-old-timer-my-friend-earl/#findComment-531447 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechohaulic Posted May 15, 2023 Share Posted May 15, 2023 5 hours ago, mowerman said: Funny thing when we were back in our 20s we never thought we were going to get there now here it is I guess it’s faster than you think Bob time goes way faster then you think. I've always had a standing "agreement" with my customers when it came time for payment. not to be takin as morbid , just my way. I had 6 customers in agreement that since I carried them (their fleet) for so many yrs they would carry me on my last trip. problem I'm having is they are all passing on before me. the obit I posted couple weeks ago was a truck driver who was one of the six!! sure hope last ride isn't in a car either. LOL Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/72853-a-mack-old-timer-my-friend-earl/#findComment-531462 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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