Another Day at the office

[12v71]

Speaking of 2 strokes in another thread, I got a new toy at work, 1982 Kenworth with a 445 HP 8V82, real sweet low miles truck from a local fire district. Gotta turn it into a poo hauler. That sucks because that's where good trucks go to die. It did mark its territory when it came into the shop, it's not oil, just condensed water from the air box drains.

 

[STG_58_guy]

Are there any 25 year olds who can do this work? Are there any that want to?

 

[12v71]

Are there any 25 year olds who can do this work? Are there any that want to?

I can't find any that will.

 

[NFADLR]

Was it a water tender ?

Recognized it could have been a fire service related from the color, lime green.

Speaking of 2 strokes in another thread, I got a new toy at work, 1982 Kenworth with a 445 HP 8V82, real sweet low miles truck from a local fire district. Gotta turn it into a poo hauler. That sucks because that's where good trucks go to die. It did mark its territory when it came into the shop, it's not oil, just condensed water from the air box drains.
View attachment 168263 View attachment 168264 View attachment 168265

 

[12v71]

Was it a water tender ?

Recognized it could have been a fire service related from the color, lime green.

It was, also had a remote controlled monitor on the front for brushfires, 3,000 gallon tank and a small Cummins powered pump. Pump and tank are now mounted on their new truck.
I have to mount a 5th wheel, taper the rear of the frame, and install a hydraulic pump and tank to run the poo trailers. And as an added bonus this truck was never set up for trailers, so I have to plumb it for trailer air.

 

[C-ya]

Do you do a lot of conversions? Not sure if you have Menard's in your area (doubtful as they seem to be a Midwest thing), but they use a company to convert single axle day cabs to add a PTO and a set of forks off the back to do deliveries with. A buddy of mine was doing it for a few years, so I got my CDL to help them every now and then on the weekends.

I delivered in the snow like this. I had to put cables on. Turn the forks down, stab the ground, lift the rear wheels, put the cables on. Easy peasy.

(Random utoob video.)

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[12v71]

Do you do a lot of conversions? Not sure if you have Menard's in your area (doubtful as they seem to be a Midwest thing), but they use a company to convert single axle day cabs to add a PTO and a set of forks off the back to do deliveries with. A buddy of mine was doing it for a few years, so I got my CDL to help them every now and then on the weekends.

I delivered in the snow like this. I had to put cables on. Turn the forks down, stab the ground, lift the rear wheels, put the cables on. Easy peasy.

(Random utoob video.)

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="

" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

That's kinda cool, never seen the forks on a truck like that before. Around here they use the hitchhiker forklifts.

 

[C-ya]

That's kinda cool, never seen the forks on a truck like that before. Around here they use the hitchhiker forklifts.

They have those around, too. It's always funny when you pull up and the person asks where your Moffett or piggyback is. I would say, "Hang on. You'll see." It sucked in that every delivery was a drop and hook.

 

[apache c-10]

Like to see more pics of the rig in your avatar, is it yours? Looks like a beauty!

 

[12v71]

No, that's not my truck. A friend sent me the pic because it had the 12V71 engine. IIRC that's a 1971 359 model. In the early 80's I drove a '74 with the same engine... Just not as pretty.

 

[apache c-10]

Story of my life, driving ugly company junk, and dreaming of owning one like that myself!

 

[C-ya]

Story of my life, driving ugly company junk, and dreaming of owning one like that myself!

This was my ugly company junk. A buddy and I bought it for the aforementioned Menard's delivery business.

 

[12v71]

This was my ugly company junk. A buddy and I bought it for the aforementioned Menard's delivery business.

That's not ugly... Just practical. Have a friend with a similar rig that contracts with the local Lowes and Home Depot. He has the Moffet on his tandem axle trailer.

 

[12v71]

This was my ugly for 22 years, it never got any paint because it was too busy to stop. Later I got tired of overfeeding the IRS, the state dept of revenue and the DOT and parked it. Still have it for occasional lifting jobs.

 

[12v71]

Got one of the money makers in the shop today for an 18 speed transmission overhaul. 99 Peterbilt with a 450 hp Cat.

 

[12v71]

Second transmission in 2 weeks, 9 speed this time. It was so badly worn out we just got a reman unit.

 

[4x401]

That's a nice Pete.

 

[12v71]

That's a nice Pete.

We got a bunch of them. That one does need new paint though.

 

[12v71]

That's a nice Pete.

Here's some of the big guys hanging out behind the shop. The red one is an 86, we have 2 of them that work most every day. They have lots of updates. Wiring and air plumbing mostly.

 

[Jeff in Pa]

This was my ugly for 22 years, it never got any paint because it was too busy to stop. Later I got tired of overfeeding the IRS, the state dept of revenue and the DOT and parked it. Still have it for occasional lifting jobs.

This story from the mid 1990s

My friend Pete had a single axle dump truck, a beaver tail trailer and a backhoe that he used on his farm ( PA) and had it commercially plated so he could use it for odd jobs. Pa requires you to pay your road tax quarterly.

The winter quarter he didn't drive the truck anywhere that quarter. He filled out the paper work stating zero miles that quarter and mailed it off. He got a letter from the state threatening a fine if he didn't include a check for what was due.

He got on the phone and after wasting hours, he was told he had to write a check for ZERO DOLLAR AND ZERO CENTS to satisfy the requirements.

What pissed him off the most was spending the money for a check, an envelope and a stamp for the money grabbers.

 

[12v71]

Had the #4 truck in today for a fan clutch rebuild and some new hoses. Another 99 with a 500 hp N14 Cummins.

 

[12v71]

Oh yay. Just unloaded 4,000 lbs of fun for another project. Our 980 Cat loader needs a new transmission.

 

[12v71]

Had the "flagship" in today for some electrical problems with the engine brakes.

Also had plenty of help with a DOT inspection on number 2 truck.

 

[12v71]

Absolutely pissed off today, brand new hydraulic tank with a hole in a weld. Pumped 40 gallons of oil into it and found a puddle on the floor. Closed up the hole with a center punch, cleaned it up and zapped some weld over it... no more leak and didn't have to pump it out.

 

[Col. Bat Guano]

The pics of those tracks bring back memories. In the late 80's/early 90's, during my college years, I worked for my brother, who is a heavy equipment mechanic. I not-so-fondly remember working on the tracks of a D9, replacing the pads. After torquing the bolts to 500 some odd foot pounds, you then had to rotate each bolt an additional 120 degrees! Good times.