graham1948

Rob, Thanks for that. The front springs were done by Dobinsons in Rockhampton. They are normaly very good and professional. I guess the guy doing the job just had a bad day. All the best. Graham

I have discovered the problem with my lopsided B model. Nothing too technical, when the guys reset the front springs they put thirteen spring leaves on the right hand side and they only put twelve on the left hand side. No wonder the old girl is half an inch lower on the left hand side. The shop is full of opologies and say they will fix it as soon as I can get it back to them. Thanks for your consideration. RegardsGraham

We replaced the compressor with a new one and since then we have covered about 3000 miles without incident. It took about 500 miles to get all the junk out of the lines and they are now beautifully clean. Thanks for your help. Regards Graham

Recently I noticed that the springs on my B Model were a little flat so I decided to put her into a "spring specialist" to get the job done professionally. Big mistake, should have done it myself. I knew I was in trouble when he kept reaching for a bigger hammer to remove the stubborn pins. One whack too much with the really big hammer and this rockape broke the left hand side rear spring hanger. Never mind he said, 'it was probably already cracked". Two hours latter he whacked the right hand side hanger and broke it as well. Two days later we managed to locate two new spring hangers and a mate and I fitted them and decided to fit the new rear springs ourselves. Job complete and now the old girl is riding about two inches higher. Last Monday I decided to get the front springs reset so they would match the rears. I got a different shop to do the job this time and they did a really good job, but I notice that she is half and inch lower on the left hand side in the front. Is it possible that Mack Trucks Australia put a spacer on the left hand side to build it up to compensate for the camber of the road? The left hand side of the truck for us is the passenger side and it is on the low side of the road. The guy who did the front springs said there was a piece of steel under the centre bolt locating block about half inch thick on that side but he did not put it back because he thought it might have been there to compensate for sagging springs. It seems now as though it may have to go back. Any advice? Regards Graham

I tried both those methods and they worked until I had the gearbox out last week. Now she is all back together I have a slightly different rattle. Sounds like metal on metal and when I put the bungy rubber on it this time it makes no difference. It's not loud but it shouldn't be there. It drives me even crazier than I am. Graham

Rod, I agree with that old clip from Stan. I've just arrived home from another 500 klm trip and I find I shift the quad best when I don't think about it. When I'm concentrating and trying to impress someone I stuff it up all the time. I've just pick the old girl up after having a new throwout bearing as well as new clutch and pressure plates and I must say she is very different to drive even though I only use the clutch for stopping and starting. I don't know why she is so much better to change now, but it is. If I could only get rid of the annoying tinny rattle that is coming from the compound gear lever I be a happy guy. Oh that, and getting her to go faster than 48 mph. Do anyone have a clue as to what might be causing this tinny rattle, if I put my hand on it with the slightest pressure in the absolutely correct position (about middle of the gate) the rattle goes away. Is there a felt or nylon washer or packing that supports the gear lever. The main box lever does not rattle at all. Regards Graham

Rod you need a faster diff mate. I got a few guys looking for me in the States. I think I should have one within the next few weeks. I'll let you know. Regards Graham

Rod, I just don't want to see the dog's eyes watering, I want to see him with his paws over his eyes, just peeking out between his toes. How fast does a 9 ratio diff go? Or better still how slow does it go? Graham

Herb, I just found out from the guys at Mack in Australia that my B model was originally delivered with a tandam drive rear end with an 8.24 ratio( that would have been bloody slow). Someone in the past fourty five years has converted her to a single drive. I thought she looked a little bit longer in the chassis than I remembered my original single drive unit. Never mind I'll keep her as a single dirve and save the wear and tear on the four extra tires. Regards Graham

Herb, at last I've got the numbers off my rear end. They are ratio R 7.48. Other numbers are 11KH4159AP6 and CRD 117.63H.32. I've tried Adelmans and Watts but they are still looking. Dennis at OldMacks think he might be able to find one for me. I'll just keep looking. I've decided that if I'm going to all this cost and trouble I may as well hang out for something that will give me decent speed. e.g something in the 4's. Regards Graham

Again many thanks Herb. I'll get the serial number and then I'll talk again to Adelmans and also to Watts who are both looking for a diff for me. Regards Graham

Herb or anyone who can respond as soon as possible. I have just spoken to Rick at Adelmans and he thinks he may be able to supply a diff for me that is either in the high 4's or low 5's. He wasn't sure about the serial number of the diff. He mentioned a CRS 84. Is that the part number I am looking for? Thanks Graham

Herb, Gearbox out and top off. The workshop foreman reports nothing abnormal. Bearings OK, he reports some sign of minor rust on the gears but nothing to worry about so I told him to seal it up and just concentrate on the clutch and pressure plates and the throwout bearing. Hopefully the rattling noise I was reporting was to do with the throwout bearing not disengaging. I guess I'll know in a few days when they get her back on the road. Next trip is in 10 days, we're off on a 2000 mile promotional trip for our country music radio network. Regards Graham

Tom it would be great to be able to tell people the old girl is capable of doing 100 mph, but stuffed if I'd like to be hanging onto the steering wheel at anything over 70 to 75mph. I drove one for 5 or 6 years in the late sixties and she was capable of 75 mph. It was a lot of fun chasing the steering wheel all over the cab, but then I was just 25 years old. 60 to 65 mph will do this old fella now that I'm 60. Thanks for the equasions, I'll have a few beers and then try to work it out. Regards Graham

Herb, I've put my B model into a workshop to get them to replace the throwout bearing (the current one is not dis-engaging and is making a hell of a noise) and whislt they are at it I thought they may as well replace the clutch plate and the pressure plate. Like all shops today they claim they know everything but in essence they only know modern trucks. They tell me that because they can't buy a new clutch and pressure plate for my truck they will have the old one rebuilt and fitted to the flywheel, which sounds OK to me. While they have the quad box out I asked them to lift the top off it to see if the bearings etc are OK. Do you have any advice as to what else they should be looking at, and are there any recomendations you would make in relation to this operation. I have also asked them to look at the issue I have with low RPM's and I have given them the print out you gave me from the manual re this topic. I still can't find a faster diff down here than the 7.48 currently in the truck. I might have to find one over there and ship it over here, any clues? I want to be able to cruise at better than 60mph. Regards Graham