Wobblin-Goblin

Sure. Post 'em up.

The B81 I recently purchased didn't have any hood support arms, so I'm in the process of making something work. As it turns out, after making arms and connections just like a B61, I have found that the geometry is apparently different between the arms on a B61 vs. a B81. Can someone post pics of an open hood (specifically the arms) of a B81 so I can fill in the blanks? Also, are the support arms for the B81 the exact same arms that are on a B61? I attempted to install the same ones on my B81 and the geometry is not the same. It's as if the B81 needs shorter versions of the support arms. Thanks.

Please remember to post a picture of your truck. Rule 37-2 of the BMT code requires all threads of vehicles to have at least one picture of said rig or your account could be terminated with great haste. Thank you.

Radiator shutters, push plate, and push plate supports were all stripped, primed, and painted today. I also finished servicing the air cleaner and replaced a few bolts on the bumper that were broken or spinning in place.

The frame was bolted on top (to the push plate) and on the bottom. It was also welded to the bumper in many spots. We unbolted it from the plate, cut the welds, and cut the frame at the bottom by the chassis.

Oh no. The dump body needs some attention before that happens. Aside from driving it around in the yard a few times, I haven't driven it much.

Busy day today. 1. Removed the plow frame. This B-81 will most likely never plow again now. 2. Removed push plate and support arms. 3. Changed the oil and oil filter. 4. Changed the fuel filter. 5. Started cleaning the air cleaner. Started. The bottom pan was nearly chock full of silt and oily dirt. Last two pics show some of it. 6. Wire brushed the cab floor.

Today I finished painting the removable steel floor pieces (floor board, thin sheet metal holders for rubber gaskets around shifters, etc, steel box that covers the series parallel switch, and PTO/dump levers). While the floor board is out, we replaced the transmission mounts on both sides. The rubber, bolts, washers, and nuts are all new. The old mounts were absolutely trash. Tomorrow I hope to back the truck outside, wire brush the rest of the cab floor, paint it, and then change the oil, oil filter, and clean the air filter.

Looks good to me. You appear to do top shelf work. Well done.

The link shows numerous options. Any idea which one I should be looking at?

I've been researching for months on this, and haven't really found anything definitive that would help me. With the SX, I obviously have a ten wheeler. I'd like to put maxis (spring brakes) on the front rear axle. Can someone shed some light on this and/or point me in the right direction?

The studs don't match up to factory holes in some instances, so be aware. Aside from that, if the quality went up, they must be mint, because the finish of the previous ones was pretty good.

I'm pretty sure the floor is original. The center floorboard has/had some holes in it where it moisture collected, but I welded new steel in today and painted the entire piece with black Rustoleum. No pics yet (lost power while working on the truck). The entire front part of the cab floor (where your feet go) is fairly rusty, but from the seats back the floor is in really, really good shape. Also, I made new PTO/dump levers today. They're painted and ready to be installed. I could install everything (levers, floorboard, rubber seals for the penetrations through the floorboard), but I want to get the transmission mounts replaced first.

Today I made replacement rubber seals for the floorboard (to go around the e-brake, shifters, and dump/pto levers). I also removed the dump/pto levers, cut them, drilled, painted, and re-installed them. I did this because the way they were, it was a loooong reach from the driver's seat to use them, so I'll be reconfiguring them to be closer to the driver and easier to use. Before I paint the floorboards, we're going to have to replace the (non-existent) right transmission mounts. It's an easier job with the floorboard out. Included is a pic of the radiator shutters, which have been freed up and mounted back into their frame.

Floorboards are out and everything from the back of the cab forward is greased. A couple fittings didn't want to hear it, but I eventually convinced them to work. In my travels under the truck, I noticed the right transmission mounts are gone.

Going back together.

Shutters are all back together. As I said earlier, everything is free now and lubed. I changed my mind on the painting part, as I've got some cutting and grinding to do in the vicinity of the push plate and radiator, so rather than risk damaging the new paint, the shutters will go on as-is for now. Hopefully they'll work as intended when I hook air up to them.

Fenders were painted last week, cab and hood were primed and painted today. Windshield is new with new rubber and lockstrip. Dash was painted while windshield was out. It's not perfect by any means, but we weren't looking for perfect. It will be a a functional dump truck. Front wheels, bumper, and push plate should be done by week's end.

B-75s are kind of growing on me.

Both management and labor shoulder the responsibility for the health of their company. If either get out of whack, things tend to deteriorate. Design and engineer good, reliable, rugged, and user-friendly products, hire motivated, qualified people to build them, and then treat everybody on the team right, and you'll have set yourself up for success.f

As a life-long admirer of Mack trucks, it saddens me to see where the company is today: a neglected, starving bulldog force-fed scraps from an owner that seems bent on killing him. Mack means so much to me and my family. Not only did my father drive numerous Macks for his employer, he owned two (a B-65LT and a U). My uncle drove Macks for his employer and now owns four (the aforementioned B-65LT, an LJT, a B-42X, and a B-model pickup he built). Another uncle has been a mechanic that worked on Macks for decades. I grew up in a world of Macks, and now have two of my own (B-61SX and a B81SX). I wish I could play a larger part in today's Mack and have a role in not only saving the company, but returning it to prominence in the trucking sphere.

I'd be interested in the "Diesel" emblems as long as they have the studs intact on the back side.

It pulls the tarp over the load and then back again when empty.

While I have always liked Mack, let's not kid ourselves, Mack did the same thing with other brands. Take Brockway for instance.

Fenders are painted. Dash is painted. Cab and hood should be painted by tomorrow or Saturday. Pics then.