Keith Pommerening

obviously TeamsterGrrrl loves to poke us in the eye with her finger just to get a rise out of someone.  I have to agree with her (?) on one point.  Her belief and willingness to let government take over and control us minions is widely accepted.   

  Ask my neighbors to keep shooting the damn deer.  But they just shoot the horny deer not the hungry ones.  Had to drag out the JD and clean around the wife's prize cedar tree.  Then wrapped it with netting.  She won it at the Bog Queen Beauty Contest.  

  Had to put the dog down today.  His kidneys quit working.  Never know what you get with a rescue dog.  Couldn't stand to watch him suffer anymore.    Was able to dig a hole in the woods next to the house.  Almost no frost under the snow.  I really liked this one.

  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.  I truly enjoy reading your musings.  Thanks,  Keith

On 12/2/2016 at 1:38 PM, BillyT said:

Keith,that A 40 has all sorts of potential! I can picture a 5.9 with a 10 speed r.r ( bolts right up) or a 4 by 4 if  you can find one!

Did find an old Dodge 12 valve, with all mechanical fuel controls.  Had a weak auto, two wheel drive, and Dana rear axle.  They detune the Cummins from the factory because the auto tranny will not take the torque.  Had a reman trany in it already.  He was asking $1,000.  Probably not a bad deal, still kicking my self for not picking it up.  Old Mack is so complete that I'm not ready to make that move....yet.  When I find out how much it will cost to rebuild the stuck engine, could change my mind.

11 hours ago, terry said:

Not trying to change the subject, but I sure like that A40, looks pretty staight !    terry

It is pretty complete.  Only missing the "A40" emblem on the hood side in the picture, a couple of the vertical "shutters" in the radiator shell and battery box door.  Have read some about a chrome or ss A40 strip that runs vertically on center strip of radiator grille. This one doesn't have it.  Kinda wonder if there is any truth in that claim.  Any body have any of those parts they are willing to part with, let me know! Sent to Mack Museum and received some info.  Wow, money well spent!  Was originally sold to Mesabi Service and Supply in Hibbing Mn.  Iron Range country.  Rear diff has been changed to vaccumn shift two speed, an IHC I think.  Original top speed was 47 mph according to Mack Museum info with original diff.  Museum info gives many serial numbers of components that truck was built with, haven't found any that have been changed.  Only options were over sized tires and the driver's seat.  Insterment guages are nice, no broken or cracked glass.

Engine looks to be complete with air brake compressor and two barrel carb, gas motor.  But is stuck.  Have put every kind of magic snake oil known to me, into spark plug holes, but no luck.  Crankcase gets fuller.  There is a piece of steel that runs under door and forward under cowl.  It covers a piece of wood.  It has rusted through near front "A" pillar on both sides.  Have been able to get a title from the state.  Last titled owner helped me with the lost title paper work.  Have it now licensed as a 15,000 lb farm truck.  Don't know if that is good or bad, but have the owners title in my name.

8 hours ago, gearhead204 said:

Little feller looks to be handier than a lunch box! Does it have a hydrostatic trans? I have looked at a few of the Cub Cadets and tried to justify having one of the little critters around, but either my lawn mower, 4 wheeler, or the bobcat will do for the smaller jobs.

Has a hydo tranny with two speed ranges and front wheel assist and power steering.  Loader goes on or off in less than two minutes.  The one thing I did that really surprised was move a 10 X 12 chicken coup complete with insulation and sheet rock.  Jacked-up coup, put fence post at  right angles to "I" beams under building  and hooked beams up to three point.  Had to fill bucket with paver blocks to keep front axle down.  Swapped post back to front as it moved.

Tractor comes stock with three point middle and rear PTOs.  Like the side by side pedals for movement as opposed to "rocker" style.  When making shooting lanes and put bucket about two inches above the ground, to find stumps, then run mower to clear.  Can run tiller at the same time if making food plot type lane, but that really overworks the tractor,

13 hours ago, 1958 F.W.D. said:

I work for a small company- about 35 employees.

Got a 5% raise 2 weeks ago,

Now I know why. Anyone wanna take a bet that I get a letter from my employer come December sometime that he's going to have to start deducting more for my health care plan? 

That is what happened to me last year.  Got a $1.00 per hour raise, my portion of health insurance cost went up $40.00 per week.  My portion now amounts to $6.07 per hour, or $240.28 per week.  And I thought insurance was out of control before Obummercare!  Feel bad for those who say they cant pay $350 per month.  Yea right. Keith

5 hours ago, TeamsterGrrrl said:

Sorry to disturb your conspiracy theories with reality, but this is entirely the native americans doing- In fact they're mad at Obama and Clinton for staying out of the controversy. The tribes quite rightly see this poorly engineered pipeline as a threat to their water supply and people, and they're uniting to fight it. As a small town water system operator, if they tried to build such a poorly engineered pipeline upstream of our water supply, I'd be fighting it too.

Last power line that came through here:  Power company made a deal with the tribe.  Paid them every cent they asked for.  Then tribal members beat drums and stoked a camp fire for months while demanded more.  Don't know what the tribe did with the money.  Can't believe they are upset with the present regime, they vote 95% or more "D."  Some times more votes then tribe members I hear!  Want to bet they do the same next month?

"Poorly engineered pipeline"  With all the government oversight, EPA, OSHA, county, state, federal, tribal regulation and oversight, highly skilled, trained, paid union labor...etc.  With that much help from the government and unions, how can we have anything but the best and safest pipelines?  

As I remember;  Wasn't watergate about demos, the protector of women, providing hookers for donors and delegates?

On 10/3/2016 at 8:10 AM, fxfymn said:

The 67 - 72's hardly ever rusted; 73 - mid 80's came from the factory equipped with rust holes in the fenders. If there are survivors out there than they are probably sporting after market tin or they lived in the desert.

Had some of those pick-ups.  After spending time in them I would get into my brother-in-laws Ford and get my ass chewed.  He use to always say, "This is a Ford.  You don't have to slam the damn doors to get them to shut!"  Thanks,  Keith

Hillary  WOW!

14 hours ago, david wild said:

Let's hope that Donald learns from his mistakes and does better, many polls say he won, but I think he needs less knee jerk reaction and better control of  his comebacks, a little calmer and sharper comments would have been better to watch. A sharper knife goes in deeper and makes a better wound.    

Have to agree with david wild.  She just kept throwing BS at him and he seldom got ahead of her.  About what one would expect a polished 30+ year politician would do with  any "outsider" challenging what she believes to be here entitlement.  She has so many "faults" that need to be exposed and re exposed.  Don't expect the press to do their job.  The press is the major reason we have been saddled with Obummer, in my not so humble opinion.  That is why I never buy a newspaper or donate to public radio/tv, they are already on government welfare.  I suggest you do the same.

She told us what she was going to do;

 Raise every tax in the book, and some not dreamed-up yet.  I wonder how she thinks anyone can thrive and prosper with her level of government.  I love the old western movies, they demonstrate what was so correct about about the American way.  The "star" cowboy would come across a homesteader or stage coach stop and the person would be proud of what he made or built.  Now days a democrat politician would come by and say "You didn't build that."  You owe me 40% tax or we'll take it away from you.

Gun control, I don't think she can outlaw gun ownership since it would take destroying the second amendment.  She would put-in so many hurdles and regulations that gun ownership would become unobtainable, but legal.  About like putting a pipeline or copper mine in Minnesota.

She would continue on installing the agenda that didn't work even back when slick Willie inherited, then ruined a improving economy.  Like Trump said here experience wasn't good.  Looks like she doesn't learn from past mistakes.

Healthcare, she couldn't lie enough to make it pass.  That took the Obummer and his party .....

Hillary WOW aka Wacky Old Woman.

On 9/7/2016 at 6:07 PM, 1965 said:

I havnt bought new truck since 06; probably never will again; always GM man; never seen a Ford that would out do them in any way; I don't like the problem that GM did; probably wouldn't buy a new 1 because of it; but I never seen a Ford that could run or haul what a Chevy could; there front ends were terrible; you can ride in a Chevy loaded or unloaded & you got to drive a ford!!

Is this what you are talking about?  Thanks,  Keith

22 hours ago, 1965 said:

I shouldn't have started the mudsling! 

I thought in 70's the turbo 350,400 trans. was 1 of the best thing they had; my momma had a 77 caprice; I didn't even know they made a 200 series trans. It was junk!!

Do have to admit one thing about that p/u.  It started and ran at -35.  Parents had a 200  series tranny in an Olsmobile.  I drove it to Alaska and back.  

On 9/7/2016 at 6:07 PM, 1965 said:

I havnt bought new truck since 06; probably never will again; always GM man; never seen a Ford that would out do them in any way; I don't like the problem that GM did; probably wouldn't buy a new 1 because of it; but I never seen a Ford that could run or haul what a Chevy could; there front ends were terrible; you can ride in a Chevy loaded or unloaded & you got to drive a ford!!

Remember the last new Cheby p/u I bought.  Pretty red 1978 with silver slab sides.  Was hauling a load of firewood out of the woods, when it jumped way up in the back and came crashing down.  Thought I tore the rear end out from under the truck!  The crown of the road caught the spare tire and tore it out from under chassis.  Had it about a year when fluid started to leak out of the transmission case.  Dealer told me it was probably a porous case.  Friend who repairs Cheby transmission said that the splines machined into the case rolled and pulled metal from case causing the leak.  Friend was correct.  Traded it in for an X-11 Citation, that was another mistake.  Dealer sent me a bill for new transmission.  I didn't pay it.

Engine always used a little oil.  Was using Arco Graphite oil, newest greatest thing at the time.  One cold northern Minnesota morning, that means about -35 below zero, I took a can out a the shed and stuck it in the oil fill.  Went inside to warm up and have breakfast.  Came back out to retrieve the can and oil wasn't into the spout yet.  Had to put can on wood stove and heat it to get the oil to flow out of can.  Thanks,  Keith

Can you find the corresponding  serial/model number by right rear spring mount?  Does it have just the in-cab fuel tank?  Shouldn't the wheels be the old bud wobblers?  Head lights are aftermarket.   Might be a different frame and running gear?   Thanks,  Keith

20 hours ago, Dirtymilkman said:

Isn't that true.......I can't believe how bad a solid front axle handles and how expensive they are to maintain till we bought a new one. I remember saying when GM came out with independent front suspension how it'd never hold up, but wow was I wrong. I don't think we ever had a front axle make 70,000 miles without needing ball joints and knuckles. I give GM a ton of credit there. We've owned them all. Ford, dodge, Chevy and we are done with dodge for sure. The new super duties are a nice and technologically advanced but I think a guy has to trade them before 50,000 miles. Read this about Ford and government money. http://www.forbes.com/sites/joannmuller/2012/08/29/automakers-report-card-who-still-owes-taxpayers-money-the-answer-might-surprise-you/#3fea3b86a8cd

How big of a truck are you talking about.  Back in the 60s I worked for a company that had a 2.5 ton Cheby with an "A" arm front axle.  How many years did they make them before going back to straight axles.  Drove around many Chebys sitting low in the front.  Most had one tire vertical and one horizontal on the front axle.  Most Cheby p/us of that era had cracked windshields.  I thought that was stock but a friend said it was caused by weak frames and flimsy cabs.  Which is it?  Know the local shop had a never ending stream of work rebuilding TH350s.  Do recall having to replace the steering shaft that ran all the way from on wheel to the other on an old twin I beam.  Didn't have screw-in ball joints.  Made me mad and cost so much I took it to a blacksmith and had him bend it into a crow bar.  The link is old and outdated.  Thanks,  Keith

Aren't A30 trucks a lighter series truck?  Seems strange one would have tandem axles.  Or am I wrong on that?  Thanks,  Keith

7 hours ago, Dirtymilkman said:

Don't forget, Ford took bailout money too. Ford decided to cut their losses earlier and sold off Volvo, Land Rover, Jaguar and other subsidiaries. And then there's Chrysler...........

Yea I heard they also got some of the money.  Guess the difference is they paid it all back plus interest.  Ford didn't get a 9.7 billion dollar gift form the taxpayers, to be paid for by our children and grand children when they pay back the national debt.  They will pay a lot of interest on that money too!  I wish Ford could have hung on to Volvo and Jaguar also.