rustydog

Recently cranked up this '59 after sitting for years. Builds air, but won't hold it. Checked all over and fixed some minor leaks. Noticed air coming back up and out of the intake hose after shutdown.

Any and all suggestions appreciated.

Why don't you try naming some of these projects after your better half? You know, like they do with boats.

Just in case, I would still empty the acetylene tank, and throw away the sharpening stones!!

I'm still a rookie here myself, but welcome along for the ride!!....Also speaking from the shore area of southern jersey.

BEST WISHES TO YOUR NEW MEMBER!!!........."b61joe"

After a month or so of on and off tinkering, I was able to get my 59 B61lt fired up today!!

What a great feeling to hear this truck which is as old as me, sound soooo good! Even strapped the fuel can on front and took her for a short drive down the street. I want to personally thank HK Trucking for all the excellent advice, and also for making things easy for a novice to understand. Also to Freightrain, Paul Van Scott, and all the others who gave me such sound advice. Never having worked with an injection pump before, I was quite nervous about what was going to happen if she fired up. But the timing was not altered, and by following everyone's instructions, all went quite smooth!! Will post some pics in near future. Thanks again guys.

Rustydog

Now there's a candidate I could vote for!

I JUST HEARD ON CNN THAT BILL CLINTON HAS CHANGED PARTIES!!!!!!!

WHERE'S ROB at???HE WOULD PROBABLY JUMP ON THIS BEAUTY. REMINDS ME OF ONE I USED TO TAKE RIDES IN WHEN I WAS A KID. STILL AM A KID LOL

I remember Chief as well, if I remember correctly they went out in 1978 or 79.

I don't know if the trailer is for sale or not though.

Good Day

Dak49

I remember Chief as well, if I remember correctly they went out in 1978 or 79.

I don't know if the trailer is for sale or not though.

Good Day

Dak49

I remember Chief as well, if I remember correctly they went out in 1978 or 79.

I don't know if the trailer is for sale or not though.

Good Day

Dak49

It might have been-I haven't seen that show for years. Carl was talkin 'bout tha french fried potaters.

LET'S GET BACK TO THE SUBJECT?????????HA HA HA HA LOL

Definitely go to the OldMacksRUs site for a ton of info.

In a nutshell, the B model Mack was among the "post war" improved

trucks. It was a new design and used air brake systems still in use today.

All the things you are familiar with are in the truck with the possible exception

of spring brakes (Maxi brakes), although many have been added to the old trucks.

There were two primary braking types available, wedge brakes and cam operated

"S" cam brakes. (Cam brakes are more desireable)

Power steering was an option, and quite often the trucks do not have it. Radial tires

certainly help that situation a lot.

As per Mack's reputation for toughness, the trucks typically were way overbuilt, oversprung,

and underpowered. What they lacked in raw torque and horsepower, they made up for with gears.

Transmissions in combinations up to 20 forward speeds were common. Rear end ratios typically in

the high 4.00's to mid 5.00's were most common, with ratios into the 9.00's on very heavy duty off

road trucks.

Truck drivers were definitely much smaller then, as the cabs are not exactly spacious. But they feel

like an old shoe. Very comfortable.

As for pulling modern trailers - why not? Depending on the job, you might consider more power.

It's pretty common for a later Maxidyne engine of some ilk to be retro-fit. Some folks think it's best

to swap the transmissions out also. I don't necessarily agree. "Drive it like you own it", and you shouldn't

have any issue.

The most common of the original diesels was a END673, which, depending on the year, made something aound

170 to 180 horsepower. A Dodge pick up with a Cummins makes a lot more than that! The same engine was turbo-

charged, which made it up to a whopping 250 hp. But - don't forget those gears. These old trucks moved an awful

lot of America, one load at a time.

This is an antique that you can use. It will turn heads and makes a great promotional tool for your business.

Guys here on this forum use the B models to pull race car haulers, lowboys, dump trucks and all sorts of

other uses. You just cannot lose sight of the fact that the newest B model was built about 43 years ago.

So - the message is - Jump in, the water's fine.

Paul Van Scott

And, if I may add my two cents, Paul is one of the very helpful people on the forum. I've got a very varied background of experiences, but diesel engines and the like are not among them. These guys are a real great asset to those of us trying to start out on a new venture. Rusty

Rather than re type it all, here are links to other threads on the subject:

http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?showtopic=3674

http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?showtopic=3711

Thanks for the help HK!!

Before trying to start it either with the air starter or by pulling it, check to make sure the injector pump rack is not stuck.

If the rack is stuck closed the engine will not get any fuel and will not start.

If the rack is stuck open, you'll get one hell of a surprise when it starts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK, what's the procedure for checking that?

LOL well i,m IMPRESSED !! get told i,m Crazy loading my excavator onto my Beaver Tailed ACCO without ramps but thats takes the cake doing it with a wheeled Bobcat !! wouldnt attempt doing it with my Tracked Tekeuchi " MUSTANG " as its sold i the USA i belive but gotta admit i,d give it a bash in my ol 144 Mustang wheeled bobcat

That guy should be on Americas Most Wanted.............Equipment Operators!!!!!

Freightrain, thanks for the input, I need all the help I can get. That is kinda what I figured, but I wanted to get some expert advice, so as not to waste too much time. Thanks

Small hole? 1/16" hole is pretty small. Most drains cocks would have been 1/8" pipe or larger(which is near a 3/8" hole size). So it's an open hole now? It needs a plug put in it for the system to be able to work.

Start up? You'll need to air that tank up to 100+ psi, push in the "shut off" on the dash and then hit the starter. Unfortunately with air start you can't "crank and crank and crank" like with an electric starter. You'll get a few seconds of good cranking then it will run out of air and quit turning. Not good for starting an old engine that hasn't run in a while. Lot of guys will pull start them, as you can keep it turning by just pulling it around in circles. Air up the brakes(so you can release the parking brakes--if it has spring brakes on it), then also it will give you brakes for when it does start and you need to stop it from rolling into something.

Just getting started, well trying to get it started, recently purchased B61, w/ air start. Seems to be very small hole in bottom of starter air tank. Is that normal, was some type of fitting there at one time? (perfectly round, 1/16 dia., looks to be threaded). What is procedure to start this baby up, can you bypass the air start? Has not been running in years. Have flushed fuel system. Any advice appreciated.

Sorry to hear of your trouble Freightrain. Hope everything goes back together smoothly.

Old Macks never die, they just get new springs!!

Hey Barry, Enjoy those 3 days off!!, for fun try watching the movie DUEL, if you have it!!

Thanks for your help along the way for me getting started!!

Stay Safe, Happy 4TH !!

rustydog

Rusty,

If you are seriously looking for a project - do the homework first.

Determine which model you would like and go find it.

Then buy the best one you can find. Especially if you are not a

professional at antique restorations.

I have found that big trucks are substantially easier to do than

automobiles, and harder than old farm tractors.

Still they eat money at an alarming rate, especially if the project

requires a lot of repair in areas where one is not necessarily an expert.

The very best money spent is spent on the day you buy the truck.

In the case of Mack trucks - there is quite a bit of unrestored inventory

around the country. So finding something that really fits your needs is

quite likely. And belonging to this forum is really good.

Case in point -

I have a B-67 diesel tractor in my shop now that I probably should not have

purchased. But, it was my 1st Mack, and I was in a weak state of mind.

It was long before I joined this BMT site.

I will have in excess of ten thousand dollars in the cab alone on this truck,

before paint! Mostly because I need to hire most of my body welding work done.

The cab is now made up of three different cabs to get good sheet metal.

Mechanically the truck was OK. It still required the disassembly and rebuilding

of all systems and components. Another ten to fifteen thousand. And that assumes

that the engine is good.

Plus rubber and wheels, brakes, glass, wiring and plumbing etc., etc. More money!!

And to rub in a little salt - it's still a B-67. It could be the least desireable

of all the B models.

My intention is to use the truck as a shop truck with a 25t lowboy, so I don't really

care about the value - yet.

By contrast I have an H-63 that, other than needing an engine, is almost perfect for restoration.

No major cab surgery necessary. Much, much less frustrating. I have spare engines that are correct.

And I have an early R-600 that needs rocker panels and some light sheet metal work. It runs

and drives perfectly. Very inexpensive and a quick path to a fully restored truck.

In both of these cases, careful shopping netted pretty good trucks. And I am actually

looking forward to working on both trucks.

Compared to my B-67, they look like a cake walk.

So, my advice is - Don't jump on the 1st thing you find.

Do your homework, and be honest with yourself as to your limitations.

Then, buy accordingly.

Good Luck,

Paul Van Scott

Hi Paul, I couldn't agree with you more! I know my limitations, and although the temptation is there to jump right in quickly, I try to always weigh all my options. I did speak to Kevin All this morning.

Probably planning a trip up to visit his yard; the more I see, the better idea I'll have as to where to spend the first fistfull of greenbacks. I have learned sooo much just reading through areas of this site

in just the past few days, and look forward to learning even more as time goes on.

Special thanks to you, freighttrain and dave gilmour?, for the recent advice--every word is taken to heart. P.S. other dog--I don,t even have a garage yet, let alone a MIXER !!! thx

thanks for the help terry, I appreciate it. will know more tomerow about this piece.

On my way home from Allentown, Mack Museum, today, found an old B model of sorts, could not really determine if it was B61 or not. Could anyone advise if this single axle was avail w/ flathead 6 cyl.? That is what guy told me when I called. It's in rough shape, rot, rust, glass missing, any ideas on value here? Thanks to all. rustydog

Hi Paul, thank you for the information, i'm headed to the site right now. nice to have an organization like this to share knowledge. appreciate it!!

rustydog

Hello everybody, i'm just starting out on my quest for the right b model. was wondering if any of yall are from the southern part of nj?? need to try and find a sgl axle gas or diesel in fair condition. would be open to exact model. appreciate any help or advice you can offer.

rustydog