mjmccaffrey

That is a beauty! Please provide some history/background on this rig when you have a moment.

Good Luck!

Engine 2

Name: Mack Type 45 (1948)

Date Added: 05 October 2009 - 04:30 PM

Owner: Engine2

Short Description: Mack Type 45 Triple Combination Pumper. Delivered to Billerica,MA Fire Dept. on March 23, 1948.

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Gentlemen,

Thanks for ALL of the great advise. I lubricated the crap out of every moving part and really worked on the pump linkage. PB Buster is the nuts! Truck rolled like a champ. Now preparing to remove the water tank, hose bed and cab to get the truck down the the rails. Thinking of leaving the pump on the rails when it's blasted. Any thoughts out there as to how I should be thinking of going about cleaning and painting the chassis?

Thanks again - please stay at the ready for many more inquiries!

Engine 2

Hey Folks,

My '48 Type 45 pumper seems to be stuck in gear and I can't get it rolling to it's next restoration stop. Trying to pull it with my tractor and can only get the drive shaft to the rear wheels to turn about an 1/8 to a 1/4. What gives? Shift is in N and emergency break is off...what am I missing or, better yet, how bad is this situation that I can't get the wheels to roll. It's had been outside for quite some time before I accquired it... could there be rust deposits on the wheels or breaks holding it up? HELP!

Engine 2 from Engine 2, your 'southern' cousin.

What results did you get for starting the engine? Did it start?

If the fuel is that old, drain it off. It could be bad or turned to varnish. There should be a 3/8 inch brass plug in the exact center of the bottom of the tank. If that doesn't work, pull the fuel line off before the carb and crank the engine with distributor wire off. This way, the engine won't start, then stop. If you have an electric fuel pump, just disconnect the fuel line from the carb. and turn on the ignition, the fuel pump should run, draining the tank.

Looking down the gas tank filler pipe won't show what the tanks insides looks like because there is a slight bend in it just before the tank. Lift up the front seats, the fuel guage sending unit and syphon pipe are top center. You may have to remove the large sheet steel plate on top of the whole thing. Might not, too. Remove wire lead going to fuel guage, disconnect fuel syphon pipe fitting going to carb, then 4 Phillips head screws, lift off sending unit, watch for the float, and you can see the bottom of the tank.

Before starting, hand crank if possible. If not possible, try using starter motor. If you remove the plugs, it should be easier, no compression. Could put a tablespoon of 3-in-1 oil in each cylinder before turning, letting it soak a couple days.

Regap the plugs before putting them back in, or buy new ones. I think D-14 or D-16 Champions fit, that's what I use.

Clean and regap the points, or get new cap, points, rotor and condenser. NAPA has them, at most an overnite wait.

Remove the ends of the battery cables and clean them. They are at the starter, battery terminals, starter solenoid (on firewall), possibly a floor button or firewall button,a nd the ground return lead. The ground should be attached to the engine block near the starter, not on the chassis. That removes two connections that can suck away current/voltage when starting. A secondary ground can then be run from the engine to the frame. Charge the battery after checking the water level.

Check water/water antifreeze solution level of the radiator.

Clean out the mouse nest in the air filter. Clean out old oil bath and refill filter.

Sit back in the seat, and try to start it. If it starts, don't over rev it, let it idle. Have a second person standing by with a fire extinguisher incase something goes wrong.

DON'T CRANK TOO LONG. You're using 6 volts, I presume. Your starter draws alot of current and will heat up your cables quickly if it doesn't start.

You're trying to move a very old big engine that hasn't started in a long time, with old oil, unless you changed that and the filter, before hand.

What happened?????

Gentlemen,

To date I have installed new points and spark plugs, coolant/water (50/50), drained and replaced oil, cleaned,replaced, and re-filled oil bath. Cleaned fuel filter sediment tube. Also replaced battery cable, battery ground cable and starter ground cable ($$$ ). Have also pulled the gas tank and sent it to be cleaned and refinished. Poured some Marvel Mystery oil into the cylinders and let sit for 3 days. Attempted to crank it without spark plugs and got about less than a 1/4 turn before it jammed with a thud. Lights shine brightly, siren is LOUD and interior dash light/guages illuminate. What kind of trouble am I in here?......What's my next move?? Many THANKS for the advise thus far; its been very helpful.

E2

Gentlemen,

I'm hoping to get my 1948 Mack Type 45 under cover and running in the next couple of weeks before the snow flies. Not being of sound mechanical knowledge, I look to anyone on this board for suggestions as to where to start this process. Some background: engine was last turned over in June of '07. It is a Continental 330 four-cycle gasoline engine with all six cylinders cast in one block. Rebuilt in 1984. Several people have told me to lubricate the crap out of it before turning it over and I could not agree more. Certain that I have condensation in the gas tank so I'm wondering if I should siphon it or does it have a drain plug? Have the battery on a charger right now. I'd certainly appreciate anyone out there who could provide a little insight/direction as to where to start and what products are best suited for this initial start after a couple of years of inactivity. The MORE DETAIL, the better as suggestions come in....

Thanks.

Hi, Engine 2:

Is your Type 45 the former Mont Vernon, NH Engine 563? I know that

they bought one from Billerica back in the mid 1960s. I like the

Type 45; good luck with your restoration.

Yes, indeed it is the former Mount Vernon, NH engine. A former Billerica Firefighter moved to Mount Vernon just after Billerica had taken delivery of a new 1966 B-85 and placed the 45 in reserve. Mont Vernon was looking for a pumper and the rest,as they say, is history.

Please add my 1948 Type 45 Triple Combination 500gpm pumper. Chassis # 1401, delivered to Billerica, Massachusetts Fire Dept. on March 23, 1948. See my posting on the Fire Apparatus Forum for pics.

Engine 2

Recently purchased a1948 Mack Type 45 500 gpm that my dad broke in on with the Billerica, MA fire dept. back in the late 50's. Have been quietly searching for the 1966 B-95 that I remember playing on as a kid with no luck. Googled "Billerica Engine 2" by chance and discovered its predecessor! Even better - it was located 2 towns over from me!!! How about that for my Irish Luck?!

My dad has passed, but I have been able to re-connect with many of his former "brothers" and they are more excited than me about the find and restoration project ahead. The overall condition is pretty good as it was in service from '66-83 before spending time as a training apparatus before being sold. The gentlemen who purchased it had intentions of making it a farm truck (ouch!), but never really got around to it. It ran for the last time in June 2007 and has sat ever since. I'm hoping to undertake it's complete restoration with the understanding that it will take some doing both financially and physically. Told my wife it was either a Corvette, a Blond or the Fire Truck - she commended me on my ultimate decision....

Stay tuned as I begin this process - I'm sure I'll be asking plenty of questions. I want to make the best of this and do it right (within reason) to get it back to its former self.

Picture from the Mack Museum and it's present state.

Packer,

Sounds GOOD to me! Let's give rigfire some time to reply, otherwise I'll put dibs on all four

Thank you.

Mike

Donny,

Did you ever locate Hub Caps for your '48 pumper? If so, where abouts as I am in need of a set for my '48 closed cab pumper.

Thanks.

Mike