Robo987

Thanks guys for your reply’s, this helps out a lot.

Hey all. What are you guys doing for insurance on your Mack trucks, more specifically older ones that aren’t used commercially. What I have is a 1969 R611T and I have zero plans to use it commercially but the state of Wyoming says I can only register it as a commercial vehicle because if it’s size and weight.  However I would like to drive it around and maybe haul something personal so I’m looking for insurance that is cheap but allows me to use the truck for more than a show piece. Any ideas?

On 5/9/2023 at 5:08 AM, mowerman said:

Not sure if I mentioned I’ve been running one since 1976 and I can’t believe how quiet it is now I’ve run 530 miles a day across 80 absolutely nothing entire away just like I have it turned off I generally run our company channel and look for our guys

I dont drive to much, mostly depends on how many drivers we have around. But when I do drive it’s just silence. Even if you talk on it no one ever answers.

On 5/9/2023 at 4:08 AM, doubleclutchinweasel said:

When I first got my 611, I put in fresh fuel and filters. It still didn’t sound exactly “right”. I had been adding a little 2-stroke oil to the ULSD fuel. I got a jug of Opti-Lube XPD, and dosed it on the next fuel stop. Within a half mile, it smoothed-up. And the idle went up 50 RPM. Probably the injector cleaner in the XPD. Made a real difference. 
You’ll get it sorted out. I have no doubt 

I plan on emptying the tanks filling them with fresh fuel, changing the filters and add some BG fuel additive. Then just drive it around and see what that does for it. The bg stuff really good. It’ll clean everything up nicely.

On 5/6/2023 at 10:53 AM, mowerman said:

Sorry, didn’t mean to squash your tread. I should’ve put that somewhere else.

It’s all good haha

On 5/6/2023 at 10:33 AM, mowerman said:

What about the heater? I doubt I’ll be ever using it anyway or the electric horn steering wheel???? Bob

The heater does stuff but I haven’t got it hot enough to see if it blows hot. I’m also b not sure it the hot/cold is hooked up. My electric horn doesn’t work but I will get around to figuring it out.

On 5/6/2023 at 7:50 AM, mowerman said:

Don’t bother I’ve been running CB since 1976 there’s nobody on it now… bob

It’s a shame that people don’t utilize those anymore.  

On 5/6/2023 at 7:49 AM, mowerman said:

I’m planning on doing same thing eventually all in good time … I wouldn’t be surprised if some of them ,, Air and fuel lines were original… been starting it every Saturday… starts rite up ,, otherwise I have to blow air into the fuel tank because it looses prime if it sits too long… Bob

I need to change fuel filters and put fresh fuel in mine. It runs but it’s not super happy about it.

On 5/6/2023 at 2:19 PM, mattb73lt said:

Looks like about $10 for shipping USPS. Do you want one or both and which one if it's one? The new one was $15 when I got it, what do you want for the used one? It's almost new, it was on the series/parallel switch cover so it was never in the elements.

Sent you a private message 

On 5/5/2023 at 5:38 AM, doubleclutchinweasel said:

First thing I did on mine was replace every air line on it, the slack adjusters, and the brake chambers.  Got rid of the rotten hoses on the frame and replaced with DOT air line tubing.  After that, I felt a lot more comfortable driving it!

With all the collective knowledge of the guys on here (you know who you are!), there's not much you can't find out on this forum.

Keep posting pictures!  We love pictures!

Yes this is an awesome forum! It’s great to have places with guys that have legitimate knowledge and not just spewing a bunch of backyard crap.

On 5/4/2023 at 6:30 AM, doubleclutchinweasel said:

They are actually fairly easy to work on.  Very well designed beasts.

The biggest issue I saw when one was changed to negative ground was that some of the gauges would not work correctly.  For instance, I had to change the volt meter on mine, because it was not possible to reverse the gauge (single wire, ground through case).  Had to get a 2-terminal gauge so I could connect the wires to the terminals with the correct polarity.  Also, I think the fuel gauges did not like being reversed.  But, I am fuzzy on that one.  Light bulbs do not care.

Nothin at all wrong with positive ground.  Just have to isolate any add-ons that you have (like radios or phone chargers).

I think just for the sake of keeping it as original as possible I’m going to keep it positive ground. 
 This thing does have speakers in it it that I think went to a cb, I don’t think it had a radio. But I’ll cross that bridge later.

On 5/4/2023 at 10:28 AM, Freightrain said:

Extended Service Interval.

Had three filters and a larger oil pan for more capacity to go longer on oil changes.

I should have known that haha. the guy that originally bought this truck was very serious about his equipment and didn’t just go with anything. So it’s no surprise that it is setup the way it is. 

20 hours ago, doubleclutchinweasel said:

One thing I learned about Macks, back when I was a little guy riding around with Dad, is that a lot of the minor parts could be bought at a hardware store!  Later, when I was trying to keep mine up, I fixed as many things from the local hardware store as I did from the parts store.

They did a really good job of using "common" parts that were easily sourced.  I remember, at one time, the ignition switches were from Briggs & Stratton.  Makes Mowerman's avatar even more appropriate, doesn't it?

Yea I love when companies do that. Theses days tho your lucky if the parts store have anything you need on the self.

12 hours ago, mattb73lt said:

Are you still looking for one? I have an original that’s really nice and almost new. Paint still shines on the back. No catch for it, though. I have a new model A one somewhere, too.

How much shipped to 82601

Looks rough

On 5/2/2023 at 9:00 PM, D2Denny said:

Same as 30 - 31 Model A hood latches.  Get them in black or stainless about $15.00  at Bratton's,  Snyders, or Gaslight

So yea these latches were readily available on Amazon for about $10. Thanks again for your insight.

14 hours ago, doubleclutchinweasel said:

I have airline schematics, too.  Not sure what kind of parking brake setup you have on there.  Mine came with DD3 brake units.  Very complicated system with extra air tank and an "inversion valve" (see pictures).  I swapped it over to regular spring brake chambers, which was very easy.  It also eliminated a bunch of hoses and stuff.  Worked better, too.

I’ll take whatever info and schematics you have. The more the merrier. I’ll get pics of the brakes chambers when I get a chance, I haven’t really looked at those yet. The brakes worked so I moved on to more pressing matters.

On 5/2/2023 at 9:00 PM, D2Denny said:

Same as 30 - 31 Model A hood latches.  Get them in black or stainless about $15.00  at Bratton's,  Snyders, or Gaslight

Brattons has them and I think that’s about as close as I’m gonna find outside of an original latch. Unfortunately it says they are out of stock with no due date so I’ll keep an eye out. Thanks for the help!!

On 5/2/2023 at 10:49 AM, Freightrain said:

Watts had them, I got the chrome ones years ago for my truck.

The ones on watts are the same style but not the same as these matches.

Yea one dates are definitely spam.

8 minutes ago, doubleclutchinweasel said:

Kinda hard to see, but here is a typical wiring diagram for an R of that vintage...

That’s awesome thanks! Luckily my phone zooms in good enough to just make out most of it.

I’ve been on the fence about changing it over to  negative ground. I was surprised to see it was a negative ground. Trying to keep it as original as possible.
 

i really like the light green, the dark green isn’t as appealing to the eyes IMO.
 

I’ve worked on a lot of stuff but old trucks and equipment are not things that you come across often in a day to day mechanics job. At least in what I do. So some of this stuff is foreign to me and I learn new things every time I work on it.

I would say that the ones that came once were pipe dream guys and the other ones that were regulars and are long gone either passed away or life just took priority.

On 5/3/2023 at 5:57 AM, Freightrain said:

I'd say it was converted to alternator.  Looks like it was done like I did mine.  Just a spacer pipe on the original bracket.

Would that alternator have been a 6v alternator? If that was even a thing. Because it at one point had to 6v batteries and was converted over to one 12v.

On 5/3/2023 at 5:25 AM, doubleclutchinweasel said:

That's what I was telling him about (like the one below).  Apparently, somebody has already swapped that one over to the later 3-filter spin-on setup.  Again, one more reason for me to be jealous!

Another thing, wasn't that truck originally equipped with a big, long generator?  Looked like a later style alternator in his picture, above.  But, I could be wrong about that.

Looks like a great truck!

I’m not sure if it originally came with that canister but if it did I’m glad that it has spin ons. That canister is hideous looking. Also I’m not sure about the alternator either. I do know it used to have 2 6v batteries and they switched it to one 12v. It also is a positive ground system.