On Wednesday April 15th, 1964 Portland, Oregon Mack branch took order G185-40028/29-30 of three B53S concrete mixers for Ross Island Sand & Gravel, of Portland Oregon with a desired delivery date of June 15th, 1964. As specified, they were to be furnished as follows:
213.75 ” wheelbase with a 187” platform with tow hooks and an extended bumper
FA604 Front Axle (Rockwell), 18,000lb springs, 15 x 22.5 Goodyear Super Single Hi Miler 16 nylon ply tires on cast spoke wheels, 11.75” wide rims
SWD732 Rear Axle (Timken), 34,000lb springs, CRD 921/931 carrier with a 6.34 final drive ratio, 10 x 22.5 Goodyear Super Cross Rib 10 nylon ply tires on cast spoke wheels, 7.5” wide rims
END673C engine with a T.P. 500 air compressor to power the air brakes and automatic radiator shutter, 12V starter with a 55amp alternator and integral Sheppard power steering
TRQ7220 transmission paired with a CL28 clutch
Exterior trim was completed by West coast mirrors; ICC, Marker and Dual tail lights, a single 40 gallon aluminum step tank (on LH side) and vertical exhaust, with the CA214 (standard) cab painted Black.
Additional customer specified features were auto rear brake adjusters, a Wagner Sangamo RPM 24 hour tachograph, Viking Bostrom Seat and Push Button Front Turn Signals.
Gross vehicle rating was 52,000lbs with a customer requested speed of 55 miles per hour and a max grade of 3%.
The service type for the truck was mixer, the hauled commodity selected was concrete, the mixer body was to be furnished locally at the Portland Mack Branch.
Two days later on April 17th, 1964 the Portland Branch manager modified the order and reduced the platform length 15-3/4” to 171-1/4” reducing the wheelbase to 198”.
Chassis numbers B53S-2387, B53S-2388 and B53S-2389 were applied to this order, with the build of B53S-2389 starting on June 25th, 1964. Prior to starting assembly several part substitutions and new drawing releases were completed due to the specific configuration of options selected by the customer, Ross Island Sand & Gravel.
B53S-2389 frame was placed on Thursday, June 25th 1964 and was completed Monday, June 29th and shipped to Portland the same day, ready for customer drive off delivery on July 17th. On July 21st the State of Oregon issued title 642120542 to Mack Cement Mixer B53S2389 with license plate T148108, identified as Truck 11 for Ross Island Sand & Gravel, the title fee was $2.00.
Complete maintenance records were kept, here are some highlights:
August 14th, 1968: 33,763 miles, Replaced all wheel seals, repacked wheel bearings, rebuilt all brake adjusters, rebuilt all air chambers
December 22nd, 1970: 56,834 miles, Complete mixer paint job - new sign, New barrel skin, rebushed speed reducer
January 4th, 1972: 67,190 miles, Rebuilt fuel pump and nozzles (Auto Products Co.), set valves, time engine
March 6th, 1975: 89,261 miles, Change clutch cover assy., Disc., throw out bearing, and pilot bearing
August 2nd, 1977: 110,894 miles, New clutch
October 21st, 1977: Weld new tube on drive line, stuck in mud twist off
December 14th, 1977: 115,782 miles, New sleeves, pistons, rings, rod and mains, reground valves, install rebuilt injectors
September 5th, 1979: 133,409 miles, Changed steering gear unit, purch Mack Truck, Core is in to Mack (no rebuild); Changed mixer gear box, used unit off tr #58, w/ hydraulic motor
October 19th, 1981: 146,636 miles, New clutch
June 16th, 1983: Drive line fell out at pillow block, broke all support, truck had 6yds, tow job and repairs (someone not balancing at service)
June 1st, 1986: Truck was involved in accident. Front end - bumper extension, bumper was too bad to repair, used unit off truck #59, had to realign holes to use. Radiator leaked, sent out for repair, had to remove fender aggressively. Replaced hydraulic hose to pump. Reassembled, total time 24 hours.
June 9th, 1987: Repaired fins and section of barrel, added 2 panels to get by for summer (looks off), barrel is thin
November 18th, 1987: Mixer frame broken at tower, R side repair with angle, top and bottom X's full length
March 2nd, 1988: Pulled mixer and installed flat bed, extended frame, installed side bumper and rear, all new lites with mid ship turn, painted cab in and out, install seat #97 with 14" riser (special), new floormats
April 11th, 1989 183,065 miles, Replaced broken fork in Aux. section of trans. Changed clutch.
September 21st, 1990: 208,525 miles, Replaced front engine timing cover, front mount and insulator, water pump, fan belts. Repaired radiator
February 25th, 1991: Rebuilt engine, Bred with 673T out of #109, all work at Stark & Norris (Inv.#0006602). New heads from Toledo Mack. Fuel injection pump off of 109, fuel lines from United Parts #'s 2311, 2321, 2331, 2341, 2351, 2361. Lower radiator hose # Gates 21567. Upper hose # Gates 21119
July 13th, 1991: 216,360 miles, Checked for compression in cooling system. Found head gasket squeezed on #4 cylinder. Replaced rear head gskt., torqued 3/4" studs to 200 ft/lb.
September 29th, 1993: 245,870 miles, Blown head gasket, #4 cyl. Replaced rear head gasket.
November 22nd, 1994: 265,455 miles, Blown head gasket, #4 cyl. Rebuilt both heads, replaced exh. Valves, valve springs, rotators, cut fire ring in rear head (S&N). Checked and repaired injectors.
January 25th, 1995: 266,400 miles, P.M. Truck, replaced cross member at back of cab with new one fabricated by R&J Metal. Rebushed rear suspension, replaced springs and U-Bolts. Relined brakes on drive axles, new shoes, drums, kits, seals. Misc. repairs.
September 25th, 1995: 274,860 miles, Replaced steering box with Sheppard reman. Recored radiator (RSC). Changed engine belts.
August 15th, 1997: 287,205 miles, P.M. Truck - recondition truck, complete paint. New windshields and door glass. Rebuilt radiator, new top tank (Mack). Replaced torque arms with new style. Relined brakes on steering axle, new shoes, drums, seals, kits. Many misc. repairs.
February 4th, 1999: 302,705 miles, P.M. Truck - replaced rear motor mounts. Replaced yoke & u-joint at front of front diff. Replaced leaking wheel seal, L.F. driver. Misc. Repairs.
November 16th, 1999: 312,530 miles, Knock in engine. Replaced engine with Re-Mack 675, rebuilt pump and injectors, reman turbo, air compressor, replaced clutch (kevlar). Re-fab rear motor mounts. New air filter assembly. P.M. truck - misc. repairs. Leaking wheel seal, R.F. driver.
August 15th, 2001: 329,670 miles, Replaced oil cooler core (oil in coolant)
September 16th, 2004: 341,930 miles, Replaced left front fender, bumper, headlight panel, misc. Accident repairs.
May 27th, 2007: 351,650 miles, Replaced batteries (4 new)
On December 1st, 2021 Ross Island Sand & Gravel Truck 11 B53S-2389, after 57 years, 4 months, 10 days and 353,333 miles of service, was sold. The truck was transported by Gerlock Heavy Haul on January 6th, 2022 from Portland to Enumclaw, Washington.
The maintenance records continue:
April 9th, 2022: 353,384 miles, passenger seat brackets which were omitted as part of the original sales order were installed (salvaged from a B61T in New York) and a salvaged seat was re-upholstered so passengers could enjoy riding along for cruises
July 2nd, 2023: 353,490 miles, Rebuild steering column, replaced bearings with McMaster 6364K36, thrust washers McMaster 5909K49, springs McMaster 9657K541 & 9657K542, replaced electric horn wire in column (was broken)
August 19th, 2023: 353,619 miles, Replaced shutterstat, was 165F body with 170F tip, replaced with 180F, new air line between manifold and shutterstat inlet, new air lines for air gauge and windshield wipers, Replaced shutterstat actuator piston cup (was leaking), replaced Drivers Side Rear Drive Axle Rearmost Service Brake Actuator Diaphragm
