RRJordan

Little mention is found of B-63s. Is this because of the relatively low production, about 2000, and short span, 1954-58? What was special about them? For a little while in the mid-1950s I worked for Cooney Brothers out of Tarrytown, NY. The "new" fleet was B63s--dumps, mixers, and tractors as I recall. Us juniors and temporaries got the handful of old A, LF, and LJ models. As I remember, B-63s were heavy-duty versions of the popular B-61 and different enough to have the separate designation. Even though the B-63s were nice and fairly new, "my" old, beat LF Mack-Lanova was slightly faster (about 52 to 48 mph) and would pull a grade loaded a little better. Everything was seriously overloaded and I quickly learned not to pass a senior driver! Do I correctly remember triple frames on some of these trucks?

Good to see the L get attention, but wasn't the tranny 5+2, not 4+2?

For steamers, especially Stanleys, check the Marshall Steam Museum at Auburn Heights, Yorklyn, Delaware. <AuburnHeights.org>

The LF reminds me of one I drove in 1956 or '57. It was a 10-wheel dump with a Mack-Lanova and a duplex. Does anyone remember Cooney Bros. out of Tarrytown, New York? Any interest in swapping a few stories about those old days?

There is a nearby university that was "always" known as U of D. A few years ago they got fancy and became "UD." Now it seems they will have to buy their trucks from Nissan!

I have enjoyed some trips to Anchorage and even gone on, as they say, to Alaska, including Fairbanks, Barrow, Prudhoe, and so on. I like the story about the name Deadhorse coming about in the early days of oil exploration on the North Slope when the companies asked about airlift capabilities and Wien Airlines said they could handle anything, including a dead horse. Anyway, the food out at the camps was better than at that motel in Deadhorse. Bob

Thank you, Philipp for your answer about Kamaz trucks. Maybe others have noticed some similarities to Macks. It would be ineresting to learn if this is only coincidence, or whether there was some relationship. Best wishes on your Mack project. You will receive expert advice in this forum. RRJ

Welcome Phillip. Other members of this forum know more about the repair of Mack trucks than I do and you may get answers to your questions from those experts. I, however, have a question for you. On a recent visit to Russia, I noticed that the tandems of some Kamaz trucks look a little like Mack axles on camelbacks. I also find that Kamaz makes V-8 engines. Are there really similarities between Kamaz and Mack trucks?

During recent touring in Scandinavia, I was impressed by the number of Scania V-8s on the roads, especially on highways between Copenhagen and Oslo. I appreciate having the relationship to Mack explained. In another life I even drove a Mack-Lanova powered LF. I also noted that the tandems under some Russian "Kamaz" trucks look at least superficially like Mack axles and camelbacks. Kamaz makes quite a range of heavy trucks and engines, including V-8s. Is there any relationship, or is this just coincidence?

Very old flex pipe memory: Something over 50 years back the LF dump had rusted out flex pipe from under the cab to the muffler stack. The Lanova was powerful for the day, but very smokey. When I showed him the rusty flex, the mechanic "fixed" it with a good kick and left a 4" pipe pointing right at about car window level-in the summer and before A/C. That truck and I made no friends for the company for a few days.

Could the "LFSX" be a LRSW? See page 111 of Adams.

As said before, you will probably appreciate power steering, especially on a dump. "Way back I drove an LF 10-wheel dump that usually went out loaded at 73,000 lb. Any corner or other tight turn had to be planned. The technique was to use a very low gear so both hands and feet were free, stand in the cab, and lean into inching the wheel around. Some turns that looked easy took two cuts. It was easier, of course, unloaded, but still work. I would not like to try present day traffic without power steering.

It is gratifying to know that an LF is receiving such fine attention. I drove an LF 10-wheel dump with a Mack-Lanova and 5x2 in the summer of 1956. It was interesting that it would run with the "new" B-63s. I did not know the Lanovas were as big as yours, but that would explain how well it pulled. Good luck with your project.

Barry, I too lost a reply, come up "guest," and have to repeatedly register. Thanks for your good work. Bob

LF or LJ seems correct. But not the LF I drove!

Good, sincere points have been made in this discussion. It may also be interesting to consider the status of Deere and Caterpillar, which at least at one time were thought to have qualities that are so appreciated in Mack.

Delaware--only an inch of snow, but they compensated by building up six inches of salt on the roads.

Thanks. When it's done right the left foot gets just a little more use than it would with an auto! In the old days before power steering, the first warning was: Don't even put your thumbs inside the wheel. It was a brave man on a smooth road who reached through for the second stick.

I will not be any help in answering your question, but this provides an excuse to tell a story about myself and shift patterns from about 50 years ago. A while ago I mentioned the "reversed" pattern on an LF 10-wheel dump with 5+2. Well, one day I was switched to a heavy A Series gas 6-wheeler, so I asked about the shift pattern on the way to the truck. I got the usual 1-2-3-4-5 with a quick wave of the hand and went off to the job. (The trucks were a bit rough and the data plates were always missing.) I could only get noise where 5th was supposed to be and spent the morning under 40 mph. Somebody finally told me that hole was reverse. I never found out if it was a mistake or a joke, but still think it would have been interesting if by some fluke it dropped in and I popped the clutch.

Thanks, Herb, for verifying my memories. That was indeed the shift pattern and the steering was just as you describe. Keep those thumbs out! RRJ

This is a long time coming and is only a memory, not solid information. In the mid-50s as a summer job I drove in a large yard hauling construction materials. The new kid was assigned an Lf 10 wheel dump with a Mack-Lanova diesel. The truck may have been a 1950-52 and was in pretty good shape because it had been rebuilt after a serious accident. It must have had a good, large Lanova in it because it pulled with the new B-63 Thermodyne diesels in that yard. After passing a B-63 on an uphill pull, I was sternly warned never, never pass a senior driver! The Lf also topped out on the flat at about 52 mph, whereas those B-63s were only good for 48 mph. They were all 5-speeds plus a very low 2-speed box we called a "pit stick" used to crawl out of construction holes. The Lf was registered at 54000 lbs, but we weighed out usually at 73000. Anyway, that Lanova smoked a lot and pulled hard. Please forgive a few more vague mamories: Of course here were no power assists. That was a heavy clutch, so one quickly learned to handle everything after starting without using the clutch. The big Lf cab was an advantage because in tight low speed turns one could crawl in a low gear and stand with both feet planted to inch the wheel around. If I rememer correcly, 1st in the main box was right-forward and 2nd was left forward, so if you started loaded in 1st high you stopped (or rolled backward) before you could get across the gate to 2nd. Low to High in the auxilliary box was a big step, so it took some fancy gear selection to get going on an upgrade. Anyway, the experience started an interest in big trucks and Macks in particular. Thanks to you all for bringing back memories and updating me. RRJ

My Mack driving experience is primarily a summer job 50-some years ago. However, I continue to enjoy most machinery and Macks in particular. I have appreciated the information shared in this forum and the memories that have been stirred. Perhaps some recollections of an LF 10-wheeler with a Mack-Lanova will some day allow me to contribute to your discussions.