Just finished a head swap ... (PICS)

[deadtrend1]

....on a caterpillar motor! My buddys Ford LT9000 tri-axel dump truck had the head crack and diesel fuel mixed with the antifreeze.

-Saturday after work i started helping at 1:30pm, straight till about 8:00pm.
-Sunday for a few hours because we needed to get some parts and the dealer was closed, so we just basically got the head torqued down (210lbs tq specs )
-Monday i went over after work around 6 and worked till about 1:00 am when we got it running again
-Today, tossed the hood on, and did some odds and ends. (cleaned the dirt out of the blower motor, charged the A/C and such).

I drove it around a bit , fun as hell to drive it. Hardest part is downshifting into the right gears. 18 speed tranny (3 reverse gears, 15 foward, but the lowest 5 you wont use unless your in dirt or something).

On that note, I'm friggin' exhausted. If you wanna see pics they are here. I just threw together a quick text page to link them since comcast wont allow ftp directory browsing.

Later
~Tim

Btw, this is what it looks like all done and put back together

[Ian]

That looks like its fun to drive! I wanna drive a dump truck!

[89 Trans Am WS6]

sounds like real fun.

Worked on a F700 ford dump..that was prolly the biggest one ive worked on so far..lot different then the other cars/trucks that come in the shop..lol

[12secondv6]

18 speed

Good lord

[deadtrend1]

Originally Posted by 12secondv6

18 speed

Good lord

yeup. Basic shift pattern is.
R 1 3
L 2 4

Theres two switches located on the shift knob. One for lo-lo gears (On the side that you switch with your thumb) This includes lo Reverse, lo lo, lo 1, 2, 3,and 4. They really dont get used unless your in dirt.
Then you have your midrange. This is when the hi-lo switch thats on the front of the knob is down. This includes Reverse, L, 1, 2, 3, 4. Unloaded, I can start moving in 1st, or 2nd. Loaded then I gotta use L or even the lo-lo range.

Normal conditions I use this pattern. L or 1st to start from a stop in the midrange. then 2nd, into 3rd. Flip the hirange switch up, and go back to L, then 1, 2, 3, and finally 4. It takes a bit to get used to.

The thing is fun to drive, currently I have a class B license with air brake endorments. May 5th I take my road test for tractor/trailers. I hope I pass.

[Ian]

Originally Posted by deadtrend1

May 5th I take my road test for tractor/trailers. Â*I hope I pass.

best of luck to you

I'm taking some ASE's that day.

[Koll]

One has to ask....I have enough trouble with 70 ftlbs on the heads....how do you manage 250 (or whatever. I forget)

[deadtrend1]

Originally Posted by Koll

One has to ask....I have enough trouble with 70 ftlbs on the heads....how do you manage 250 (or whatever. I forget)

You didnt look at the pics..LOL. Takes a bit of effort, but as you can see. A zippo lighter, king size sharpie and pack of marlboros give you a size reference. Thats a 3/8" drive ratchet, to the left a 3/4" drive ratchet, and one more to the left is a 1" drive torque wrench.

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Koll

One has to ask....I have enough trouble with 70 ftlbs on the heads....how do you manage 250 (or whatever. I forget)

you have to remember, the head he was bolting down was attached to a DUMP TRUCK ! You can really pull/push on something that isn't gonna move. I can torque lug nuts to 125 ft/lb with one arm, and I'm not all that big. I dunno....

[Fasterthanyou]

Very cool...

[jims69camaro]

Originally Posted by deadtrend1

May 5th I take my road test for tractor/trailers. I hope I pass.

if you have the opportunity and vehicle, go down to the test site off-hours and practice. saturday late in the day and sunday are perfect. beware of the cone on the corner - it has 6 hash marks next to it and the further out from the cone you are when you turn the corner, the more of a mark against you the inspector will make. you can brush the cone without moving it for a perfect score (i took the test in '94 and passed the first time through). also, i think part of the test is the walk-around. nail that for an easier driving exam.

[deadtrend1]

Originally Posted by jims69camaro

if you have the opportunity and vehicle, go down to the test site off-hours and practice. saturday late in the day and sunday are perfect. beware of the cone on the corner - it has 6 hash marks next to it and the further out from the cone you are when you turn the corner, the more of a mark against you the inspector will make. you can brush the cone without moving it for a perfect score (i took the test in '94 and passed the first time through). also, i think part of the test is the walk-around. nail that for an easier driving exam.

Thanx dude. I was just going to take a cone at work draw lines and practice there, and practice my blindside docking. I got my class b last year so I know what the course is like. I hope I get the same guy i got last time as my examiner ... he was kool and cut the test short and passed me ...