WQ2014

I'm not sure I'm too keen on pulling doubles into the shop... I can put a 53' anywhere I want it but these are just ridiculous.

Well I guess I won't be doing it that way next time. According to Eaton and everyone I've asked that was the right way to take the input shaft out but I dunno about this.

Did some A/C work for the first time. That was a steep learning curve... Hey, go change the leaking a/c compressor! Okay then.

Changed a trans filter on an Allison and couldn't get it to communicate with the laptop to reset the indicator. The foreman, our engine tech, and an hour later we switched USB plugs on the computer and it worked fine.

And then there's this stupid stuff. Had to pick up a set of chains for my truck to make it to the main roads. 2wd and snow drifts don't really mix well.

Week: 40 hours

WQ2014

No pictures this week but I've now experienced the joy of stuck s-cams... Two guys, an oxy torch, air hammer, multiple beating devices, and 8 hours later we had all 4 corners torn down and the hubs ready to go back on (New inboard drums... Yup, press in studs). Oh' it was a low deck with 12" brakes too so lots of room to work...

Been doing suspension bushings lately. The threaded steel on steel bushings are interesting... Weld them in and they have a nice "clunk clunk" brand new. I wonder if they make any noise going down the road?

Last two weeks: 72 hours

WQ2014

Lift gate wouldn't descend fast enough for the guy... Of course the oem is long gone so I had to call the people that bought them out and get a troubleshooting guide emailed to me (It's not available to the public on the internet). Go figure.

After dropping the tank out to check out the screen and make sure it wasn't something stupid like cold hydraulic fluid I got out my 50ft lead set and went to town with my meter. The + battery cable to the motor had a 3.7v drop and the - cable from the frame to the motor had a 1.8v drop... Also found a 100 amp breaker in place of a 150 that trips constantly. That's no good however the motor isn't run during the drop cycle and it lifts fine so after hooking up the jump pack to eliminate the voltage drop from my troubleshooting I carried on.

Slide the gate all the way back and presto! Absolutely everything quit working... I can already tell this is going to be a nightmare. After resetting the circuit board I was able to get back to the original problem.

After working through the troubleshooting guide I determined it was an absolutely worthless pos written by engineers. Tossed it and continued... Release solenoids on the lift cylinders function flawlessly. According to the schematic they are returned directly to the tank. I determined that was b.s. after hearing a valve clicking at the pump. When the valve clicked with the switch the gate dropped like a rock. When it didn't (This is intermittent) the gate took easily 2 minutes to drop completely. The valve redirects the flow into the tank instead of though the pump. When it doesn't work all the oil tries to flow backwards through the pump into the tank and takes as long as a snail high on weed.

Either the valve is sticking or the circuit board isn't commanding it to function. Whatever the case it's night shift's problem now.

I spent some time yesterday putting a GPS tracker in a PacLease truck. Nice change from doing brakes and services to electrical work!

Week: 32