- 1,577
- 139
- 63
- Location
- Norwood LA
Although we needed a light jacket in the morning, the temps were around 70 F and sunshine during the recovery (sorry Chadande
).
We got to the GL/DRMO yard at 10:15 and I asked Maxine (GL) if the truck started, and she said she had been using it to jump the other trucks to load out
. My buddy and I spent time checking fluids, airing up the tires where needed, and checking to see what BII came with the truck - absolutely nothing! Otherwise, the truck had an overhaul in July 2011 with all new fluids and filters, new G177 tires, new paint (except inside the cab), new radiator, can't tell if the engine was rebuilt but it looks very fresh, and the bed cover was folded in the bed of the truck. I doubt the truck was driven much since the rebuild since the oil was still clear and fresh on the dipstick.
I saw the cover when previewing the auction the week before, so I knew it was there even though it wasn't in the GL photos or description. Of the 19 trucks in the sale, 4 had bed covers mounted, and only one other truck had a cover in the bed. This one was the "A0" version with duals and the NHC240 engine. I almost bid on one of the 4 A2 versions with the 6CTA8.3 engine, but it went for 2x the cost of my truck.
Expecting the worst, my buddy's truck was loaded with glad hand air hose with tire inflator, another air hose with a 3/4 impact wrench with tire size sockets, 15 gal of diesel, jack and cribbing, geared and regular lug wrenches, oil, fire extinguisher, antifreeze, water, and misc tool pouches. I turned the switch, and it started immediately like my M818s in warm weather, and faster than my 7.3 Powerstroke! We were back on the road and out the gate about an hour after arrival. I had no problem hitting 55 mph, but mainly cruised along the 2-lane roads at 50 mph @ 1850 rpm.
Things were going great, until the middle stave of the last bow fell off at 50 mph, but the chase truck picked it up after dodging it! I never even knew it was missing until we stopped for fuel an hour later. Also at that fuel stop, we came into a small town with several lights, and I started smelling burning brakes. When I pulled up to the diesel pumps, I was a little concerned that smoke was coming from driver side middle axle!
Turns out, I was getting gear oil slung out on the inside of both sets of duals on that axle, and the worst one on the driver side got oil on the brakes and when I used the brakes several times in town, they got hot and started the burning smell and smoke. I was real glad I had brought the fire extinguisher, even if I didn't use it! I figured the rear seal may be leaking due to poor/lazy rebuild, but decided to continue on at 45 mph and minimize the brake use. I drove the next 12 miles of secondary roads and 47 miles of interstate without using my brakes once.
Another 10 miles and I stopped at a truck mechanic's shop I've used before and had the mechanic check it out. When he pulled the plug to check the gear oil level, he felt a pressure relief. Turns out the axle bobble-head vents were stopped up and the pressure was forcing the gear oil past the rear seal. He only added about 1 qt of gear oil, and blew out the vents, so we all decided the bearings were probably still well greased and I could make it the remaining 85 miles home.
I still kept the speed to about 45mph and avoided the brakes as much as possible (love that automatic transmission downshifting - it really slows you down). Total seat time for the 200 miles was right at 4 hours, and that part was just as painful as the deuce and M818 driving. But I am in love with driving the power steering and automatic transmission of the M939 series trucks.
Climbing the steepest hills and bridges, the speed only dropped maybe 10mph - nowhere near as much as the deuces and M818s. Overall, it was a great deal at less than 3.8 cents on the dollar that the taxpayers paid for it.
Photos are of the M923 resting in the pasture with friends this morning.
). We got to the GL/DRMO yard at 10:15 and I asked Maxine (GL) if the truck started, and she said she had been using it to jump the other trucks to load out
. My buddy and I spent time checking fluids, airing up the tires where needed, and checking to see what BII came with the truck - absolutely nothing! Otherwise, the truck had an overhaul in July 2011 with all new fluids and filters, new G177 tires, new paint (except inside the cab), new radiator, can't tell if the engine was rebuilt but it looks very fresh, and the bed cover was folded in the bed of the truck. I doubt the truck was driven much since the rebuild since the oil was still clear and fresh on the dipstick. I saw the cover when previewing the auction the week before, so I knew it was there even though it wasn't in the GL photos or description. Of the 19 trucks in the sale, 4 had bed covers mounted, and only one other truck had a cover in the bed. This one was the "A0" version with duals and the NHC240 engine. I almost bid on one of the 4 A2 versions with the 6CTA8.3 engine, but it went for 2x the cost of my truck.
Expecting the worst, my buddy's truck was loaded with glad hand air hose with tire inflator, another air hose with a 3/4 impact wrench with tire size sockets, 15 gal of diesel, jack and cribbing, geared and regular lug wrenches, oil, fire extinguisher, antifreeze, water, and misc tool pouches. I turned the switch, and it started immediately like my M818s in warm weather, and faster than my 7.3 Powerstroke! We were back on the road and out the gate about an hour after arrival. I had no problem hitting 55 mph, but mainly cruised along the 2-lane roads at 50 mph @ 1850 rpm.
Things were going great, until the middle stave of the last bow fell off at 50 mph, but the chase truck picked it up after dodging it! I never even knew it was missing until we stopped for fuel an hour later. Also at that fuel stop, we came into a small town with several lights, and I started smelling burning brakes. When I pulled up to the diesel pumps, I was a little concerned that smoke was coming from driver side middle axle!
Turns out, I was getting gear oil slung out on the inside of both sets of duals on that axle, and the worst one on the driver side got oil on the brakes and when I used the brakes several times in town, they got hot and started the burning smell and smoke. I was real glad I had brought the fire extinguisher, even if I didn't use it! I figured the rear seal may be leaking due to poor/lazy rebuild, but decided to continue on at 45 mph and minimize the brake use. I drove the next 12 miles of secondary roads and 47 miles of interstate without using my brakes once. Another 10 miles and I stopped at a truck mechanic's shop I've used before and had the mechanic check it out. When he pulled the plug to check the gear oil level, he felt a pressure relief. Turns out the axle bobble-head vents were stopped up and the pressure was forcing the gear oil past the rear seal. He only added about 1 qt of gear oil, and blew out the vents, so we all decided the bearings were probably still well greased and I could make it the remaining 85 miles home.
I still kept the speed to about 45mph and avoided the brakes as much as possible (love that automatic transmission downshifting - it really slows you down). Total seat time for the 200 miles was right at 4 hours, and that part was just as painful as the deuce and M818 driving. But I am in love with driving the power steering and automatic transmission of the M939 series trucks.
Climbing the steepest hills and bridges, the speed only dropped maybe 10mph - nowhere near as much as the deuces and M818s. Overall, it was a great deal at less than 3.8 cents on the dollar that the taxpayers paid for it.Photos are of the M923 resting in the pasture with friends this morning.
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