Cool 1977 Mack RL600L - No Crank, No Start - Plus Many Other Repairs

[@everettnichols9062]

the purpose of grease on the electrical connectors in to PREVENT CORROSION ! I am a retired telecom worker with 40 years' experience and I have made millions of high current electrical connections without even one ever failing due to corrosion. You are doing your connections correctly!!! You lightly coat the surfaces of the terminals with grease and it does not matter what kind of grease!

[@libertyauto]

I am kind of proud of that owner. So many folks just want you to get them back on the road, but this guys wants everything fixed. Right on. Thanks for the video.

[@WatchWesWork]

He's pretty fussy.

[@TestECull]

It's often a question of $$$. I'd love to go through my '85 F150 and fix absolutely everything, too, but that's a $20,000 restoration I can't afford right now, so I have to settle for keeping it on the road.

[@libertyauto]

@TestECull Good point. I am also proud of the owner who has to make strategic fix decisions to keep his mission going.

[@JohnDoe-jl3em]

@@TestECull Yeah, I've got a 92 dodge with the 12v. I'm gonna get it on the road for now but I wanna save about 10k to do it the right way from the ground up. Right now it's an absolute piece of crap.

[@williamescolantejr5871]

that's a pretty clean truck too

[@OdySlim]

I worked for Mack for 30 years and drove an R Model, U model & the First CH ever made. It was built by hand at the test center in PA. I dont care what anyone says. I am proud to have worked for Mack. I got to drive experimental trucks. Drove Macks first 500 hp truck. No regrets.Regards from Ody Slim

[@chrismanning1746]

Your a lucky man That must have been an awesome job special at that time The older mack trucks were some great tough trucks

[@pointingdog7235]

That sounds like a great job to me!

[@alanrobison3298]

I wish that the internet had been around in 1971 when I went to trade school for diesel mechanics and welding. You are the man Wes!

[@ke1vin]

I like watching your videos when it’s too cold to go outside and work on my own stuff. Makes me feel like I’m getting stuff done. Love your channel!

[@Dina-j7h]

Funny Shit Dude ....

[@SirAnthony25]

That’s the cleanest Mack that I have ever seen! I worked on several of them in the 1980s , more oil on the outside than inside !

[@N1RKW]

My own experience with dielectric grease was in an factory setting. We used it to protect the connections from the corrosive moisture in the air. Never had any issues with it increasing resistance, but it did do a great job preventing corrosion.

[@billywird]

Yes sir I have found that dielectric grease acts as a shielding element to prevent corrosion. Basic as the shielding gas around the welding process to prevent oxygen contamination of the weld. I have always used regular automotive grease on my battery connections on my vehicles (learned that one from my Dad) and all of that corrosion you see on battery terminals does not exist. Of course I could also use dielectric grease there as well, but old habits die hard. Back in the seventies I had a coworker that had a Chevrolet Vega and it was blowing the fuse to the fuel pump (yes it had an in tank electric fuel pump). Well he came to work one day and told me he found his problem. He said he broke the harness connection to the fuse box and found a bunch of grease and he cleaned it all out as he thought it was shorting to ground and blowing the fuse. Not so; that was from the factory to prevent corrosion (now he was going to have a green harness connection). The failing was that the electric fuel pump was grounding out and blowing the fuse. Of course I wasn't aware of the technology at that time but as time went on and I learned more it made sense. When we replaced a power transistor we also coated the mounting surface with a paste designed to aid in heat transfer which of course was probably a dielectric type grease.

[@JohnHay06]

The Maxidynes are easily identified by being painted gold. The Maxidyne was developed from the Thermodyne. The Maxidyne was a fuelling principle that resulted on High Torgue rise from the engine. The Engine developed it peak torque low in the RPM and held it over the higher rev range. Typically designed for line haul where the truck could roll over hills, get low in the rpm and not require the driver to change gears. The off set was the haul mark Mack cloud of smoke in low revs when the engine was getting heaps of fuel but not as much turbo. This truck has a the side mounted intercooler where air is draw from the aircleaner by tip fan that drew it's power from bleed air from the Turbo itself. I can say that in Australia, the Maxidyne Engine with the Intercooler set up became known as a 'Cool Power' and were an amazing engine especially in the Cabovers when you got the turbo and the tip fan whistle. Thanks for this video, great to see and old Mack so well looked after.

[@WatchWesWork]

The 5 speed setup was not commonly seen here. We have big hills and it just doesn't work. I know they have a lot of torque at low RPM, but they still don't have horsepower until the RPMs come up. You really cannot downshift them on a hill. By the time you grab a gear you are stopped.

[@Mrcrowntown]

I love the slow, methodical application of dielectric grease while putting the trolls in their place 😎 #notabigdeal

[@joelclark634]

yeah i believe if you try and fight trolls in your videos it just drives away the normal viewers

[@charlie_nolan]

@@joelclark634 definitely in some cases, but I don’t think so in Wes’s case because he doesn’t just attack them or get mad at them, he educates us on how to do things correctly

[@Bunk599]

Enjoyed this video for unique reasons. In 73 I graduated from Penn State engineering school and landed a job as an R&D Engineer for Mack Tucks in Allentown, PA (yes the Billy Joel town). First day on the job they taught me how to drive a tractor trailer. Your video was a Time Machine, the sights and sounds of driving the truck were vividly identical to 50 years ago.....thanks for the memory. BTW these trucks had a clutch brake at the end of clutch travel which permitted faster upshifts than double clutching, but for some reason most drivers preferred to double clutch, and the clutch brakes were often out of adjustment. For five years I was involved with the development of the first Anti-Lock braking systems. Spent many hours making thousands of 60 MPH panic stops confirming compliance with FMVSS-121 requirements. Couple comments on the brakes relevant to your video. In that era wedge brakes produced more torque than cam brakes (both shoes are primary shoes), some trucks, prior to the arrival of air disc brakes, needed them to meet stopping distance requirements. Also popular in that era was a front axle ratio valve that reduced the front axle delivery pressure to 50% for low pressure treadle applications to prevent front axle lock-up due to the high torque front brakes. For higher applications the valve passed full treadle application pressure...could cause the perception of weak brakes for low and moderate applications? Air pressure gauges at front and rear brake chambers would quickly confirm if this was the case. The valve is easily spotted if installed near the front axle. Finally the RL model was designed and manufactured by Mack Western in Hayward CA, they were quite different than the higher volume East Coast trucks. Good luck with your career course adjustment..

[@ditherdather]

My employer still rebuilds and uses old RD and U model Mack's for heavy duty industrial applications. They're all in excellent condition with excellent service schedules and kept clean. It's impressive actually; to see so many of them in one place. It's like stepping back in time when you get into one.

[@Michael-tu4gm]

Does he have contact information I recently picked up 1983 rd600 truck

[@russb3816]

Seems like alot of youtube viewers seem to be experts on everything. If that is the case, why dont they have their own channel showing the world the perfect way they do everything. I love your channel and the way you do things. Dont worry about all the negative know it alls. Awesome video as always.

[@WatchWesWork]

I don't know. People come out of the woodwork to tell you that you messed up.

[@russb3816]

I know what you mean. I have even had people try to correct me and tell me how I feel about a video I say I like. Just keep doing it your way and ignore their ridiculous comments and I will keep right on watching. That truck is awesome. Wish I could take it for a spin.

[@Military-Museum-LP]

This truck and motor using this trans was ahead of its time. Crazy crazy torque running a 5 speed and it worked. I'm a firm believer in the rear differentials have a straight drive shaft. Less power loss. Very nice clean truck for her age.

[@garyfeltus9801]

I would say the owner of the truck is proud of that old truck. The tanks are polished the wheels are polished. They don't build em like that any more. Great video. Thanks for sharing.

[@WatchWesWork]

Yeah, he's a very particular guy.

[@Larry-325]

Wes. I owned a Marine Service business for 25 years on salt water. I used dielectric grease the way you use it and on all connections and they were trouble free!👍👍

[@WatchWesWork]

It was drilled into me from a young age. We used it by the gallon at the truck shop where I cut my teeth.

[@SavageZebra67]

Indeed especially doing marine electronics its a must

[@NitroGuyJH]

I’ve put dielectric grease on literally every non weatherpak type electrical connector at my job for years and guess what? The connections I’ve made outlast the others and have had zero complaints since I’ve installed them. I’d also like to add that concrete doesn’t kill lead acid batteries, in today’s world we have plastic encased batteries for that reason and several other reasons as well.

[@wssides]

In fact, batteries on concrete hasn't been a problem since they quit building them in wood boxes. (that is over 80 years ago) The rubber type cases used when I was a kid prevented voltage loss to concrete conduction.

[@NitroGuyJH]

@@wssides right, but when you try to tell certain people that they think that they know everything and say concrete kills the battery 😂 I use a 12 volt mower battery wired up to charge my phone and my Bluetooth speaker everyday at work and you wouldn’t believe how many people still believe that my battery is going to shambles 😂 been there for 5 years already and will still start anything you hook it too.

[@tamberp]

Pretty sure that if adding dielectric grease to something causes a poor connection, it was already a pretty piss-poor connection to begin with. Once terminals start touching against each-other in a plug as it mates, or as you tighten the nut down on a stud, it'll wipe/scrape/squeeze the grease out of the way wherever they're actually contacting; leaving it everywhere else, where it'll keep the moisture out and stop the dreaded green fuzzies! Everyone's got their pet theories, though; and in the end, just... do what works for you, eh?

[@michaelf.2449]

@@NitroGuyJH btw the biggest thing about concrete killing batteries is that it was a thing back when batteries has glass insulated cells in them. You could break the glass sitting them on concrete but like y'all have said for many reasons nowadays you can sit the battery basically anywhere and with agm you can sit em anywhere and any angle in any temperature.

[@NitroGuyJH]

@@michaelf.2449 didn’t even think about that, forgot that glass was used for its insulation properties quite often

[@TheChristeepher]

I’m with you on the grease. I’ve only been doing it for the past 52 years with no problem at all and when you revisit the job it’s always good. I guess 52 years ain’t a long time if you say it fast! Keep up the great videos. Regards. Chris.

[@WatchWesWork]

Right. It works. Done.

[@newjerseybill3521]

@@WatchWesWork Plus, the silicone grease connection has MUCH lower resistance than a connection covered in the green crusties!!!

[@bigb7157]

I’m only 47, but I’ve done this my whole life. I’ve never taken a connection apart and seen anything wrong that’s been greased. I’m a welder by trade now, and I’d never do a KZbin channel so people that have never welded can criticize me. Hats off to you Wes. You do good work.

[@titus142]

Well maybe after 53 years it all goes to hell :D Seriously though I grease all my terminals and they always stay clean and come apart. Then the guy with gobs of white junk growing all over their battery, has a hard time starting, will tell me no way should you grease the terminals.

[@WatchWesWork]

@@bigb7157 I hear you. I think that's how most people feel. At least the smart ones!

[@PaulHigginbothamSr]

I have painted dielectric grease on every bolted contact I have used for over 50 years. I have never had a contact failure in all that time and I do put it on before bolting the contacts together. The reason I started doing this 50 or 60 years ago was because I found that corrosion is the main culprit in lost connections especially in bolted connections. The grease gets squeezed out of the contact location and stops corrosion effectively if put on before the connection is complete as it produces a better seal on the contacts. It behooves you to thoroughly clean, grind smooth, make metal show before bolting together. I would suppose if you laid the contacts together with no screw tightening the dielectric grease would not let the Connection prosper. But the real world contacts, even 5,000 Amp contacts work with grease. I have seen these contacts explode and even have an arc snuffer to blow out the arc after opening.

[@earboit5145]

You’re never going to please everyone in the comments section. Cool truck, great work as always !

[@jamesshanks2614]

Every Mack truck I ever drove requires the driver after starting the engine to rev the engine to kick in the alternator to begin charging the batteries. I drove Mack trucks for over 18 years. Had one driver at the company I drove for fire up his truck, turned all the lights on then we would walk inside the shop to get our marching orders from the boss. We fired up at 6 am but due to wether and heavy fog, you couldn’t see more than 20 feet he didn’t order us to head to the pit to get sand when we walked out to the trucks his battery voltage was down to 8 volts. That was when we discovered each truck had only 2 batteries instead of three. As soon as he raved the engine it began charging the batteries and by the time we got to the pit 26 miles from the shop his batteries were fine. We always rev Ed the engine after the oil pressure stabilized to kick in the alternator after that. His truck was 6 years old at the time. We pulled the battery covers before we left the shop is when we discovered only 2 batteries versus 3.

[@morgansword]

Once you drive a maxidine, you will never forget them or the fact that as a kid stuffed in a truck that had the inline six and governed off at sixteen hundred rpms. I used every gear but high in that truck and used the lower gears more than I care to remember. The v8 model was just the opposite and did the 2150 rpms but there was no over winding them. They just wouldn't! I drove lots of thermodines and they were real work horses and just about bullet proof but would break a head bolt once in while and and that was how I learned how to get a welding rod lead stuck to the broken bolt and simply unscrew it with fingers then just re torque a new bolt in along with gently check others to find it was just that one bolt on the back head that would break so with spare bolts under passenger box replace it when necessary. I used Die electric grease as well with no problems. I found on some alternators that after it run just a bit, a quick bump on the throttle rpms would put them in charge mode and the pulley was just a tad slow so a smaller wheel so it turned faster without the throttle bump fixed the problem but then the alternators would overcharge after a while so went to a external regulator and then was done with it. I like you am way too big in the "B" models but I bought one, actually my first big truck as my one ton 36 chevy with a ten foot flatbed that I hauled wood with was just not a truck but a accident waiting to happen so drove accordingly but never did, a few worrying moment tho/LOL. I got out of it into a narrow nose pete and almost missed the room in the mack but the size of piece/parts was the eye opening oh yeah moment. I have never seen a broken mack rear end, I have seen a few that were so worn out that you could shave on the gears, but non that were broken and I seen some terrible first driver situations that would curl your hair. I loved to drive but if they found out you were good at wrenches then there you were; I had a boss can me and then offer me a job as a mechanic. I thought about it and then said nope, I'll go to town and he cussed me down to the plane dock (alaska camps) and I got to town and had three job offers as he had told the mail plane operator to make all his runs then take me to town. When I got into town I found a large percentage of my old crew there trying to get me back but no going back where you cuss me. So I go to a new camp and here come the guy who had canned me to make a public apology, but then I saw it was rehearsed and not sincere so I said no. Two weeks later was the fourth of july shut down and so went into town. My old boss setting on a bar stool muttering (drunk talk) I found out he had his walking papers over firing me. So to show I have a heart, I called the camp and their words not mine, the only way he comes back is if you come in his place and he can drive or whatever for you. I knew the man well and he had a family so I told him we would be back over the layoff and they said no... we need you now! Oh well the things that you do for your fellow man. I told the bartender to let him run a tab on me and to have his gear on the plane to camp next monday and fix me a camp case and I'll see "Jim" on my next trip in in the fall. I wasn't a drinker but after a long day would always have a glass on the rocks. sixteen hour days do something to you that isn't good at all. I haven't touched the stuff in almost twenty four years and don't miss it, just my family. They threw me away cause I worked too much. Oh the stories I could tell you about mack trucks!!

[@WatchWesWork]

Wow. That's quite an adventure. I need to get up to Alaska some day.

[@morgansword]

@@WatchWesWork I'm 72 and live in a 16x20 cabin but don't use my bedroom so swing in and I'll make tea or coffee if you prefer. I'll build a meal and it won't cost you anything but a ear to listen to stories of me lying about how fast my truck will go. Spend a day or a week, whichever you prefer as I know a man like you has to keep moving and do stuff, I have an old explorer thats got good tabs and tires so transportation is covered but I can't pick you up from town but may be able to arrange for pick up by my care attendant. I ain't an invalid, just horizontally challenged. From panning gold to fishing or hunting we have it all Wes and your more than welcome

[@willbill15161]

Wes absolutely addicted to the channel love the fact that you can work on so many different machines. As a industrial maintenance tech I use a product called Tweco Grease, used it on turn tables for welding robots, also used on high voltage & high current contactors works great. Keep up the great vids! Tweco Grease, An electrical conductive grease to be used as a lubricant for roto-grounds and may be used when making mechanical connections with copper or aluminum cables. Effective as a lubricant on sliding or moving electrical contacts such as switches and rotating grounding devices. Reduce electrical resistance by as much as 40 to 50%.

[@billywird]

I tell you it is amazing at all of the different types of lubrication types we have on the market for different applications. My, my, what'll they think of next.

[@jimmy_olds]

I can’t imagine only having 5 gears in a big truck. What a cool old truck, those old Macks were beasts.

[@bambambundy6]

Its nice to see someone that knows how dialectic grease works!!!

[@tommee10533]

WOW a 40 yo tractor in that shape. I have the deep respect of the owner who takes care of his equipment.

[@lesconn1240]

Another good set of repairs, Wes - I like your attention to detail and that you explain what you are doing and why.

[@WatchWesWork]

I try

[@johncraig406]

Wes, I am 80 years old, and I have been using Dielectric grease on the connectors before tightening them up for Decades, and it has never failed me. It is good to keep Water out, so no corrosion occurs, and prevents arcs.

[@jlucasound]

You do everything right. I Love to "Watch Wes Work"! I especially like your attention to securing and properly routing wires and hoses. I do think the UV light is what breaks down that particular insulation. If they are original, they still lasted quite a while. As far as brake air lines? Yes!! They have to be perfect. Thanks, Wes! Hope you and your family are healthy and safe.

[@blocksmithforge7841]

When you first started talking about dielectric grease I was like "here we go,". Then you slapped that bogus info down like a boss. My first thought was "I've been using this stuff on electrical connections for years", then you said something just like that. Subscribed.

[@FishplateFilms]

Nice work Wes! As an electrician of 40 years and having worked on many different things , you do good work and were spot on with the dielectric grease! Lanolin is great also and I spray it on just about everything ! You were too busy shifting gears , but at 36 min after you crossed the tracks , they was a BNSF train with a cool loco on the head end . An EMD SD70Mac in what they call they "Executive " paint scheme of the 80's ...just sayin''..LOL BTW ..as a young fella I drove a few old 5 speed Macks...what a pain, especially going uphills! Thanks for the great video. Cheers Gregg.

[@bostedtap8399]

Hi Wes, if I may add to you understanding on "Dielectric", ref silicon based... It's purpose as you state is to quell arcing, I used to build resistance welding machines, and we used "ElectroLube" brand, when we had a rotating or sliding Electrical contact, welding current was 35 volts up to 50,000 amps (50kA). If arcing occured, then it would create very hard deposits between the copper to copper, copper to silver or copper to brass sliding surfaces and obviously gouge/score. Excellent vlog, I really enjoy your work and explanation for a simple welding engineer. Thanks for sharing and may I wish you and your family a healthy and prosperous new year.

[@WatchWesWork]

Interesting. I worked in a big factory for a while and they used it by the bucket full on some high currect DC switch gear.

[@bostedtap8399]

@@WatchWesWork DC power is far more dangerous than equivalent AC, DC requires twice the switch gap distance than AC, ref no sine wave, and therefore current is always at maximum potential. This is the reason you see Electrical switches rated at 120V 5 amp DC or 250V 10 amp. Thanks for replying, and really appreciate your sharing and edification.

[@jp-um2fr]

Vasaline, A few blobs of that around your terminals and your good to go for a year. I'm 73 and have never had corroded terminals, nothng worse on a cold morning. A quick wire brush and a wipe round has saved many a neighbor of mine.

[@louispeters2105]

Thank you for saying so. Vasoline is used in hundreds of ways

[@Thebowzer221]

Louis Peters, the guy who discovered Vaseline, I think his name was List or, used to eat a spoonful every day. He never had dry skin, dandruff or constipation.

[@dieselbronco9247]

It amazes me how many people get behind a keyboard and all the sudden they are Master fricken diesel mechanic! Use as much of that grease as you think it needs, it's not going to hurt nothing and it's one of the very few things that is applied liberally to the brand new trucks. That Mack is a very clean truck for its age and appears to be very well taken care of. I'd love to own one like it myself

[@jamesbergeron8356]

Dielectric grease is an anti corrosive. It can be applied on the hardware/terminals directly.

[@banjomaisey9050]

That is what we call a cool power 320HP in Australia, were we put the steering wheel in the correct location ( Haha) The exchanger on the side is the intercooler that gets feed from a tip jet fan from the turbo. This model was distinguished by the bronze coloured dog on the hood. All of the Macks I had anything to do with had Ingersoll-Rand air starters fitted and relied on the battery having enough oomf to fire the air dump solenoid if they were flat you just pushed the plunger in manually with a pen or pencil. My Old Flintstone had a hose made up so you were able to flatten most of the tyres on the drive bogie into the start receiver and off you went for another days fun and festivity. Totally agree about the Di-electric grease, if caused resistance then Im stuffed a it is all over my gear electrics. Love your videos my friend. Kindest regards From Australia

[@ronjessie8194]

That brought back A lot of memories, the company I worked for had several of those old Macks in there fleet sat that time and I did A lot of maintenance on them . After 82 they started replacing them with Internationals. I always liked the Mack truck best.

[@orionfixr7713]

Unless they changed the system in later years of the R model it should have four 6 volt batteries with a 12 volt operating system and a 24 volt starting system via a series / parallel switch . You haven't lived till you drive a 5 speed Mack with 20 leaf camel back springs ! Ours didn't have air ride cabs . We even had a bunch of R 700's with Detroit 318's with an injector change to bring them down to 292's . Most of the Macks we had were 18 speed twin stick Trans's as they were off road on the job pulling 30 or 28 yard dump trailers . This video brought back a lot of memories . Thanks for the "time travel ".

[@wymershandymanservice9965]

Don’t you feel lucky your not replacing the trunnion bushing. That 1800 lbs of torque is even a killer on most torque multipliers. Those old 5 speeds were bullet proof. A lot of drivers don’t know that touching the brakes during a spin out will set the peanuts on the differential lock. Seen many a truck stuck that I got in started the spin touched the brakes and drove them out of the stuck problem. Spent a lot of hours behind the wheel of R models as well as working on them. I imagine a speedy sleeve might fix that leak at the power divider on a farm truck but on the over the road trucking once that yoke was grooved we just replaced them because the speedy sleeves would not hold up. But I also realize that materials are a lot better now than in the past. So it might be fine. Great content 👍

[@WatchWesWork]

Yeah that's not a fun job. I watched a guy tighten those big U-bolts with a 1 inch impact like you use for changing tires. Never even tried to torque them. I just walked away... I had figured on replacing the yokes. Probably a good chance I'll screw up at least on U-joint as well.

[@lynbowman3638]

Wymer’s Handy Man Service 5

[@deeremeyer1749]

Speedy sleeves wouldn't hold up? They're stainless steel and easily outlast cast-iron/cast-steel components they're installed on unless improperly sized, installed or cheap "speedy sleeve" knockofffs not manufactured by a quality SEAL MANUFACTURER.

[@deeremeyer1749]

"1800 lbs. of torque" is a "killer" on "most torque multipliers"? Snap-On makes 600 lb.-ft. TQ-series torque wrenches and the "weakest" torque-multiplier I've ever seen - and used - was 3:1 or 4:1. Mainly so you can get 600 lb.-ft. from a 150-250 lb.-ft. 1/2"-drive torque wrench. The largest I've used was 18:1 and "double reduction". Pretty necessary for real serious torquage on real "off highway" iron like excavator hydraulic cylinders, etc. That anything Mack is "heavy-duty" in the real "off-highway" universe is hilarious from the "bulletproof" triple- countershaft "pot metal" case transmissions to supposedly "superior" so-called "top loader" axles. Lightweight, cheap to manufacturer, non-patent infringing and "easy" to "service" when broke down "off-highway" is not "heavy-duty".

[@erikjohansson1814]

Satisfying to watch your work. KZbin would be boring without Mr. Wes, Aging Wheels and Uncle Mustie1. Thank you 👍🏻

[@WatchWesWork]

I love those guys too!

[@ionracer24]

No computers, no def, no problems!!

[@garrettgaldonik611]

Dang right!

[@geraldov0439]

True.

[@shawnmciver3943]

the same reason i converted my TBI chevy half ton to a carburetor, damn computer/ fuel injection issues, runs great now

[@MichaelTomlinson00]

Amen!

[@J.R.in_WV]

Ion Racer No problems if you know what you’re doing. There aren’t a lot of “mechanics” around anymore that know how to diagnose or maintain a mechanical engine anymore, so as an owner you’re best off to do work yourself. I’ve got probably $2,000 worth of special tools to maintain my NTC-400 cummins and 318 Detroit. Every few years plan on Setting injector timing, keeping the jakes and valve lash adjusted on both and keeping the fuel racks in adjustment on the Detroit’s requires a good understanding of operating principal and why things are set how they are. For folks who just want to drive it and take it to a shop when it breaks the pre emissions electronic engines (Detroit 12.7, cummins N14, Mack E7 VMAC) are pretty decent.

[@ardenpeck78]

You were in Wauseon,Ohio for the Thrasher's reunion, I live about 20 mi. from that fair ground. My grandfather used to show his Rumley Oil Pull at this show in the 50's. I really enjoy your videos. You have amazing patience. My wife and I am retired teachers. Defiance,Ohio says Hi.

[@tommyeugene]

i will never use the things you show me but i love watching you work bro

[@randywendel]

Love your videos and your commentary. You’re a very smart mechanic for such a young man. You never seem to take the easy or lazy way out which is so common today. Wish you were my neighbor.

[@datnis916]

O i had to pause it. I also use dieelectric grease on every electrical connector i install. It also has never caused me a problem. And im also talking thousands of connections. All it ever did to me was prevent carosion and arching..

[@dougankrum3328]

I've owned several Chrysler vehicles....they put a big wad of that grease on all those pesky bulkhead connectors in the engine compartment....maybe they know something??

[@dougankrum3328]

@PunchingMegaTree Lug Nuts....Yeah....I've got a 99 Ram van....4 wheels on it...front and rear lug nuts aren't the same size...only 1 size lug nut wrench/jack handle....be careful where you get a flat!

[@79tazman]

@PunchingMegaTree Yeah they make garbage vehicles my ass maybe the new stuff is but not the old stuff

[@79tazman]

Dielectric grease is good stuff it makes a better connection keeps the terminals from rusting and keeps the moisture out. My friend had a old mustang with a 3.8 liter V6 and when he drove it through a mud puddle the engine would lose power and it was because water was getting under the distributor cap once he started using dielectric grease he could drive through puddles all day and not worry about loosing power anymore.

[@RadioMan666]

Wes, your spot on about the dielectric grease. I worked in the power utility business for 40 years. Every compression fitting on a power system has this dielectric grease on it before the fitting is created.

[@donaldswink6259]

That’s a sweet looking R-model and it sounds really good also.

[@heartattackjack9349]

Ha! You used shrink wrap! We used it a lot at my old workplace. I operated a cable cutting machine, while the others built wiring harnesses. I was glad to see how nice that joint was made. Thumbs up! As to the word dielectric, it was used by the engineers at the radio transmitter plant, and in reference to the ability to resist electrical power flow. It was often used in reference to wires, and the insulation's ability to prevent arcing. My knowledge is all second hand, and I'm not sure if it's even useful in relation to your discussion of dielectric grease. That's all I got. KZbin armchair occupier. Love watching these vids, and I'm learning a lot. Love it when you work on the big gear.

[@kennethmarlow2731]

Ive got a lot of miles in a R model Mack. Loved that truck

[@jc-pj3nh]

Just finished reading nearly all the post below and reminded my of the other transmissions I fell in love with. Owned a GMC brigadier with 671n and 10sp roadranger dump loved it. Drove a peterbilt with 400 HP Detroit with a super 10 RR. Was a rocket ship. How ever the R model Mack with the 5 speed and the 300 engine was my all time favorite because it was the easiest to drive and remembering the sound of the turbo spinning up and the kick in the pants pull still gives me goosebumps.

[@aaroncone6778]

Ahh, the old "Cool Power" Maxidyne 300 Plus. Good strong engine. Btw, the Mack key switch will make you think that the alternator is going. The contacts in the switch will wear out after a while. Check it with the engine running & jiggle it, to see if the volt gauge goes weird. Nice video!

[@deborahchesser7375]

Aaron Cone damn good motor

[@unclejoe5541]

yeah, 315 hp with the tip turbine fan. Good stuff

[@zephyrold2478]

Hi Wes, Love that you go into detail in your videos, I think it is the first time I have seen someone use the right tool for shrinking shrink tube, the good old heat gun, FYI exessive runout comes free of charge nowadays especially on far east collet chucks :-), a good old handmade thumbs up to you for taking the trouble to take us along your every day jobs, I love them shoving us the proper way of doing things. All the best.

[@WatchWesWork]

Heh. A lighter works, but I prefer the heat gun.

[@kevingrainger2530]

Exellent workmanship, I'd work alongside this chap.

[@danfenn8343]

I often just let KZbin roll in my house. I just watched you live stream(but not live). Now it's on this Mack dielectric grease lesson. Well done. Called your words one step ahead. I live in your %7 EH!

[@badgerbob2226]

Ive drove lots of trucks but the r model is the best. love those Macks.

[@WatchWesWork]

They are cool!

[@williamescolantejr5871]

A former boss of mine 25yrs ago said he loved a mack thou it wasn't the fastest trucks out there.'Nope not fastest but runs uphill,downhill and flat ground 65mph loaded or empty'lol

[@nealturner7463]

You just can't beat those old Macks! Real workhorses.

[@williamescolantejr5871]

@@nealturner7463 that's what my boss said,he worked for fords farm division 25yrs before I met him

[@kenprevatt1267]

Hey Wes that’s what I started working on when I first started wrenching. This old truck brought back some memories.

[@Citronitroify]

Nice video on dielectric grease :) Some fun facts: 1) The term "dielectric" was first proposed by the scientist, philosopher, and Anglican priest William Whewell, 1794 - 1866. Whewell coined the word diaelectric by combining the Greek "dia = through" and "electric". This was condensed into "dielectric’ to make it easier to pronounce. Unlike an electrical conductor, which excludes an electrical field, a dielectric material allows an electric field to pass through it. Dielectrics and electrical insulators are often used synonymously, but dielectrics tend to be more specialized for specific functions such as capacitor dielectrics. 2) Dielectric grease does not conduct electricity and stays pliable (it does not cure), while silicone grease does not conduct electricity either but cures to a hard form (Lesson: Do not use (cheaper) silicon grease for your contacts and terminals - use dielectric grease). Read more: Difference Between Dielectric Grease and Silicone Grease | Difference Between www.differencebetween.net/technology/hardware-technology/difference-between-dielectric-grease-and-silicone-grease/#ixzz6B8NT5Q9C

[@WatchWesWork]

Interesting. Though I'm not sure if I'm less or more confused now...

[@drummingriffin]

1977, that truck is as old as my marriage lol. Have to say, you certainly know your stuff Wes. I used to love working on vehicles in my younger days but arthritic joints tend to stop me these days. That and the ever increasing use of computers and sensors means you are limited on what you can do without expensive equipment now. Stay safe and well both you and your family, hope you all get through this unscathed.

[@IHcubcadet]

Nice work. I always wondered about the usage of di-electric grease, but after some researching came to the same conclusion and now always coat all the connections with it. Cool old rig, when I was younger a lot of the contractors in my part of NH had those style Mack’s for there dump trucks. They do seem to run for a long time.

[@bienvenidojosejorajuria5125]

I’m a truck driver been driving 17 years and I was a farmer for 25 years i have repaired all my equipments diesel motors to me have always been simple. After watching your video on diesel pickups I will not buy a diesel truck ever even if you beat me with a bat

[@cwb9318]

Love the sound of an old Mack, even the grindey gears lol

[@lewiemcneely9143]

Grind 'em till you find 'em!

[@lewiemcneely9143]

I'll get the blasted thing into SOMETHING! Do NOT want an Allison in anything but quarry trucks and font discharge mixers!

[@rogermartin4104]

99% of those style solenoids that I've changed over the last 40 yrs have either been bad grounds or welded contacts... the new style you went with is the way to go for sure on rusty old body grounded trucks. nice video, if we all share what we learn we all get better at what we do...

[@wolfman5494]

My best guess on the wire insulation breaking apart would be the heat cycling of the seasons and that engine bay over and over for decades. Over time it work hardens the plastic and would make it brittle. Going up to the pacific northwest you see cars with all the rubber and plastic still perfect and I'm convinced its because it gets no colder than 40F and no hotter than 80F on average.

[@billywird]

Yeah we have that problem down here in the South with insulation breaking down and deteriorating, and of course the plastic insulation work hardens over time and breaks very easy not to mention if you have to strip off the end to replace a terminal. Back in the eighties a friend of mine and myself went in on a John Deere tractor that had been in a barn fire. Well it needed to be rewired and my friend was one of those use what ya got types and he provided me with all of this "pack ratted" wiring that the insulation was as hard as a brick from age (not to mention the corroded copper). I had some brand new wiring spools and I used that. It was easier to run and easier to strip and install connectors to.

[@bucksmkr12ga]

They are neat old trucks. But I ran around 2200-2300 miles a week in one for over 7 years. It wont hurt my feelings if I never sit in another one....LOL. Good work and thanks for the flashback in time.

[@robpeters5204]

I use dielectric grease on the contact inside of the spark plug boot and all of my ignition parts. Works great on the older points also.

[@MichaelTJD60]

Sharp looking old rig. The RL600 is the "west coast" version of the R600. RL is aluminum frame, RS is steel frame. The second L indicates lightweight components (typical of California-built trucks). The RS700/RL700 is the long hood version. These trucks were built at the plant in Hayward, California. The 700's were discontinued sometime around 1978 or 1979 after the Superliner came out, and when the Hayward plant closed in 1981, the RS/RL600 production moved to Pennsylvania where they were built as the "Valueliner".

[@WatchWesWork]

Interesting. I know a guy with a Superliner that I believe was built in California. It has a Cummins 855 engine.

[@allenlarabie8854]

Fluid Film is one of my favorites. Been using it for years. It's also good for use as a under coating.

[@johnbellas490]

I had an old Mack B615 with the END 864 V8 thermodyne . The electrical system this truck had was the same battery layout BUT had a 12 volt RUN system with a 24 VOLT start system!! Key to this was a GIANT power control relay under the passenger seat that had 4 wires coming from the batteries hooked up to it with 4 wires going out of it!! 2 wires went to all the lights, accessories and alternator and the other 2 went to the starter motor!! When you inserted the key and turned to start this energized this HUGE relay and sent 24 volts to the starter. When you returned the key to RUN position this DROPPED the "WIRING CONTROL RELAY and changed battery connections inside itself and this action allowed standard 12 volt operation to happen!! Yup it was complex but it worked!!

[@WatchWesWork]

I've heard of that kind of system, but I've never seen one.

[@crankysports]

What a beautiful truck!

[@ronobrien5726]

I began my career as a mechanic at a Mack factory owned dealership the same year this truck was built. Love the Macks!!!!! The temp sender is coupled to the gauge (negative thermal coefficient resistor). You could have replaced the mechanical gauge with an electric (not electronic) one. The wiring was beautiful to work on because it was color coded. The make that comes to mind is Int'l Harvester. They had all black wiring and numbered end to end. Pain in the a** to work on.

[@billywird]

Yes sir that is a problem with the Internationals especially if you do not have a factory wiring diagram.

[@patloughner9551]

I love those old Mack's they sure don't make them like that anymore!

[@WatchWesWork]

Yep. Tough old trucks!

[@CrimeVid]

Love those Mack trucks, had a ride in a Mack tanker from Mystic to Pittsfield in ‘76, that thing ran like a charm. What’s the matter with oil leaks ? at least it proves there’s some in there !

[@CumminsDriver100]

Main problem is, VOLVO bought them out! Yuck!!!

[@Ulli278]

I always admire your calm and systematic approach to work. I've learned a lot by watching. Especially about the click systems brakes, fuel line. Great videos, very informative and brilliantly presented. Thanks for that and best regards from Germany

[@robpeters5204]

That unit is super clean! I love them with the spoke wheels!

[@bohhica1]

I guess a power wash is out of the question until you locate all the leaks unless owner didn’t want it. Enjoying your videos,sir good job,work.👍👍👍👍👍🇺🇸

[@BrodieBr0]

LOL Hey I use the same ''remote starter switch'' on my old iron too. Lovely Mack R thanks for showing us and good work Wes!

[@4speed3pedals]

Cool truck. The RL600L is a Mack built with an aluminum frame . It has the 300 h.p. engine with the intercooler and second turbo. It is a West Coast Mack built in Haywood, CA. The Mack Pedigree sticker on the side of the engine means it is a factory rebuilt engine ( I have a couple of them on my tool box lid that I grabbed when replacing engines). The 5 speed transmission was designed to reduce shifting on the hills in PA. The Maxadyne engine group has a wide torque band. Mack had dynos set up with computers to mimic actual roads.

[@milantrcka121]

Yes, dielectric grease as well as standard grease applied all over is a good idea. Prevents corrosion between contacts. Where it matters, grease will get displaced and good contact will result. Dielectric grease (silicone) will prevent discharge across a surface such as in HV ignition cabling and connectors.

[@davedemo8229]

Omg finally a you tube video with someone properly shrinking heat shrink with a heat gun and not a lighter. Good job Wes. Love your videos . Makes me want to fix my stuff.

[@WatchWesWork]

I only use the lighter to soften up plastic fuel lines...

[@lutemule]

I can feel the pain looking at all the oil leaks...

[@patrickcolahan7499]

I use to work on the triple counter shaft Spicer transmissions. This was back in the mid 70's. They were a PITA to hold in time while inserting the three shafts into the hollow shafts filled with needle bearings. Did a bunch of them on log trucks. Got pretty good at it. Remove in 20 minutes, 4 hours tear down, clean, replace and reassemble and finally 30 minute install.

[@wr4268]

That Mack engine sounds beautiful got me two of does old trucks

[@shortstroke8712]

Love the truck content. Started my trucking career out driving an early 70’s Brockway. Only drove a Mack one time in the late 90’s. It was a cab over sleeper truck. Don’t remember the model but wasn’t overly impressed with it other than the ride. No matter how screwed up the trailer was loaded, that Mack suspension smoothed it out. Good times 👍

[@carlwilliams8354]

The 3rd to 4th shift you really have to wait for the rpm to drop before moving out of N into 4th. I miss driving these simple old workhorses!

[@deborahchesser7375]

TheVet4id yeh they were. Once you got used to them they are hard to beat.

[@calparsons2502]

best way to shift 5 speed is do not use the clutch once you are rolling. Of course double clutching works too.

[@donnatalielucasheimbigner7598]

A note about the dielectric grease bit: standard GM weatherpack & Ford connections come with it FACTORY installed I them. I also use it each & every time I install spark plug wires. You are 100% correct in your approach to its function & installation.

[@rotax636nut5]

Hey Man, you're doin' everything wrong!, I know this because although I've never done a darn thing in my life I have watched KZbin a lot

[@pointingdog7235]

🤣🤣 hilarious

[@stevengiles346]

Yeah there are a lot of armchair experts out there. Never done it but know all about it 😜!

[@HalfmoonVIP]

@@stevengiles346probably some 9 year old who wants to give us some pointers 😂

[@sasquatchrosefarts]

Dielectric grease gets dirty , and flows with heat. Open your turn signal mechanism if it's over fifteen years. It will b a green copper colored mess that has flowed and can create intermittent shorts. I would only put it on threads just to prevent sticking nuts. Not on contacts. Wes had another video where he started a diesel with no oil and no valve cover gasket. Dumbest thing I've ever seen. This is a meth channel. All the KZbinrs seem to be meth heads. They do insane crazy stupid things. That don't make sense.

[@sasquatchrosefarts]

He also drove it with what sounds like low transmission fluid......crunching everytime he changed gears. This is a Trainwreck.

[@nathan747berg]

I lost it when you said you burned the view finder with a torch. 😂 We viewers definitely need an outtake/ gag reel episode. You are such as personable and down to earth guy- which is why I am convinced an outtake reel would be hilarious.

[@WatchWesWork]

Yeah, I need to do something like that.

[@obviouslytwo4u]

That test drive you did at the end was awesome, the sound of the engine and the view of the American Dream. I felt little bit nostalgic for Route 66

[@danielsingleton3576]

I love these older Wes videos. Man I'll probably watch every one soon enough.

[@OtherWorldExplorers]

That looks just like the R600 cool master from Road Warrior!! Awesome!!!

[@WatchWesWork]

It just needs an air starter and twin sticks! Maybe a Roo bar on the front.

[@edreeder9853]

Good looking Dog, I had the same thing with the 6 speed, I hauled coal in eastern Ky, usually grossing 120,000 lbs, and it might of been slow but nothing else pulled like it did, remember at that time Mack horse power was rated at the ground, so the 300 was doing better than a lot of people knew.

[@derek6187]

Nice video :) Careful though: Once word gets out, EVERY customer is gonna want a fully detailed video of the work you did LOL

[@WatchWesWork]

Heh. I've never had a customer actually watch my videos. I try to keep them as separate as I can.

[@lylekliewer4787]

Shifting that 5 speed beast without grinding is definitely a rhythmic process. Going up you rev that Maxidyne 300 up to 2100 RPM, shift into neutral, let the revs fall to 1200 and stick it into the next gear. The way back down is the reverse process, just make sure you sort of rev match before the down-shift. You're working on a deluxe model there by the way, the one I drove didn't fool around with things like power steering and an air suspended cab. In fact, it didn't even have an air ride seat, and if I remember correctly, I had to make my own music or get another driver to pipe in the tunes over the cb. Fun truck, fun days, wish I could do it all again! Thanks for the video.

[@bborkzilla]

I've cleaned a lot of ancient white moly lube out of old connectors - so I definitely stick with silicone grease.

[@ty2010]

silicone polimerizes, lithium cleans off with a small shot of w40

[@deeremeyer1749]

Too bad silicone is an insulator, huh?

[@deeremeyer1749]

@@ty2010 Silicone is also an insulator. Like everything "silica-based".

[@carmiethompson2676]

Beautiful Ole' Girl. Glad to see she runs as well as she does. You do good work Wes, thanks for the video & tips.

[@theshootindutchman]

Don't you understand? If you go putting that dielectric grease on high voltage lines, gun the motor in a state of panic or road rage, and that thing arcs onto a battery which is in contact with concrete, this world could be sent into an alternate time/space universe. Oh I've seen it happen a dozen timee!

[@WatchWesWork]

Sort of a Back to the Future lightning/clocktower scenario?

[@stuarthardy4626]

Have a look at TOT vidieo. It’s “ this old tony” for a good laugh he has a time travelling lathe cuts steel with a hand chop , is a pretty good machine Chanel with a real of beat sense of humour

[@porkyswelding]

@@WatchWesWork will that truck do 88 mph?

[@stephenwagar2663]

@@porkyswelding Every Thing Measured In Giggawatts

[@WatchWesWork]

@@porkyswelding I think we'd have to push it off a cliff to make 88mph!

[@lbbradley55]

I drove a 1985 mod almost just like it in 85 & 86 ! Interesting to see this ol girl. ! Takes me way back.

[@aserta]

As i knew, D-grease was and is still used to flood connectors when you're dealing with high voltage connections. It creates an insulator barrier that keeps things kosher. For example, if you have a "lazy susan" style connector, where the body needs to spin freely, the blade connectors are heavily smudged in that stuff so they don't arc inside the joint. Personally, i use it without restraint. I spitz that stuff in every connection i have, then use a thick syringe to flood every hole of a connector. Excellent for keeping unwanted moisture/water out.

[@WatchWesWork]

Bigger the gob, better the job!

[@pointingdog7235]

A friend of mine had a 72 R Model that he hauled Chemicals with in the 70's and 80's. He bought his first tractor in 76, the 72 R Model. I loved that truck. In 83 he replaced it with an International which was a fancier truck but I loved that old Mack.

[@evil1656]

Yup, carry on with the grease. I do find it can get slightly hydroscopic in high moisture environments and cause some interesting ghost voltages (had a Maxilift crane on one of our service trucks become possessed out of the blue. Turned out to be the 20lb of 10 year old dielectric grease someone had packed into the pendant connector decided to become slightly conductive.) A little goes a long way, and it is far far better than using nothing! Batteries on concrete is just plain silliness. Never could understand what that was all about.

[@AndrewBrowner]

batteries used to be cases made of things other than plastic, even wood believe it or not, concrete could get moist from temp difference and conduct through an already bad case... non issue on any battery made in the last 40 years with modern plastic

[@billywird]

@@AndrewBrowner That is the way a physics instructor explained way back in 1970 at a technical institute I attended. And people do not realize that concrete is constantly drying from when it is poured and there is of course moisture in concrete for the very reason you mentioned. At least this what a concrete man told me.

[@enderlane]

I know the video is old but I’ll comment anyway. Several years ago John Deere sprayers were having CAN bus issues. The cause was too much dielectric grease in the CAN bus splice packs. The fix was to clean out the excess grease, lightly coat and connect.

[@gliderider7077]

I use dielectric grease on all my trailer electrical connection and snowplow electrical connections, eliminates corrosion and promotes connection

[@zeez9053]

Articles state it inhibits electrical flow! It’s not rocket science.it either does or doesn’t most articles say it does that’s why they use it on spark plug boots to stop leaking current.Coppergrease is much better for inside terminals then when there clamped down cover the connection tops with dialectic grease 🤘🇬🇧