Hopper, Dump O/O's & Drivers

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by wheathauler, May 31, 2009.

  1. HwyPilot

    HwyPilot Medium Load Member

    442
    396
    May 31, 2008
    Northern Georgia
    0
    Made it home alive and well (and on empty). I'm not sure what's causing the shakes - I've had all 10 tires balanced, one replaced, and a full alignment now. Beginning to think it's something weird myself. I read the alignment prints from before and after and can't make heads or tails of it. A telltale I have noticed is the drive tires have been rounding the corners off the tread blocks.

    Once in awhile when turning close in rough terrain, I hear a clunk in the front end. I've had 3 different shops check it out - and they all found nothing. I can only hope it's something dumb and easy if it's ever found - one thing I can't stand is a vehicle that can't find straight - drives me insane. I'd like to keep the front end, I like having the 13.2k limit and it rides well over rough terrain.

    Spent most of today filling in the blanks for my IFTA filing. Turns out I bought no fuel in KY, NJ, NY, or NM for this quarter - I have a feeling I'll be writing a check or 2. I did find a cool way of calculating the mileage though - use google directions, and create destinations on statelines - then just review and there's exact mileage between them. I'm only paying IFTA on my loaded miles - deadheading is mine as far as I'm concerned.

    Hope everyone had a good weekend! I'm enjoying the hometime, even though I'm still working to get things up to speed on the office side of the fence. I managed to pull my psiatic (sp?) over the weekend, and I wouldn't be able to roll out if I wanted to - my leg goes numb when I sit for awhile. A visit to the chiro cleared it up some, and I'm taking it easy for now. Take care all, and be safe out there!
     
    dairyman Thanks this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. kajidono

    kajidono Road Train Member

    6,417
    4,659
    Jun 1, 2009
    Streetrat
    0
    That thunk is the steering knuckles being worn out. I think that's what the boss called them. Not a big thing to worry about if it only did it once or twice. I've driven trucks that popped constantly.

    Mine is doing some of the same things, same kind of shaking and tire wear. I know mine's out of alignment, though. It's been pulling to the left since I got in it. Maybe you could try those centramatics and see if it smooths out any.
     
    dairyman and HwyPilot Thank this.
  4. wheathauler

    wheathauler Trucker

    2,031
    584
    Mar 10, 2009
    Hutch, Kansas
    0
    Hwy, I presume you checked the U-joints on the driveshaft.
     
    HwyPilot Thanks this.
  5. HwyPilot

    HwyPilot Medium Load Member

    442
    396
    May 31, 2008
    Northern Georgia
    0
    Steering knuckles or "kingpins" is suspect, the front end handles like it. When something is shot in the suspension, a truck will drive decent when loaded (due to the weight on everything), and worse when empty. I've been wanting to install Centramatics, but the money just isn't there yet.

    What really bugs me is that the truck drove fine on the test drive, and has driven like this ever since I picked it up. Wonder if they used it as a "parts donor" while it was there on the lot.

    The worst part of the whole thing is the fact that I drive so many miles deadheading. If I could actually keep the truck loaded, it wouldn't be as bad on everything (and me). I'd bet money that my back is screwing up because of the constant shaking I rode out coming back empty from CO to NE to OK to GA. Unfortunately, it was the only way I could get home in decent time and have lunch with family members that were flying back out on Saturday. We had planned for me to be home during their visit, but I kept getting sent further from home and nowhere near NE. Go figure.
     
  6. HwyPilot

    HwyPilot Medium Load Member

    442
    396
    May 31, 2008
    Northern Georgia
    0
    The U-joints have been checked at every lube, and I need to replace them for piece of mind here pretty soon. They are the pre-greased type without zerk fittings, and I don't believe in that junk myself. I know on Freightliners lubeless drivelines, they only expect 500k out of them, and I have 520k on this Volvo now. If they're similar, I'm running on borrowed time.

    The shaking seems to be coming from the front end, although it's hard to pin down. The steering is "numb" it can't really find straight, or even a center spot in between left and right. When I run down the road, it's balancing straight against left or right, and then a bump or change in the road surface screws that up and leaves you to search for straight again. Honestly, it wears me out - I can drive 17+ hours straight (if it was legal) but with this deal about 4 hours and I need to take a break and rest.
     
  7. Pawnd

    Pawnd Medium Load Member

    346
    143
    Apr 8, 2009
    Chasing wind
    0

    Check the pitman arm on the steering box. Alignment or pull should not change if you hit a bump, only if the crown in the road changes. The pitman arm slipping will give what I call a funny or drift feeling and excessive play. There has to be play somewhere for changes.
     
    kajidono and HwyPilot Thank this.
  8. kajidono

    kajidono Road Train Member

    6,417
    4,659
    Jun 1, 2009
    Streetrat
    0
    I had 4 new drive tires put on last week and I noticed mine isn't shaking hardly at all now. I could have sworn the left front was wobbling. I wonder if one of the drives was balanced but out of round enough to cause that.
     
  9. 7mouths2feed

    7mouths2feed "Family Man"

    1,186
    464
    Nov 29, 2007
    Jacksonville, AR
    0
    If I didn't know better I'd say it sounds like you bought a POS Vulva.

    Oh! Wait!!!! You did!!!! :biggrin_25522: hahaha:biggrin_2559:
     
  10. dairyman

    dairyman <b> Hopper Thread Greeter</b>

    1,223
    926
    Oct 31, 2009
    Ky.,wait'n in line
    0
    Wheathauler,you hauling out of the flats this week?
     
  11. wheathauler

    wheathauler Trucker

    2,031
    584
    Mar 10, 2009
    Hutch, Kansas
    0
    Not yet, supposed to start this month but who knows. Cargill changes their mind on a regular basis.
     
    dairyman Thanks this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.