Taking the plunge. My journey as an O/O.

I just threw my box of computer junk away.

I doubt I'd ever see a million bucks out of it all at sothebys auction.

 

I changed my first belt tensioner (dd15) on the side of the road, in Wa last year. I get the thing from fleetpride, I opened up the box and almost ^$# my pants. It seems Detroit changed the design of said tensioner, and never bothered to tell anyone...the spring is now internal. Dosen't even look like it will fit,when you first look at.oh well...

 

Dude, there is a big difference between using old thermostats and keeping a spare belt for an emergency roadside repair to keep running till you get to a parts store.

I can't believe so many are against having simple spare parts like belts and lights. Are you guys truck owners or company drivers?

 

I wouldn't keep old thermostats. That's a lot of work to replace and why would one go through all that hassle of replacing an old worn out part back in?

New parts I could see. Keeping old parts. Don't make no sense. Certainly not to get you back in to town just to tear it down again for a new part.

 

I agree. Old belts is one thing, only takes a couple minutes to change them. but thermostats? No way.

 

Well,on my last Truck, I had just put them in, and ended up needing an overhaul and they put new ones in. I got the old ones back, since they were new. Just so happened I still had them,when I needed them. Didn’t think much about it. Till the housing was seeping,figured the rubber must be hard, so I added a little silicone, no big deal. Got me out of a jam at the time.They lasted this long, no leaks no harm, nothing lost. I always keep extra headlights, along with belts, a pancake, govenor,Heater blower motors, a/c parts, along with a running list of parts for repairs, to do when I have a chance. And a bunch of tools, including a vacuum pump, Jack and torque wrenches. Bottom line is, I’m not getting stuck somewhere on a weekend, because of something stupid. And I do keep a lot of old parts, if they’re still good, like a belt tensioner, for instance. Maybe the new one won’t last 15 yrs like the old one, which is still good. I’m about to put on 3 belts for the fan, I’ve had for a couple years. Been meaning to get the bull gear done and put them on.Finally getting it done, along with a new radiator, which is original to the Truck, 20 yrs old. I think I know how to maintain a Truck, without wasting money. I’ll keep the old ones for spares. They may not last long, maybe they will. Either way they’ll get rotated out, and be my next set of spares. Add an injector, I’ll be keeping #6, it’s less than 3 yrs old. If one of my new injectors goes bad within the next few years, I’ll put it in.

 

Ya if you had just put something on, I'd reruse it. But with a new gasket.

 

There is no gasket, on the thermostat housing. The only seal is the square o ring that’s part of the thermostats. They were still new, only in my old Truck for less than a week, when the engine blew. So I told them I wanted them back. I’m sure they sealed up, once they got hot anyway. I ran a bead around them just in case, after I noticed the housing had a slight leak.

 

Its been a while since I changed them but on a series 60 i thought there was a seal you tapped in.