Do you know how to work on your truck?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by HillbillyDeluxeTruck, Jul 10, 2025.

  1. abyliks

    abyliks Road Train Member

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    Last edited: Jul 19, 2025 at 8:46 PM
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  3. Deere hunter

    Deere hunter Road Train Member

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    I'll take a 15 with a yellow motor all day long. But I understand with the Cummins you're gonna need a few more gears.
     
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  4. SmallPackage

    SmallPackage Road Train Member

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    With only one out of every 25 built back in those days with Cat power finding 15 would be a life long quest lol.
     
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  5. SmallPackage

    SmallPackage Road Train Member

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    A 15 with a Cummins works well with higher rear gears. I just cleaned up an ‘81 W900 for a friend that has a 3406A and 15. It was dealer ordered with a 12513 and 4.11’s. Original owner had the dealer change the trans to a 15 at purchase. Sometime over the years the rears were changed to 3.55’s. Geared too fast. The Cat struggles with it pulling welfare wagons.
     
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  6. RunningAces

    RunningAces Road Train Member

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    I have no background in working on engines but when I became an OO I started watching a lot more YouTube videos and asking questions here. There are a lot of really helpful great people on this site. After about 5 years of running the same truck with an isx15 Ive learned a ton. Id say about 80% of the work I do the truck is related to the aftertreatment system. Have a spn 3936 I've been working on fixing right now actually.

    But yeah, Ive learned that these things aren't magic and sometimes you just have to dive into a job and figure it out as you go.
     
  7. abyliks

    abyliks Road Train Member

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    you don’t really need more gears, but swapping in an RTlO will give you a lower low and a taller OD, I can’t recall what ratio low is on a RTO though, but they did have a shorter OD than the 15s of the time

    it’s really only the last 2 I like being able to split any way
     
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