Fueling reefer while reefer on?

I was pulling a yogurt load out of Tenn in the summer of 2012. Stopped at a truck stop on I 24 (sorry I forgot the name. It is next to a great bbq joint.) Got out walked over to the bbq joint got food and noticed my reefer throwing codes. Company had to send a termal king mechanic I think out of Nashville to fix it. It happens. Run reefers long enough your going to be confronted with throwing codes. However I refuse to baby a reefer. It starts or it don't.

 

I understand. However. Our way of running is continuous. I have never had a reefer fail under continuous. We trade fuel burn and increased maintenance for load protection. I think only twice have we have a sick reefer in my life time once in the 80's and once in 2001. The differences between the two reefers, one a old Carrier from the 70's in a 45 foot trailer and a modern Great Dane made in 2000 were generations apart. One is flipping switches and turning dials And the other was a complete computer unit that was protected by a password which we returned to default on drop.

One of the things that was a problem in Atlanta Petro was people killing the reefer. That password feature made sure that no longer happened.

I am kind of set in my ways, Reefers are awesome, they even follow them by satellite on the railroad as they roll down the track past the house in real time believe it or not. When one of those get sick on a Yakima Produce load or some such valuable a reefer repair company truck meets the railcar trackside very quickly.

 

Im not trying to pick a fight. I am just trying to say reefers cycle. At least all the reefers I have had contact with. If a reefer don't cycle it is going to freeze a load solid. Ok with Ice Cream, not ok with candy or things like yogurt. This is my point. During that cycling period the unit is not running. The system is on but not running. If the reefer is a problem child it is going to stop anyway. This is why I am not too excited about flipping that master switch off.

 

I understand, there is no problem between us. None at all. I value your posts.

Even a old grump like me can learn something everyday as I have done tonight. That's should be good for something eh?

 

Im not teaching. Just pointing out things that tend to get forgotten. When the day comes that we know it all comes that is the day you discover you really don't.

 

Yes like everything else there will always be a needed repair to you reefer motor at some point in time. I just hated it when they sent us to get a frozen load with a reefer that was really only designed for chiller. Sitting in the yard trying to pre-cool before being able to go on the loading and having to wait 3 hours for the thing to cool down.

 

If you fuel it with the motor running and the tank is low, you better have a couple wrenches available and know how to clean the fuel screen (behind the banjo fitting on the priming pump). On a TK, they will plug up if you look at them wrong.

If you have your own reefer or pull the same one all the time, there are a few things you should always keep on hand:

1. A spare fuel filter and filter wrench. Know how to change it and how to reprime the fuel system.

2. A can of Brakleen to clean the fuel screen.

3. A spare fuel shutoff solenoid and the tools to change it.

Nothing worse than a dead unit with ice cream or chicken in the box.

 

The T/A at Mt Vernon does still have full service. Not quite in the sense they will park your ride but will pump the fuel.

 

Your post reminded me of a situation I got involved in. I was doing a drop and hook in Chicago when my QC went off. It was night dispatch at my company. Tbey had asked me to call. Turns out the company had allowed a reefer load to sit so long the fuel in it had got low. The yard man refilled the tank and it clogged the filter. The company had no other empty there and told me to drop mine in a door. Once they got the load transfered I had to take the trailer to TK. Burned up my 14 finally in anger just drove down to the TA on I 80 and parked. I turned off my cell phone and yanked the hookup wire out of my QC.

 

Truck stop west of Mandan, ND. Exit 147. It's a J now.