Remember Glow Plugs?

Back before fan clutches the shutters were there to cut air flow through the radiator to keep the engine temperature within range when the outside air temp was cold.
They were just that....Shutters in front of the radiator, They looked like heavy window blinds and opened and shut automaticly.
In hot weather they were a little restrictive and we would block them open to keep the engine cool.

I hope that clears it up for you...

 

Wheels of Time had a story about chiseling the ice off the front of the trailer to get the co-driver out of the sleeper.

Another story making the rounds is about an under-the-trailer sleeper. The unit was hit by a piece of tread rubber. The co-driver tried to get the driver's attention by flagging with a sheet. A woman in a passing car was able to get the driver's attention, and they got the co-driver out of the sleeper. The co-driver quit the job on the spot and left with the woman.

 

Without radiator shutters, the engine would cool off while going down hill so that it did not have good power half way up the next upgrade.

Some old trucks had a spring loaded shutter that was positioned by a light-weight pull chain. The driver had to monitor the temperature gauge and adjust the shutter by pulling or releasing the chain near his knee.

 

It's all much easier now...What with fan clutches and all.

 

I learned to drive in my Dad's B-Model Mack log truck. Compression release on the 220 Cummins, shutter stat, 5 & 4 Mack trannie with the brownie shifter closest to you, no jake brake, but water on the brakes to help cool them. I remember when spring brakes were first introduced. They were separate brake cans that were just bolted to the truck frame with a chain or cable going to the slack adjuster to apply the brakes if you ran out of air. They were on 1 axle of the truck only.

When I think about the loads those guys hauled & the conditions they worked in I can't help but think that most of todays drivers are wusses.

 

Thanks for the info blackw900 i didnt mean to sound rude about bashing me but ive seen some of the people on here make fun of others for asking very legitimate questions, after all thats kind of what the forum is about

 

There are legitimate questions and then there are...Other kinds.

You'll soon understand the difference.

 

Lets not forget the throttle lock! I had an International in the early 80's that the throttle lock was on the floor just at the front right corner of the seat and all you had to do to set it was get to the speed you wanted and reach down and pull it up till you got it set! Now when you wanted to slow down or stop you just took your right foot and step on it and it released it!

Sound fun?

Oh it was if you got distracted by the seat cushon next to you and looked up 5 seconds before you hit the trailer in front of you!

 

Oh yeah, we had some old dump trucks with that on the dash. Like a cable operated high idle/cruise control. You turned the knob to set the idle higher and pulled the whole thing out for cruise. Had a big red button in the center of the knob to release it back to idle. They were all worn out though, never worked very well. The older guys told me it was easier to use a cinder block, which they did on the old Whites.

 

What about 2 stroke Driptroits with side mount blowers.