What type of repairs have you done on the road?

I think I've changed every light on tractor and trailer at one time or another. Spliced in new light sockets, replaced pigtail and connection on the trailer, replaced airlines, adjusted trailer brakes until they told me I couldn't do it anymore, duct taped holes in trailers, patched trailer floor, mud flaps, all filtres, and reprimed injectors afterwards, mirror after Werner knocked it off, wiper blades, replaced the lifting strap on one of my liftaxles, and I'm sure I'm forgetting something.

 

Couple years back I was pulling a load out of Canada. Took my 10 at Cranbrook BC. Yahk scale was open in the morning so I needed to adjust tandems to BC bridge law. One pin did not release with handle locked, even though I could push it in by hand. Tried vise grips to hold it, but the small pair was too small and the large pair wouldn't get past the obstructions. Finally came up with the idea of using a hose clamp. Was able to keep the pin held in place while sliding the tandems and then loosen it to allow it to engage. Left the clamp in place and a note with the PTI for the next driver. I dropped the load for a relay in Spokane.

 

I've replaced busted heater hoses on the side of the interstate.
I've kinked off busted fuel line with vise grips and run off the other side.
I've changed out an alternator in a parking lot.
I've changed out the fuel releif valve on back of head on a detroit 60 series in parking lot of TA.

 

Hoses, Turbo, brakes, alternators, air lines, brake chamber, wiring, belts, exhaust. Oh yeah, airbags both cab and suspension.
I once made a fuel cap out of aluminum foil and baling wire, after I was a dummy and didn't secure one of my caps.

 

Driveline U-joints, drive axle wheel seals, brakes, brake chambers, tires, starters, air compressors, fuel transfer pumps, drag links, steering wheel hub covers, air compressors, air governors, air lines, lots and lots of H/AC blower motors, alternators, a coolant reservoir, and I packed the cracked head of a running motor with Steel epoxy once. (Still have the burn scars where I left most of my left forearm skin stuck to the sizzling hot turbo and burned the crap out of my hands in the hot leaking coolant- hey- "when a load has to be delivered on time, you do what you have to do to deliver it ON TIME, right?)

 

Lights, Mudflaps, Air Lines, Glad Hands, Mud Flap Hangers, Wireing, theres probably a few things im forgetting.




American Trucker

 

Looks like some guys have rebuilt their engines in the Granny lane of I-5 in Los Angeles at 5pm in the pouring rain with a dozen armed gangstas advancing on them.

I'm just not that good.

 

A.T. just reminded that this time of year its good to carry extra glad lines. They really get brittle from road salt and cold weather and tend to go bad more quickly. Simple fix if you have them on board. Could be costly and timely if you don't! Also jumper cables are good to carry this time of year. While you're at it a couple bags of ice melt, always a spare headlight, bulbs, mudflap etc... Winter can really expedite some of these things going bad!

 

Don't want you thinking I'm telling you any trucker stories, so here's some pics:



Fuel return line:


Headlight switch:


Hydraulic tank leak:


Turbo hose:


Air line:


Air dryer bypass:


Airbag:


Exhaust flex pipe:


...not to mention brakes, drive lines, batteries, etc....

Basically, if it breaks, I fix it. If I can't fix it, I patch it up as best I can to limp it to a shop where I can buy parts or have it fixed. If I can't patch it up to limp it in, I either call to have parts delivered to me on the side of the road if I just need parts, or I prep it for the hook if it is something more involved.