Why Replace Auto with Manual Slack Adjusters?

The boss sent me to a shop in PDX for brake issues I've been having. The first thing they discover is someone has swapped the auto slacks for manual.
This is a 2017 T680. Wtf?

 

Are you sure they are manual or maybe just a different brand? Have a pic?


I'm certain they have been a requirement on tractors in the US since 1994. Do not get caught with them.

Remember you choose to operate it and sign the pre-trip.

 

Dont get me wrong. They work when you adjust them weekly, after a heavy load, or before coming down off a hill. I still use them on old stuff.

But it's not legal after 1994. I think 1995 on trailers. Wasnt the same year.

 

Someone has swapped for a manual.

All I can tell you is this. I can use either a 9/16 or a half inch or even a 5/8th to adjust a manual today. Nothing to them. Brakes get a little soft, pull over. Dive under and 5 minutes all adjusted.

With that in mind the driver of that particular truck probably had a older mindset that the manuals worked for him better than the autos did.

I remember when auto adjusters came in about the early 90's and they were a little bit... fancy. Today's versions you almost need a certificate to get under there and adjust them. I don't bother. I have someone do it. Preferably a certified mechanic.

 

I was taught to adjust them in truck school 1989. I'm just shocked the owner chose to do this making all his trucks illegal just because he claims the autos cause drag. Sorry,Mack, that changes nothing on the legal side.

 

Rule 393.53 says NO manual adusters whatsoever on anything after 1994.

IF your company boss put them on the modern 2018 tractors or whatever, THERE IS A BIG PROBLEM. The entire fleet so equippted is NOT LEGAL and OOS until autos are put back on.

Page 29

https://www.cvsa.org/wp-content/uploads/FMCSA-Brake-Regulations-101-1.pdf

 

Cause drag?

 

This has the potential to become a big #### storm. Do I go the whistleblower route? I need til the end of June to have 6mo recent otr. How to cover my butt til then I need to work on.

 

Call the boss, tell him you're not getting back in that pos until autos are back on, then call all of his other drivers that you can and tell them what's going on.