The best way to start the weekend is to buy another crappy Ford 7.3 that’s mint. Bring it home, buy a giant list of parts to replace right off the bat cuz they’re that common to fail replace em all at once, & get it over with.
Our family owned a trucking company. We had 4 international tri axle dump trucks. We had to fix them wherever they broke. One truck spun the center out of a clutch and we had to change it in a chipyard in the dirt and mud. Somehow we supported the 13 speed using a warn winch on a scout and got it done, albeit in a very sketchy and not OSHA approved way. Desperate times call for desperate measures. My dad has passed away and I’m now far too old to do heavy work like that anymore but I respect the people that can still do it. Good job sir, well done!
I distinctly remember watching the video of you replacing the trans in that peterbuilt so many years ago. I was then about a month away from starting diesel tech school and I remember being blown away with how casual you were about what I thought then was the monumental task of replacing a transmission. I've been at an International dealership since then and as fate would have it, I became the "transmission guy" at our shop. Now if I'm not getting a clutch job done before lunch, something is wrong.
Rich, I'm a 30 year old, graduate from the caterpillar think big program here in north carolina. I left the cat world about 5 years ago, let me tell you. Going out on my own was the best thing I could have ever done. Worked out of a 95 f350 for a few years, built a good business and customer base, bought a f550 and currently in works of putting up a 40X60 pole barn. I work on a little bit of everything much like yourself. I appreciate your videos and your insight on how most of us should try to lead our lives, in my opinion. If you're every in the NC VA area and need a couple zip ties and electrical tape, lol, give me a shout
the first 22 and a half min was great video to watch and I love watching your videos ever since Iwatched you rescue the older lady that had the man lift in her front yard. The last few min was priceless in that truer words were never spoken.
Rich, great video, great message. Both of your channels are among my top four on RU-vid. You have both my admiration and respect. You're correct, clutches suck. I've done a big bunch however and never had one fail. And you are also correct, someone willing to do the hard work honestly will always succeed. I tip my hat to you Sir. Best regards from Indiana, USA.
I did a clutch and a rear section on a Kenworth dump truck just like this one 2 weeks ago. I've worked with a couple guys who absolutely love doing transmission work and claim that its gravy work, but i hate doing transmission's and clutches. Never had a good time on one yet lol Edit: I am also a rust belt mechanic from southern Ontario, which just adds to the fun lol
Nice to hear rich, not many people appreciate the trades. I am a Kenworth tech in Ontario. Also 40 this year. You just experienced my life lol. Keep up the vids!
Proper maintenance is a testament to the longevity of a truck, I occasionally work on a 70s International that has nearly 4 million miles on it and it's in better shape than some of 5 year old trucks that I see.
Good call on the hardwood, I wouldn't be here right now without the heads up of a 4x4 cracking apart. Was doing a similar job on a similar truck when an aged fitting started to leak and drop the bed without making enough noise for me to notice Loved the part inspiring young guys. I wrenched through college and have never needed my degree bc apparently nobody wants to do this anymore, especially the larger equipment stuff
@@AndrewBrowner You must be fun at parties. I have no idea how fast it would have fallen without the piece of wood, it was an instant blow out leak not a pre-existing drip and I was literally leaned over between the rails to hit a grease fitting. The guy who dropped it at my shop was kind enough to leave it not entirely empty of large landscape beauty rocks
So many places here in Australia are paying huge sign on bonuses. Landscaping, construction, heavy mechanics, truck drivers. You can get up to $10k after 12 months! I'm considering getting back into trucks with the money being so good.
I miss the hell out of diesel mechanics. Did it every summer in HS and have been in a hot Rod machine shop since graduation 2 years ago. Getting a CDL to go race and be back around these machines. Miss em too much
Such memories this brings!!...as an early 20yr old pulling clutches on White Road Boss conventionals for a sand & glass company, in the summer, outside on the asphalt lot. EVERYTHING had sand all over it, the transmission jack would sink into the asphalt😖
40 wow you are a young buck!!!! I have a lot more years in the nasty but I wouldn’t change it. I love the solving the problems so I look past the dirty hands and just take pride in knowing I got a vehicle in my shop that had problems and when it left it was running in tip top shape because of me. Now don’t think I wouldn’t do what you do MAYBE! But I like working at my own pace and doing my job my way. I know RU-vid has made your life different in many ways and probably some ways you don’t like at all. But thats not up or down that’s you and me. I really like the videos so that’s and I look forward to the next thanks.
Tip For controlling dry rust and dust without spending a year cleaning mix up some pva glue in water to the consistency of maple syrup and spray it over all the loose dust and or rust and let it dry. You can then peel it off or it washes off in water when done.
I’m going to school right now to be a diesel technician. worked at my uncles diesel shop when i was 16 and it really sparked a passion for big trucks and turning wrenches
Great video Rich! I did a few trans & clutch changes in my early years, (that’s around 50 years ago!) a good transmission jack always saved they day. Was always amazed at the destruction we discovered. From broken flywheels,exploded pressure plates, the occasional drive shaft that was twisted like a licorice stick. Thanks for the reality check at the end.
Thank You! For the end of the video explaining the reality of the amount of mechanic and technician work there is to have. Yes, it’s hard work. Yes, messy and dirty, but you learn this trade(s) and you will be in EXTREME demand!
If my 160 pound self can bench them up into place, you got it Rich. The flywheel is the real fun.. Just did the clutch in one of our T880 KWhoppers a little while back. Love seeing how different people go about this stuff.
Not a lot of ppl here in the states especially Northern Illinois neighbors helping neighbors pretty much they are out for themselves and it's a shame!! You're a good man Charlie Brown
I recently took an internship at a drive line shop building heavy duty transmissions. Mostly Eaton Fuller RTLO18918Bs and FRO16210Cs. Its amazing to me how long these units can last. A good driver can keep the unit in usable condition for over 500,000 miles. Ensuring the clutch brake is operating correctly, preselecting your range shift, and running good clean oil and a cooler can save a lot of time and money. Silly things that cost a lot of time and money include running the unit out of oil and shock load failure as a result of bad driving or wheel spinout during slippery conditions. Replacing the input would have been a good idea, but I'm not sure it's possible without partially disassembling the main box.
Great content, Rich! Your message at the end is super, and it goes far beyond your focus on entry-level heavy truck repair; here in the U.S. the average age of an electrician is about 58 years old... . This is exactly the right time to steer focused, able-bodied young folks into the Trades. My grandson is just weeks from gaining Journeyman status and has been making good money from day 1, and for the past two years makes more than his professional parents. All that and no 3rd world citizen with a laptop is going to snatch your job away at 30% of your wages. Great message.
I've been been a diesel mechanic for the last 20 years. I started with semi's first job I had was changing oil and clutches on freightliners. I remember how heavy those are and that is the same way I always put the new one in. Happy birthday I'm 1 year behind you.
great message Rich. work full time for the water utilities myself in the UK and we can't get decent engineers. its dirty and hard work but its a job for life. my spare time ill work for a mate doing mechanic work on what ever turns up to his workshop and that's fun work as well! plus side is I can pay for some very cool toys, tractors machines and lots of trailers!
Hello Rich. Great back to basics video. Please keep putting the odd one in your lineup. The builds are fantastic. The back to basics keeps them in perspective. You have earned your transition to doing more of the work that keeps you awake at night. It is a little depressing that the younger generations do not want to work for an honest living. You said it correctly a very good living to be had if the effort is put out to achieve the reward. I am not rich but frequently have my hands dirty. It will be a sad day when I have to stop turning wrenches. Keep the videos coming.
Pulling clutches and transmissions is what I started out doing at my first job as a tech. Pulling that transmission top cover under a truck, also called a shift bar housing, is really no fun! Had to pull a few of those to replace broken detent and shift bar keys when a driver loses all but two gears on the low and high ranges. Keep up the good work Rich!
I agree with you 100 percent. Service is where the jobs are for young guys. I dread putting in clutches too but you either do it or pay someone dearly to do it. I'm 69 and still "bench pressing" them! Scott
Holy shit now this is the filthy Rich I subbed for. Also shoutout from a country where cabovers are super common so you can tilt the cab and do everything with a crane including lifting the clutch plate and flywheel etc
Rich, I work on semi's I took 3 8 by 8 boards and glued and screwed them together to make ramps to get the truck up in the air. Works awesome and no Jack's or stands. Just drive up on them, and you can roll under and do whatever you need to do.
Your reaction when you pulled the PTO reminds me of when I pulled the Saginaw 3 speed out of my 68 C10. It came down off the cross member, and I said, "Oh sh!t..." as I broke it's fall to the floor.
You beat me to it! Back in the day before I got big enough to have my own shop, shop couple blocks from me would do one in 2 hours. I thought that was super human.
If I were a good 20yrs younger right now believe you me I'd be right back in the shop in a heartbeat charging $75 a MINUTE for the big fish out there (corporate operators, because fuck them for absolutely destroying private truck operators like Phil making any profits 🤬) and $75 per job for the little guys just trying to keep the lights on at the home they're lucky to sleep in 3 days a month
An eclectic way of changing a clutch on your friends Kenworth Anteater Tipper Wagon, would have put in a steel prop under the raised tipper body. What I really like is the crap and dirt in the cab ,more dirt caked on the chassis , a nice honest working wagon. One thing when removing the gear selector plate from the gearbox , put a piece of clean cardboard over the opening ,less chance of crap entering the box and ruin the gearsets.
I've only done clutches on passenger cars. Just watching this job makes my muscles hurt. Cool to see the engineering in larger rigs. I sure wish throwout bearing on cars and light trucks could be greased! Last three clutches I've done the throwout bearing was the first to go.
Regarding your closing points... Many moons ago I decided to go into the more clerical side of machinery rather than spin wrenches as a career. That decision was based in large part on the fact that none of the mechanics I knew over 40 could stand up straight anymore. What I didn't know, and no one knew to tell me at the time, is that sitting at a desk could be just as brutal on your body. You get all of the back problems _and_ you get repetitive stress injuries to go with it. 😆 The ideal job is about half of each, but that job pretty much doesn't exist anymore. If I had it to do all over again, I think owner/operator of equipment (I assume what Phil is doing) would be a decent way to go. With what formal education costs, not in just money but also in time, you could have yourself a pretty good start-up collection of hardware to work with.
Reminds me of how I tore my rotator cuff up by bench pressing a transfer case into place. You are probably good at age 40 but that happened to me at age 47. Enjoy the durability while you can.
About a year ago I pulled a top cover off a 10 speed in one of those old T800s through the little shifter hole in the floor. Real bear of a job but I showed the old guys that it could be done lol. Much rather work on those Pete's with nice big shifter cover!
I've always done this stuff before but never at my house you're a lucky man been following you a long time thank you for all the content tape boss reminds me of that old-school 90s toy the Sonic ear thank you man you'd really do a nice job
We just used an old truck drive axle shaft with the flange cut off to remove the u-joints >> rotate the shaft to where we could rest the axle shaft against the frame rail, then use the shaft against the shaft yoke weld joint like a ramrod😉
Rich, well said, us wrench slingers have job security right now cause we can actually FIX things like cars n trucks of all sorts. If it wasn't for folks like us things wouldn't be moving to be exactly right. Thanks for the positive words at the end man, sure you could have as many folks in a boardroom but they can't turn a wrench and that's what makes the world go 'round.
Awesome message to those that really want to work and have a vision for their lives, hard work can be the difference in a young persons life it will carry them if they do good quality and have a few people skills!!
I'm surprised you left the clutch on the engine. I find it way easier to unbolt the clutch through the inspection plate, and lower it on the input shaft
I can attest to your message at the end. I graduated trade school in 2019 for diesel technology, was hired 2 days later. In less than 3 years I've gotten 5 pay raises that has doubled my income. There's plenty of work out there if you don't mind getting dirty and doing the things that nobody else wants to do. I make my living over a mile underground, it's hot, wet, greasy, the fleet is old, and there's inherent dangers, but they pay us good because nobody else wants to do it.
