SliverPicker
ArboristSite Guru
Northy got me thinking.
I had been in the process of purchasing a self loader until early this last week. I decided to pass on the deal due to several factors, but may be changing my mind.
Its a 2000 Mack with a 460 eTek motor. 339,099.9 miles on the clock. It got a reman engine directly from Mack in September 2011. Both rearends where made new one year ago. The rub is that I had my local hotshot mechanic look it over and he told me the cam bearings are on their way out. When the cam bearings go the Jake will not work properly and the oil pressure to the turbo gets too low and the truck eventually shells the turbo. When the turbo craps out the motor will run away and will turn in to a grenade if you are unable to get on the brakes and stall the engine. This motor, as it turns out, is famous for the cam bearings going bad. The mechanic said he can do the cam bearings, put in a new higher pressure oil pump and replace the crank bearings for $3000 in parts and $2000 in labor.
The other issue is that the truck is fairly small. The steer axle is only rated to 12,000 lbs. With just the loader on there the axle is near capacity before any logs are loaded.
I passed on the deal due to the bearing issue, the small axles and the fact that winter is fast approaching and I'm no truck driver. I'm not really excited about learning to drive a log truck with 7 months of winter directly ahead. Trucks are already chaining up to get loads out of the woods due to snow around here.
Anyway, I am starting to rethink buying the truck after all. I have two loads on the landing that have been there sine June 12th that I can't get hauled because I can't find a truck. Last year I had trouble finding a log truck, but this year it has been literally impossible. It has become obvious that without a truck I am out of business.
I have negotiated a price of $16,000 for the truck. This might be a deal that I can't afford to walk away from.
What do you guys think?
[/URL] 3151 by SliverPicker[/IMG]
I had been in the process of purchasing a self loader until early this last week. I decided to pass on the deal due to several factors, but may be changing my mind.
Its a 2000 Mack with a 460 eTek motor. 339,099.9 miles on the clock. It got a reman engine directly from Mack in September 2011. Both rearends where made new one year ago. The rub is that I had my local hotshot mechanic look it over and he told me the cam bearings are on their way out. When the cam bearings go the Jake will not work properly and the oil pressure to the turbo gets too low and the truck eventually shells the turbo. When the turbo craps out the motor will run away and will turn in to a grenade if you are unable to get on the brakes and stall the engine. This motor, as it turns out, is famous for the cam bearings going bad. The mechanic said he can do the cam bearings, put in a new higher pressure oil pump and replace the crank bearings for $3000 in parts and $2000 in labor.
The other issue is that the truck is fairly small. The steer axle is only rated to 12,000 lbs. With just the loader on there the axle is near capacity before any logs are loaded.
I passed on the deal due to the bearing issue, the small axles and the fact that winter is fast approaching and I'm no truck driver. I'm not really excited about learning to drive a log truck with 7 months of winter directly ahead. Trucks are already chaining up to get loads out of the woods due to snow around here.
Anyway, I am starting to rethink buying the truck after all. I have two loads on the landing that have been there sine June 12th that I can't get hauled because I can't find a truck. Last year I had trouble finding a log truck, but this year it has been literally impossible. It has become obvious that without a truck I am out of business.
I have negotiated a price of $16,000 for the truck. This might be a deal that I can't afford to walk away from.
What do you guys think?