[19trax95]

Since chat is and has been broken for some time now, it was suggested by a member to have a thread to act as an impromptu chat room. Obviously wont be the same but I thought it was a good idea he had so why not.

So here it is, chat away. Forum rules still apply so keep it family friendly.

 

[19trax95]

You a heavy equipment mechanic?

 

[19trax95]

Nice. I went over to the heavy equipment side for a while but I missed doing motor work so I went back to working for International. I'm one of the dealers Cummins techs now.

I liked equipment a lot, just wish we had more engine stuff come in. I worked for a Doosan dealership, but we had a bit of everything on out rental side.

 

[19trax95]

We got some, but it was usually in the Bobcats, which is too small for my liking.

Didn't really see too many internal failures on the larger motors. Doosan uses perkins motors and their own. Some of the older stuff used Cummins. Obviously the every present emissions systems issues were there.

I do miss parts of the equipment side though. The variety was really nice. I could do pretty much whatever I wanted there. Great company to work for. But on that same token, it was a large company so there was a "chain" of command. Where I'm at now is a family owned dealership so my boss is THE boss. So there is no, "well I'll have to email so and so" only to have them say I'll need to ask this manager, etc.

It has its perks and draw backs. I actually had a job offer from Caterpillar, but turned it down due to the shop near me being smaller and it doesnt have the best reputation. And it was union. I will not work for a union company. I'd much rather do my own bargaining and pave my own path.

I may end up moving more west or south eventually so who knows where that will take me as far as career path goes.

 

[19trax95]

All stores near me are wiped clean for the most part. The wife of my service writer at work had people break the locks off the doors at the grocery store she works at this morning.

Goes to show how Ill prepared and selfish people can be in the blink of an eye essentially. Pretty sad really, but not surprising.

 

[19trax95]

I think it's less of the virus itself but the people and their reactions that are worrying some.

But the issue is people are allowing their panic to feed off of others, and especially the insane media hype.

 

[19trax95]

I went to the store this morning and was able to get a few things to make some food this week. Canned foods were gone, meat was gone, with the exception of sausage. I guess no body like that lol. So I got some sausage and they had a pack of ground beef left so I bought that as well.

No paper products still. Water was back somewhat. They had a fair amount of the store brand water bottles. 24 packs and 40 packs. Maybe a pallets worth of both types.

Frozen meals were still available as were some frozen vegies. Fresh produce was on the lower end of average but not wiped out by any means. Oddly enough there wasn't too many people there. I'd say about average to below average for a sunday morning.

Definitely a nice change from the other days.

The meat markets near me have been picked clean though. Lines out the door and down the street. Costco was limiting how many people they let in at a time.

 

[19trax95]

Just make sure to spray it down like your painting it then slam it in there still wet. They filter really good that way I've heard lol

 

[19trax95]

I wish diesel was that cheap. It's still $2.94 here. Most of it is tax at this point thanks to PA having the highest gas tax in the nation.

 

[19trax95]

I see no issues here

 

[19trax95]

That's a N14 cummins. Has around 780k on it. It had 500hp injectors in it. Whether or not that was a contributing factor or not, I'm not sure at this point. I'm sure it was definitely not helping though.

Needless to say it's getting a whole new motor put in it. Block is trashed and I can spin the crank from the back so it too is sheared.

We have a used motor in the warehouse he bought. Will take a little retrofitting since it came out of a slightly newer truck.

 

[19trax95]

The first tank of gas I filled my 95 with, it was $4.20 a gallon here in PA. I was never able to fill the tank up so just didnt let it get below half a tank haha. That's the downside of the 34 gallon tanks.

The cheapest I can remember gas ever being as a kid was $1.25.

 

[19trax95]

 

[19trax95]

The problem is the whole thing of being told to not leave your house and not travel as a free citizen.

Constitution doesnt go out the window just because people are getting sick... unfortunately the powers at be are grabbing any power they think they can get away with.

And just my opinion, but the actions they are taking here seem a bit much for the current situation. So either is far worse than we think it is, or there is also something else going on or coming. Call me a nut case but I call it as i see it.

 

[19trax95]

Yeah I fully understand what the idea is behind the isolation. And it is needed for sure in some areas.

But telling people you are not free to travel, and needing proof of why you are traveling, is many steps too far no matter the area.

Ultimately, it should be up to the people to quarantine themselves. Obviously some will and some wont. But that's the way it goes. You cant force people to do it and still have liberty.

At the end of the day, it's the price we pay to be free.

 

[19trax95]

I can see the jack wagon gov of PA trying to do that.

It's pretty ridiculous how over the top they ar getting at trying to rule people's lives and ruin the country.

I think people are starting to wake up and realize this whole thing is no where near as bad as the media and politicians make it out to be.

Total power grab

 

[19trax95]

I keep hearing that, but I just dont believe the stories. I personally know 2 people who are sick. Including one who is younger than the supposed "most at risk" age group.

One thought he had the normal flu until he got tested. And the other (younger of the two) said it's the sickest he has ever been.

But unfortunately, that is the price we pay to live in a supposedly free country. The most they should have done is issued their recommendations. It's up to the people to either follow them or not.

Cant force people not to live their lives as they see fit. Otherwise it isnt America anymore.

I've said it from the beginning. If people are afraid, then stay home. But we cant shut down the country, fine people, force people, ruin lives and businesses, just because some people may get sick. Every person I know in the medical feild around my area, says it is definitely increased from normal flu season, but the hospitals are no where even close to capacity. Emergency rooms empty.

I fully understand this may not be the case everywhere. But I also dont believe for a single second that this is the end of the world, we need to force dictatorship on the American people, virus they make it sound like it is.

 

[19trax95]

Yeah I'm not saying that staying home isnt a good idea. But I definitely dont agree on how they are doing it.

As the old saying goes, those who would give up liberty for saftey, should have neither.

 

[19trax95]

Truck got towed into the shop with the complaint of "trans fell out". Well yes, yes it did lol.

Driver said the shifter got ripped through the floor. The trans is sitting in there sideways, and the only thing holding it in the truck is the cooler lines and battery cables...

 

[19trax95]

Probably a large shock load. Like dumping the clutch when loaded, or even forcing a downshift into too low of a gear going too fast.

These things can take massive amounts of torque. But they do not like getting it all at once Haha.