"Mr. XYZ running northbound on 75... You got a radio on?"

No answer, just the normal noise in the background.

Get up alongside the other truck, turn on the dome light and wave the CB mic at him...

You got it on now?

Still no answer other than the normal noise.

Get up alongside him again and do it all again.

This time, when I dropped back behind him, he turned on his right signal. I dropped back even more to allow him to slow down. At 10:30 PM, the sparks under his trailer tandems were very clearly visible.

On the shoulder, I found out that he didn't have a CB. But, under his trailer, one of the two springs that held his air-lines off the ground was badly rusted and broken. The spring was what was throwing the sparks, but the air-lines had been hitting the ground as well. The pavement is a good abrasive for something that can be ground through easily.

The air-lines were resting on the ground as we shined our flashlights around under there. I asked him if he had anything to keep them up off the ground, and got a dumb look from him. He wanted to run up to his terminal, nearly 200 miles up the hiway, and have the spring replaced there. NEVER MAKE IT! I ended up using one of my rubber tarp straps to hook the hoses and stretched it forward to hook on one of the I-beams that supports the floor, so that even when the hoses move up and hit the bottom of the trailer, there was still enough stretch/tension that it would not let go. With that, he would be able to make it to the terminal, and sent him on his way. (yes, you may take up a collection for me to replace that strap...:lol

Those springs do get rusted, and they do break. But, they never seem to break while the trailer is not moving. By all means, check those hoses and springs during your pretrip/walk-around, but when you make a pit-stop, have another look. If a spring breaks shortly after you start your 11 hours of driving, you could find yourself sitting on the side of the road by the end of your second hour. Yes, breakdown time does not stop your 14 hour clock. By the time a service truck gets to you, it could shorten your driving day. That dips into your wallet.

Sure, you could carry a new spring with you. You can carry one of the rubber tarp straps that some drivers use to hold the fuel nozzle in the tanks while fueling. But, suppose you are unfortunate enough to realize you're losing air, and the line has rubbed through.

I carry a "double male splice" where both ends get inserted into the ends of the hoses. A sharp knife, two hose-clamps, and a screwdriver. If the hose springs a leak, and you have a problem releasing the brakes, I can cut out the damaged area of hose, insert the splice, tighten the hose clamps, and use one of those tarp straps to hold the hose up off the ground, and I'm on my way in about 15 minutes. When I get to someplace where I can get the hose replaced, I most certainly want my splice and clamps back. They're RE-USEABLE, you know. Especially the ones made out of brass. Plastic ones may not hold up as well.

NOTE: In the northern latitudes, you do not have to break a spring to have hoses drag on the ground. You only need to have them pick up enough weight with ice and snow to stretch those springs out to have the same problem. A few swings of a tire-thumper can do a lot to lighten up the load on the springs.

Stay tuned to this station for more tips...:lol2::lol2::lol2:

 

Windy...Your being really helpful there. What is it you are seeking to accomplish?? Are you attempting to impart to "Newer" drives that "pre-tripping" their trucks every couple hundred miles is not a bad thng??


Oh.....Good ADVISE there Mr. Walker of Winds.

:bigthumbsup::bigthumbsup:

 

X2.

Very good advice. I've seen many drivers who have had air lines dragging on the ground, or very close to it.

In fact, as soon as I read this, I got out and double checked my trailer lines, lol.

 

:rofl::rofl::rofl::clap::clap::clap:
(Still laughing throug the tears streaming down my face...)
Chances are that if you roll through a state scale with the make-shift repair, they won't stop you. If you do get pulled around back, and inspected, and they don't agree with it being a legal repair, you're still OFF THE ROAD while waiting for a service truck. But, I've taken one of these repairs from just north of the OR line, up to Seattle to pick up a load, and pulled it all the way back to Wausau, WI with no problem at all. There, the shop replaced the line, and gave me my repair kit back. I've never had the chance to have one inspected by DOT and find out what they have to say about it.

 

Great advice, Windwalker.... Another one printed off and in my notebook!

I still do a "go around" on the truck and trailer at every stop, but the repair advice is priceless.

Thanks! :clap:

 

rubber tarp strap It's called a bungee and they come in various lengths. BOL

 

I always look at the lines to make sure there off the ground but DUH NEVER thought about rust! And I live in NY! I'm going to pick up a brass double barb connecter asap but do you know what size ?

If you know your going to get into alot of slush snow try spraying the airlines with some spray silicone that will help keep the ice from building up on them

 

Back when I owned my own truck, and pulled flatbed, I would buy my own and keep about 150 of them on the truck. Sometimes more. The sign at the store where I bought them said "RUBBER TARP STRAPS".

But, that's OK, Sealord, you go to your church, and I'll go to mine...:lol2::lol2::lol2::clap:

 

I want to say 3/8 ID. I know the last one I have is one I turned out of a piece of stainless round-stock I have. After drilling a 5/16 hole in it, I looked at the OD as I was cutting it and decided... "Yeah, that's about right." It makes the hose stretch when you push it in and might even stay in place without the clamps. (But don't take a chance) Check with your shop and see what they tell you about the ID of the hose. Again, I want to say 3/8 inch. Yeah, if you get one that's too big, it won't go in, and if you get one too small, it won't do any good.

I posted this with new drivers in mind because I know from my days as a trainer that it's one item on the pretrip that is completely overlooked all too often. After reading (and laughing at) Rev's reaction, it would seem that it isn't just the new drivers that overlook it. But, if you have DOT go under your rig with a creeper, you better believe it's one of the things they DO LOOK AT. If they see damage to the surface of the hose, you can get a fine. If they spot a rupture in it, and a leak, no matter how small, you're OOS. Sure, you can move the tractor, but not the trailer.

 

Dude. No, I won't knock that one off the tee (but I could).