Vegas Teacher Posted July 21, 2017 Report Share Posted July 21, 2017 Well I have learned a few things since I bought my 2010 VNL 780..... Repairs on Semi's are expensive and so are the tools to do the repairs with. I bought the tool to put my Schrader Valve back in at the price of $40.00 used. The valve on the other hand cost a whopping $5.86. The repair for the Inner cooler should be in the neighborhood of 1200.00 - 1500.00 depending on the time. The inner cooler has a hole in it and I was told by the mechanic, this hole is robbing me of a lot of horse power. I also bought 4 brand new batteries. I bought them from the Volvo Dealership for 55.00 each. I am keeping my old batteries just in case I need the for something around my garage. I can always charge them up and us them to power an inverter to run something or just keep them for extra juice if I am dry camping. I just got back from a cross country vacation. I did not drive the semi because I was scared to get it out on the road with as little experience as I have and I like driving late at night. We left Las Vegas for S.E. Kansas at 6:15 p.m. and drove straight through the night and got to PIttsburg Kansas ( about 3 hours S.E. of "Hutch" as we call it in Kansas where the national ralley in October is taking place) at 7:15 p.m. the next evening. I drove my Subaru, put the back seat down and put my dog in a kennel. Wife was the copilot and we switched out every two hours or tank of gas which ever came first. We were in Kansas for a while then I went up to see my brother in the K.C. area then my breeder and left there at 10:00 p.m. one night and drove 12 hours to Morely Michigan. Went a lot of places in Michigan and saw a Maroon Volvo 780 pulling a 5th wheel travel trailer up near Muskegon Michigan as we were headed back toward Morely one afternoon. We left Michigan and headed back to Ottawa Kansas and my wife got a new puppy for her pure Working line Czech German Shepherd from Weberhaus Kennels to do a sport called schutzhund with. We drove back straight through 24 hours to Las Vegas again through the night. I guess after the bad luck I had, back in May when the Schrader Valve blew out, I just did not want to wind up on the side of the road, breaks locked up, in the Colorado Rockies or on a stretch of I - 70 in Utah that was not well traveled after the sun went down. (Yep that was probably a run on sentence) So I am going to go get my CDL, Southwest Trucking School has a campus here in Las Vegas. I can get my CDL for 2400.00. I get 40 hours of one on one instruction from a teacher in the cab of a truck. Instead of my I-shift I have to work my way through a 13 speed Eaton Fuller Transmission. I grew up with old grain trucks. My grandpa had a 46 ton and a half that you had to double clutch so I can drive a manual transmission. I will learn the pre-trip inspection routine, I have been watching Utube videos on it. Anyway I have not driven my semi much this summer, just a little bit scared to get back up on that horse right now. Well summer vacation for Vegas Teacher is about over - Three weeks till I go back. Later, Cory Ossana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickeieio Posted July 21, 2017 Report Share Posted July 21, 2017 Run on sentence or not, it was an entertaining read. Welcome back. KW T-680, POPEMOBILE Newmar X-Aire, VATICAN Lots of old motorcycles, Moto Guzzi Griso and Spyder F3 currently in the front row Young enough to play in the dirt as a retired farmer. contact me at rickeieio1@comcast.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jollyrogr Posted July 21, 2017 Report Share Posted July 21, 2017 Intercoolers are expensive, even on LGT's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alie&Jim's Carrilite Posted July 21, 2017 Report Share Posted July 21, 2017 Contact Roger- Hewhoknowslittle- he replaced all 3 radiators for less than that himself. Intercooler, Radiator, Transcooler/Condenser Alie & Jim + 8 paws 2017 DRV Memphis BART- 1998 Volvo 610 Lil'ole 6cyl Cummins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darryl&Rita Posted July 21, 2017 Report Share Posted July 21, 2017 Please tell us you didn't pay $40 for this: I have been wrong before, I'll probably be wrong again. 2000 Kenworth T 2000 w/N-14 and 10 speed Gen1 Autoshift, deck built by Star Fabrication 2006 smart fourtwo cdi cabriolet 2007 32.5' Fleetwood QuantumPlease e-mail us here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vegas Teacher Posted July 22, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2017 No not one like that. The tool is about 12 inches in length and is made from pretty substantial material. I did buy one like that but it was for the schrader valves that are on tires, this one was much thicker and the place where it screwed into was way down in a tube. I actually had to take one schrader valve back and get one that was larger in diameter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vegas Teacher Posted July 22, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2017 1 hour ago, rickeieio said: Run on sentence or not, it was an entertaining read. Welcome back. Thanks it is good to be home, 5000 miles almost and 2 weeks out on the road, at my parents and my inlaws or in a car sleeping in less than perfect conditions and taking turns taking showers is all kinds of fun. At the in-laws in Michigan both the sister and brother were home for a visit, plus the granddaughter OMG you would not believe what a mess that one was. Plus I got pulled over at 2:00 a.m. in Hannibal Missouri for doing 74 in a 70. That was also one of the reasons I did not drive the Volvo, I did not want to have to explain to a small town cop that yes officer it is a semi, and no I do not have a CDL but it is classified as an RV and is under 26001 lbs. at 18500, as it says here one the wieght sheet from the CAT scales at my local Petro gas station in Las Vegas. I actually got out of the ticket. I have a CCW card, and I gave him that as he walked up to the door. He looked at it and asked what I did in the metropolitan police department. I explained I was a high school teacher, and he counter with well then what do you teach the policemen in Vegas. I explained again that I was a high school teacher and taught 14 year old Freshmen, Biology. He ran my license can came back and told me to drive carefully becasue there are a lot of drunks on the road at 2:00 a.m. in the morning. However he then decided to get into a question about what kind of gun I carried, did I like it and where was it currently in the car with me. So after answering all of his questions he told me where other speed traps were and told me to drive safely the rest of the way to Michigan. I rolled up the window before he could start another conversation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPL Posted July 22, 2017 Report Share Posted July 22, 2017 VT Do you need a school to get a CDL in LV? Here in Va I took the written(computer) test. Passed it. Scheduled the road test. My 98 610 is also titled as a MH. I showed up with the 5er in tow. Went through the pre trip insp on the truck and the 5er. Then did the road test. Passed. Do they do things different or do you feel like you just need more seat time? I would just drive the truck until you get comfortable then hook the 5er up and get more seat time until you feel better behind the wheel. Then do the CDL test. Cheaper than 2dz Franklins. But do what makes you feel the safest! Pat The Old Sailor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickeieio Posted July 22, 2017 Report Share Posted July 22, 2017 I've been told that an "inter-cooler'' is mounted on the head, and acts as the intake manifold. It has coolant running through a core inside to cool the charge air. Most of our older farm tractors use this type. A 'charge air cooler' is mounted in the stack of radiators out front, using air flow to cool the charge air. Also called an 'air to air cooler'. We have lots of stuff using these. The one on the Volvo leaks, but I still carry over 30# of boost under a pull. I was quoted $1,100 for a new one, un-installed. KW T-680, POPEMOBILE Newmar X-Aire, VATICAN Lots of old motorcycles, Moto Guzzi Griso and Spyder F3 currently in the front row Young enough to play in the dirt as a retired farmer. contact me at rickeieio1@comcast.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vegas Teacher Posted July 22, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2017 22 hours ago, JPL said: VT Do you need a school to get a CDL in LV? Here in Va I took the written(computer) test. Passed it. Scheduled the road test. My 98 610 is also titled as a MH. I showed up with the 5er in tow. Went through the pre trip insp on the truck and the 5er. Then did the road test. Passed. Do they do things different or do you feel like you just need more seat time? I would just drive the truck until you get comfortable then hook the 5er up and get more seat time until you feel better behind the wheel. Then do the CDL test. Cheaper than 2dz Franklins. But do what makes you feel the safest! Pat The Old Sailor Just want the seat time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPL Posted July 23, 2017 Report Share Posted July 23, 2017 VT Our plan is to be in Vegas mid Oct so hope we can meet up. Get the seat time the best way you think possible. Always be Safe! Pat The Old Sailor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dollytrolley Posted July 23, 2017 Report Share Posted July 23, 2017 On 7/21/2017 at 3:27 PM, Vegas Teacher said: Well I have learned a few things since I bought my 2010 VNL 780..... Repairs on Semi's are expensive and so are the tools to do the repairs with. I bought the tool to put my Schrader Valve back in at the price of $40.00 used. The valve on the other hand cost a whopping $5.86. The repair for the Inner cooler should be in the neighborhood of 1200.00 - 1500.00 depending on the time. The inner cooler has a hole in it and I was told by the mechanic, this hole is robbing me of a lot of horse power. I also bought 4 brand new batteries. I bought them from the Volvo Dealership for 55.00 each. I am keeping my old batteries just in case I need the for something around my garage. I can always charge them up and us them to power an inverter to run something or just keep them for extra juice if I am dry camping. I just got back from a cross country vacation. I did not drive the semi because I was scared to get it out on the road with as little experience as I have and I like driving late at night. We left Las Vegas for S.E. Kansas at 6:15 p.m. and drove straight through the night and got to PIttsburg Kansas ( about 3 hours S.E. of "Hutch" as we call it in Kansas where the national ralley in October is taking place) at 7:15 p.m. the next evening. I drove my Subaru, put the back seat down and put my dog in a kennel. Wife was the copilot and we switched out every two hours or tank of gas which ever came first. We were in Kansas for a while then I went up to see my brother in the K.C. area then my breeder and left there at 10:00 p.m. one night and drove 12 hours to Morely Michigan. Went a lot of places in Michigan and saw a Maroon Volvo 780 pulling a 5th wheel travel trailer up near Muskegon Michigan as we were headed back toward Morely one afternoon. We left Michigan and headed back to Ottawa Kansas and my wife got a new puppy for her pure Working line Czech German Shepherd from Weberhaus Kennels to do a sport called schutzhund with. We drove back straight through 24 hours to Las Vegas again through the night. I guess after the bad luck I had, back in May when the Schrader Valve blew out, I just did not want to wind up on the side of the road, breaks locked up, in the Colorado Rockies or on a stretch of I - 70 in Utah that was not well traveled after the sun went down. (Yep that was probably a run on sentence) So I am going to go get my CDL, Southwest Trucking School has a campus here in Las Vegas. I can get my CDL for 2400.00. I get 40 hours of one on one instruction from a teacher in the cab of a truck. Instead of my I-shift I have to work my way through a 13 speed Eaton Fuller Transmission. I grew up with old grain trucks. My grandpa had a 46 ton and a half that you had to double clutch so I can drive a manual transmission. I will learn the pre-trip inspection routine, I have been watching Utube videos on it. Anyway I have not driven my semi much this summer, just a little bit scared to get back up on that horse right now. Well summer vacation for Vegas Teacher is about over - Three weeks till I go back. Later, Cory Ossana Teach, Boy how dumb is this but here I am telling a teacher about.....teaching... Just spitballing here but IF you need se seat-time there is real value in sitting on your own seat in your own truck..... Oh ya I suspect that the truck driving school HAS to use their truck because insurance and internal rules that are cast in concrete but here is the deal when the instructor walks away on the last lesson you are then on your own with your own truck..... I'd bet you might find a older semi-retired trucker (pun intended) that might be willing to take some of your $$$ and take the TIME to give you some instruction with experience ...... One other point to consider is that IF you placed a ad on Craigslist you might get a instructor that might have I-$hift experience and there is a world of features to the I-$hift that you will NOT learn rowing a 13 $peed around $in-city... In the last year or so I have had to move a couple auto-rickshaws around some and sure you can sit in the seat and let the auto-$hift you or.....you can learn some of the vast features lurking behind the keys and then get some value out of the auto-$hift...... Drive on......(Every time you walk out to a truck it's a......lesson) .. .. . 97 Freightshaker Century Cummins M11-370 / 1350 /10 spd / 3:08 /tandem/ 20ft Garage/ 30 ft Curtis Dune toybox with a removable horse-haul-module to transport Dolly-The-Painthorse to horse camps and trail heads all over the Western U S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrSeas Posted July 23, 2017 Report Share Posted July 23, 2017 What is that saying...... something about getting back on the horse (seat)! Seems like that driving course could buy a lot of fuel and seat time in your truck. Dolly has some kind words of wisdom as usual. Something to ponder...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vegas Teacher Posted July 25, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 It is the wisdom of those who have been there before that I treasure most. Guys I can't begin to thank you enough for that. I think your idea of getting a"Semi-retired" Driver to teach me is a great idea. Thanks a million!!!!!! Vegas Teacher, Cory O Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARGO Posted July 25, 2017 Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 'Couple things- first thing you should learn before even driving at all is how to do a REAL DOT air brake test. Not hard, and you'll need it for your CDL. PM me & I'll give you the sequence if you need it, but usually in driver's manual. Second, here in MD you must have a current holder of a CDL to drive YOUR OWN RIG to the test site. Legally you are not YET allowed to drive. They will fail you for that here, before you even start. You'd have to see the movie to understand.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan0043 Posted July 25, 2017 Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 9 minutes ago, ARGO said: 'Couple things- first thing you should learn before even driving at all is how to do a REAL DOT air brake test. Not hard, and you'll need it for your CDL. PM me & I'll give you the sequence if you need it, but usually in driver's manual. Second, here in MD you must have a current holder of a CDL to drive YOUR OWN RIG to the test site. Legally you are not YET allowed to drive. They will fail you for that here, before you even start. I have always wanted to see a air brake test in person. But so far, it hasn't happened yet. Is there any good video's out there showing this test ? Al 2012 Volvo VNL 630 w/ I-Shift; D13 engine; " Veeger " Redwood, model 3401R ; 5th Wheel Trailer, " Dead Wood " 2006 Smart Car " Killer Frog " Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Heiser Posted July 25, 2017 Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 2 hours ago, alan0043 said: I have always wanted to see a air brake test in person. But so far, it hasn't happened yet. Is there any good video's out there showing this test ? Al You should have come to the WCR. I gave a short seminar on pre-trip inspections and doing an air brake test. Here is a video of an air brake test from an instructor in CA. 2000 Kenworth T2000 w/ Cummins N14 and autoshift 2017 DRV Mobile Suite 40KSSB4 with factory mods, dealer mods and personal mods - now in the RV graveyard 2022 DRV Full House MX450 with customized floor plan 2018 Polaris RZR Turbo S (fits in the garage) 2016 Smart Car (fits in the garage or gets flat towed behind the DRV when the RZR is in the garage)My First Solar Install ThreadMy Second Solar Install Thread & Photos and Documents Related to the buildMy MX450's solar, battery and inverter system - my biggest system yet! chadheiser.com West Coast HDT Rally Website Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARGO Posted July 25, 2017 Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 Good video. However on many trucks, the low air warnings will NOT operate unless you remembered to turn the key back ON after the engine stops. I did not see him do that, or note it verbally. Yes, that's also a FAIL in MD . You'd have to see the movie to understand.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Heiser Posted July 25, 2017 Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 Here is a link to the document I handed out at the WCR covering the air brake test and a basic pre-trip in case anyone is interested. 2000 Kenworth T2000 w/ Cummins N14 and autoshift 2017 DRV Mobile Suite 40KSSB4 with factory mods, dealer mods and personal mods - now in the RV graveyard 2022 DRV Full House MX450 with customized floor plan 2018 Polaris RZR Turbo S (fits in the garage) 2016 Smart Car (fits in the garage or gets flat towed behind the DRV when the RZR is in the garage)My First Solar Install ThreadMy Second Solar Install Thread & Photos and Documents Related to the buildMy MX450's solar, battery and inverter system - my biggest system yet! chadheiser.com West Coast HDT Rally Website Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARGO Posted July 25, 2017 Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 I see your sheet has it. Good job! You'd have to see the movie to understand.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vegas Teacher Posted July 26, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 26, 2017 Hey I printed off the sheet I really liked it! Also I really wish I could have been there Chad at the WCR, maybe next year. I should have my CDL and all of the stuff fixed on my truck. The guys who have been out working on my truck (if I really like them I am going to start a new thread on them) asked me if I ever thought of renting out my truck. They are into desert racing and have a 45 foot enclosed car trailer. They carry a lot of tools and have sleeping quarters in it. Anyway they were telling me it really made the RAM 2500 feel small. I am 80% happy with the work so far, the reason I say 80% is because they are not done yet and I have not received the final bill yet, anyway I asked him if he would be willing to do a labor swap instead of money changing hands. The mechanic was really interested in it, he has a CDL, and works on Semi's all of the time. I have found the parts cost very little it is the labor that kills you. I need wheel seals, brakes, shocks and air leaks chased down. I am more than happy to have somebody else do this for me. They would also supply the diesel for the weekend and I would not have to worry about that. Plus since I teach, I do not do road trips on the short 2 day weekends anyway and it would keep the fluids moving in the truck through the systems and he could run down any little bugs he found while it was out on the road. What do you all think of this idea? Anyway I will post a thread similar to this soon. Tomorrow is my 14 wedding anniversary, I am taking the wife out to Herbs and Rye - it is a prohibition themed upscale steak house here in Las Vegas on Sahara and Valley View. For those of you familiar with Vegas it is where the Venetian Restaurant (not casino) used to be. They have a half price menu from 4 - 7 so the 50.00 Aged Ribeye is only 25.00. I have reservations for 6:00. They only serve drinks that were known prior to and during the prohibition era. My heritage is Italian so I am really looking forward to this. Later, Cory Ossana - Vegas Teacher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Heiser Posted July 26, 2017 Report Share Posted July 26, 2017 Glad the information was useful. Hopefully we'll see you next year at the WCR. There was a thread a little while back about sharing an HDT. Some of the concerns that were expressed had to do with insurance and dealing with that between two separate parties. Also, if he is a racer and is racing for purses, he would be commercial. He would need to have commercial registration to be legal. I believe your truck is registered as a motorhome, which brings up another can of worms. 2000 Kenworth T2000 w/ Cummins N14 and autoshift 2017 DRV Mobile Suite 40KSSB4 with factory mods, dealer mods and personal mods - now in the RV graveyard 2022 DRV Full House MX450 with customized floor plan 2018 Polaris RZR Turbo S (fits in the garage) 2016 Smart Car (fits in the garage or gets flat towed behind the DRV when the RZR is in the garage)My First Solar Install ThreadMy Second Solar Install Thread & Photos and Documents Related to the buildMy MX450's solar, battery and inverter system - my biggest system yet! chadheiser.com West Coast HDT Rally Website Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan0043 Posted July 26, 2017 Report Share Posted July 26, 2017 20 hours ago, Chad Heiser said: You should have come to the WCR. I gave a short seminar on pre-trip inspections and doing an air brake test. Here is a video of an air brake test from an instructor in CA. Hi Chad, Thank you so much for the info. I will print this out and have it with my truck info. Thanks again, Al 2012 Volvo VNL 630 w/ I-Shift; D13 engine; " Veeger " Redwood, model 3401R ; 5th Wheel Trailer, " Dead Wood " 2006 Smart Car " Killer Frog " Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPL Posted July 27, 2017 Report Share Posted July 27, 2017 VT Just a little additional info IRT your CDL. When I mentioned that I took my truck loaded with our 5er to take the driver test I failed to mention that it was titled as a MH. That was 6 years ago and I don't remember if SHE even asked. That restaurant sounds like a place we'll have to visit in Oct! Keep us posted about how your Diesel people work out. Pat The Old Sailor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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