Vegas Teacher

I am leaving my truck tandem too.

Good Advice!!!!!

Most you have probably read my post about being an apprentice this summer in a Diesel repair shop. I know after I am done I will have learned a lot, but will need tools to do the work. I have a lot of tools but what are some of the little things that get over looked or some of the large tools that I might need to save for. At the top of my list is a 1 inch impact (pneumatic) and a compressor that can drive it. I would like to get the 1 inch Milwaukee, but cordless vs. air compressor I am guessing is not much of a comparison but I could be wrong. I have also seen that Harbor has a 3/4 inch cordless. Has anybody used it? Or should I just buy Snap On Tools or do they just have a name? Thanks!!!!! Vegas Teacher, Cory O - Spring Brake starts in 2 hours!!!!!

Chuck, Contact Jack Mayer, he is in S.E. Kansas near Parsons Ks. Jack is a great person and can help you with this. Look at RVH Lifestyles to see what his shop can do, it is amazing. Parson's Ks is about 45 minutes from my home town of Pittsburg Kansas. The last two summers that I went home, I went to see his shop and talk to him. Last summer I even took my parents for a ride to visit with him and see all of the trucks and what he does. Jack is a very nice person and will take as much time as you need to answer all of your questions. This summer I am driving the 780 back home for him to do the work on. Hope this helps. Later, Cory O

Thanks for the update and the pictures!!!! Was it hard to find a 30 MM socket? Did it fit your 1/2 breaker bar of did you need to use step downs from a 3/4 or 1 inch???

Well somehow I did not get my quote in. Looks like we have the same year and same model of Volvo, Good Luck. I wish I had your tools LOL. Later, Cory O

I heard if you call the local Love's / Flying J they can send out somebody or will know of somebody who can help you. They can at least get you a phone number.

Howdy All!!! I really like this forum, but I also like the HDT sites on facebook, I think I am on at least 3 different facebook sites all are about HDT's and RVing. I know I see a lot of people from our forum there too. The best thing about facebook is it is so easy to load a picture. Take a picture with the camera, jump on facebook and type on an icon and it is loaded. Later, Cory O - Vegas Teacher

Good Luck, I watched a video on the cab mounts, it looks like a job that is not bad if you have all of the right tools to do it. What Vegas Flyer and I ran into, while trying to work on my truck, was the lack of the right tools to do the job correctly.

I am hoping to learn a lot!!!

I think I have heard that saying too. I just hope my grandpa is looking down on me and watching me work. I think it would make him proud. My grandpa was my hero. Later, Cory O

Thanks my friend! I can't wait until June to put on a pair of workbooks and a blue jumpsuit with my name on it, get some grease on my hands and my knuckles skinned. Maybe our paths will cross some day. Later, Cory O

I keep telling myself just that, slow and steady...... I just want to be like rhe rest of the guys on here talking abut the great trip they just took with their 45 foot toy hauler and side by side in tow.... yes I want to learn very badly. My grandpa was an excellent mechanic, he worked for Bowing during WWII building airplane engines. When he was drafted they asked him if he had any skills, he owned his own full service, service station. He told them he was a mechanic and was sent to Wichta Ks, for the duration of the war. Any by the time my mom and dad got married and I got old enough to appreciate that kind of stuff he was to old to do much more than the basics. So I missed out on that stuff. My dad did not like it at all and did not encourage me to learn. So now I am 50 and am starting to learn.....

Howdy all!!!!! There are 12 days left until spring break 2022 and 39 days left of school!!!! So I am getting work done on the 780, I am nearing the end of the finish line of a 5 year marathon fixing the semi up on a teachers salary and budget. I am getting new cab bushings put on, cab makes a horrible noise when I come to a stop and the bushings were thrashed. Steering is getting tightened, radiator was cracked so a new one was installed and some kind of cup is being put on my injectors so it starts more easily. Plus a lot of little things like chasing more air leaks around the transmission. Then I am taking it to Kansas to let RVH do work on the bed. Jack is a really great person, I have enjoyed my visits with him the past two summers when I went home to visit my family in Pittsburg Kansas. Jack's shop is only a 30 minute + or - a few minutes from my home I grew up in. So when I post stuff that is being done, inevitably somebody says if you turned your own wrenches it would be a lot cheaper, problem is I really don't know what I am doing. So the last time I was at the shop talking with my mechanic and the two guys that work for him I asked if he ever had an apprentice. I told him in the summer I am always looking for something to do about 2 weeks after I get out of school, and that I was not looking for a paycheck. I just want to learn how to work on these big rigs. I told him I would be happy to start with cleaning the parking lot, running to parts stores and putting X# of gallons of oil and simple things in trucks for them. They thought it sounded like a win / win situation. I get to learn, I am not looking for money and they get somebody to help do tasks they needed done without them having to get away from the shop. So we will see how it all works out, maybe I will even be able to comment on threads that are about repairs after this coming summer. Later, Cory O - Vegas Teacher.

This one is even bigger: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M18-FUEL-18-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Brushless-Cordless-1-in-Impact-Wrench-with-D-Handle-Kit-with-Two-12-0-Ah-Batteries-2868-22HD/312628547

My next impact wrench is going to be the Milwaukee 1 inch cordless impact wrench: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M18-ONE-KEY-Fuel-18V-Lithium-Ion-Brushless-Cordless-1-in-Impact-Wrench-with-Friction-Ring-Tool-Only-2867-20/309100998?MERCH=REC-_-searchViewed-_-NA-_-309100998-_-N I don't have it yet, not on a teachers salary anyway. Saving little by little. I got a jar of money hidden the "D.W." does not know about...... I already have an adapter set, impact rated to go from 1 inch down to 1/2 inch, so I can use the deep well sockets I have already. Later, Cory O

The worst town for Parking is Mesquite Nevada. Outside of the Flying J / Pilot on the south end of town, I don't think you can park anywhere else. Or if you can you have to pay to park. Mesquite is rather difficult. In Laughlin there is a large parking lot on the south end of Casino Drive. This lot is owned by Harrah's and has an out of business shell station in it. If you check in with Harrah's by calling the phone number on the sign you are good to go. The walk from the parking lot to Harrah's is a hike, but once you are there you can take the water taxi to wherever you want to go from that point on. If you haven't been to Laughlin it is a nice break from Vegas and about an hour and a half from town, depending on traffic. Later, Cory Ossana - Vegas Teacher.

Hello All: I am still in the marathon of getting my truck ready, on a teachers salary I do a little bit at a time. Anyway Jack is trying to convince me to tackle doing the sound proofing on my own. I know how to turn a wrench and how to take things apart. However those of you who have done this before can you tell me about some of the pitfalls I might run into. Something as simple as changing the cab airbag was derailed by a rusted nut and bolt that would not let go, so it cost me a tank of gas, drive to Pahrump, getting yelled at by Dolly Trolley and having to buy him and Vegas Flyer lunch. So if I do this I want to do it right. I am looking to tear the inside of my cab down to the metal. How hard are the doors to take apart. How much can I remove even on the dash. How hard is it to remove the closet and storage. Can I insulate between the firewall and the cab to reduce even more noise? What kinds of sound insulating material can I use there. I plan on taking it over to Dennis Kansas this summer for Jack to put a bed on for me. Jack Mayer is a really great person and his given me excellent advice. He even took the time last summer to talk to me and gave my wife and my parents a tour of his facility. Looking for advice and or pictures you can share with me. Sincerely, Cory Ossana - Vegas Teacher

Probably very true. She looks more confident each time. She drove last weekend again, I was going to put it up there but I did not want to bore everybody. Later, Cory O

Sorry to hear that.

Thanks for the advice, it is probably something good for me to learn.

Howdy all! My wife drove the semi a couple weeks ago on a return trip from Laughlin Nv. It was close to 70 degrees two weeks ago and the "D.W." and I got out on the road for a short trip running bobtail down to Laughlin and back from Vegas. It was a great trip, 4 lane highway all the way, a nice big lot at the halfway point in Search Light at a Terribles Gas station to get snacks at and the wind was not too bad either. When I got to Laughlin we turned on Casino drive and went to the end, there what a huge lot across from Harah's where we turned around in and started home. No we did not stop to eat or gamble, since we live in Vegas. On the way down we stopped in Search light to stretch and go to the restroom. I was on of two trucks in the lot. As we were driving we got to talking about Pam spending more time behind the wheel. On the way back, after I got the main highway, we stopped at a visitors center / rest stop and Pam took over driving. She drove about 20 miles back to Search Light and the same Terribles truck stop we went to on the way down. Once again had to get rid of 44 ounces of Diet Cherry Coke. We switched positions in the truck. This was her second time behind the wheel, and she was much more comfortable and confident. I drove home. Outside of Railroad Pass Casino a real semi pulled in behind me and followed me through the Vegas traffic on my way into town until he turned off of the 515 and headed north on 15 toward Salt Lake. It made me feel kind of good that a pro was following an novice. Almost made me feel like I was driving well. Later, Cory O

That looks pretty professional!! Nice Job.

I put Blue Devil Stop leak in my Coolant reservoir to help stop a leak I had. I had to put 6 bottles in so it was 240.00 but it would cost a lot more for the mechanic to run all of the lines or replace parts. I decided to start there. I made a run to Laughlin and back a couple of weeks ago. The weather was in the upper 60's lower 70's. It was a great trip and the wife even drove. It was her second time behind the wheel. I am hoping I can take it home this summer and let Jack work his magic on in at RVH life styles.