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Simp's M915A1 Build Thread

Bill Nutting

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I use an jobsmart abrasive blaster found at tractor supply. It shoots the Behr paint really well.
Simp, Are you kidding about using an abrasive blaster to spray Behr paint? I plan to paint my 934 with Behr. I was planning on renting a good airless sprayer to do it. Did you thin the paint at all?
By the way, your truck is awesome!
 

simp5782

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simp5782

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For $24, I'm tempted to buy one to try it. You do anything special to spray paint with it?
Nope. Usually its just one pass to cover any color. On the 915
For $24, I'm tempted to buy one to try it. You do anything special to spray paint with it?
Nope. Just fill and spray. A good water seperator on the tank is neeed as it will have the compressor running hard
 

simp5782

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Added an electric winch below the big 45k winch for paying out cable off the big winch by using it with a snatch block and winching light trucks onto trailers. It is a cheap 13k. It did lift the 870 neck on its own. It took it being double lined and it still didnt like it. So i guess it could be used in an emergency for that. Gotta figure out a place to mount the solenoid box. I did use a tectran power pole socket to the winch so I can power it thru that connector. I have the same socket on the 5th wheel wrecker unit. Basically its just a single pole slave plug.

Relocated the air lines and pogo stick to the passengers side. Added street elbows to the auxiliary hookup connections. With them facing to the rear the trailer would be really close to them.

Gotta rebuild the speed valve on the big 45k unit as it has a leak. I did swap the oil tank on the current winch for that of a 916A3 i had laying around since it was less rusty.
 

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simp5782

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Installed a muncie PTO air shift unit. Also a buzzer for when the PTO is activated.

Had to make the tandem 53 series cross pump into a single pump unit. This was simple and took about 20mins. The pump still has two pressure lines to the winch. Winch works really slow on standard and runs at normal speed on high.

Rearranged the shifter to sit more forward rather than beside the seat. This was simply done by flipping the floor plate around and then flipping the shifter around.

Installed some Truk stuff lights on the rear of the cab. They are strobes and work lights together. Can work on 12 or 24 volt.

Removed the muffler pipe since it was rattling inside. They are pretty restrictive mufflers. Installed a 5in straight pipe instead. Its up high enough that it is not any louder in the cab than stock.

Also replaced a rear outer axle seal on the rear.
 

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simp5782

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Pump had a #25 button in it. Was able to get 29/30lbs of boost at 975 max EGT on hills at 84,800lbs.

Replaced the button with a #10, installed a new 5/8" fuel suction line, replaced the water seperator/filter as well Cummins/fleetguard # 3329289. Truck was seeing 34/35lb of boost with an empty trailer and under 1100 on EGT

Installed a 6 switch pre wired light box for some accessories i have as well. It was an FXC unit i found on amazon.

Made a sight seeing tour of the NE. Used the Rear winch and it works well loading a F5060 paystar missing 2 tires. Didnt really miss a beat. Electric winch spooled the cable out excellent.

 

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BKubu

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Wes, after putting a lot of miles on it, how do you like the stock transmission vs. the 16 speed CAT transmission? Are you planning to leave the existing transmission in the truck?
 

simp5782

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Wes, after putting a lot of miles on it, how do you like the stock transmission vs. the 16 speed CAT transmission? Are you planning to leave the existing transmission in the truck?
If and when the Allison goes out I've got everything to swap a CAT in. The CAT is 95% efficient on power so not nearly the power loss as the allison has. I prefer the cat at times for pulling hills. I prefer the Allison at times, especially during stop and go driving, or running around empty.
 

US6x4

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Good idea. You sure like your tanks (air, fuel, whatever). Someday you may have to add a propane tank to inject for that little extra boost up the hills... :)
 

simp5782

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Logging miles. Around 6500.

Made some upgrades and repairs at Profo's in Louisiana. Added a battery box for future battery movement. Installed a guard/hand rail like the M916A1 and newer variant winch platforms have. Installed a galvanized grate over the original factory grate that would not fit with the winch platform

Going to try to install the passengers long fuel tank this next week. Also going to install some new mechanical VDO gauges. Invested In a dual air gauge so i can add a oil temp gauge to the cluster.

Also got a puradyn oil bypass system to install to supplement the spin on bypass. The puradyn actually has additives that go back into the engine. Also heats up the oil to burn off fuel and water in the oil. Some fuel gets by from long idle periods.

Also got an idle solenoid so I can engage it to increase the throttle to either 1400rpms or 1800rpms for winch operation.

Going to install a longer winch cable as well.
 

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m715mike

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I’m late to this thread. Just read it cover to cover and enjoyed every post. Also learned a few things!

Wes, you sir (like many others on this site) are very talented. Thank you for taking the time to share all of this.
 

simp5782

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Installed an antenna bracket. Dual air pressure gauge.


Got the old Wisconsin gas engine welder fired up for some in the field work.

I will be adding some ground spade brackets and spade mounts for behind the cab. The 915 weighs in around 22,000lb but it easily drug in while winching something heavy to get it into position for loading.

Will be adding the hydraulic winch from a HET for spooling cable out i picked up on govplanet

Empty weight slip with full tanks is 42,460
 

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zebedee

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I will be adding some ground spade brackets and spade mounts for behind the cab. The 915 weighs in around 22,000lb but it easily drug in while winching something heavy to get it into position for loading.
I did similar with mine :-
https://www.steelsoldiers.com/threads/ground-anchors-for-winching.108345/page-4 post #77
This type off anchor ("Scotches") are much lighter to handle and they have a lot of positive down pressure where the standard wrecker ground spades have to be dug in and only have as much downward engagement as the lower edge of the spade drives into the ground.




Just reread that whole thread.... Damn, I miss Ron. Such a wealth of experience and Info.
 
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simp5782

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Helped out Swiss this past weekend and hauled some ecology blocks. 6ft x 2ft x 3ft at around 3800lbs each, got 15 of em on there for a gross of around 100k.

Used the big rear winch again. Didn't miss a beat really. Will be switching the M870 to Hydraulic neck in the next week or two for easier use of the neck.

Going to try to get the passengers side tank installed this week.

Also ordered some air actuators. Going to install this for setting the high idle for running the PTO

Also scored some FleetGaurd Long Run filters off ebay. Around $10 a filter with shipping.

 

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