Looking good Keith. Sorry your breaks are so FUBAR.Hook up the service air and emergency air from the deuce to the 5 ton. This will charge the brakes on the 5 ton and the brakes on the deuce will operate the 5 ton breaks. Just like any trailer with air brakes. DO NOT TOW the 5 ton with Hawks deuce with only Hawhs breaks.
Oops, too late
Soooo, I purchased 4 batteries and put them in the 5-Ton this morning.
The engine kicked over and started on the first push of the button!!!!!
The air pressure did not budge on the gauges though. The buzzer kept buzzing, but the pressure guages remained at 0. I checked air nozzles on the front and back of the truck and was not getting any air out of the lines. Gary, the diesel mechanic at the site where the trucks are now stored took a look at it and said the compressor was building up air, but it was leaking from somewhere.
After checking the lines and the air tanks under the truck, I decided to go ahead and cage the brakes so it could be pulled home. After caging the brakes, I started the truck again and it started building pressure. After a few mintues, I turned off the truck and checked the cage bolts. They were all loose. I tightened them down again and restarted the truck. The air pressure in both tanks went to 120 and the buzzer turned off. Apparently there is a stuck valve of some sorts in one of the spring brake assemblies that came unstuck when I screwed down the bolt to cage the brakes.
Hawkeye arrived a short time later and we hooked up the tow hitch and pulled the 5-Ton home with his Deuce. I rode in the 5-Ton and steered around corners and applied the hand brake when we were stopping. I left my engine running with the drivetrain in neutral and when I got home, both tanks were at 120 psi again. I was able to pull the truck up into my driveway and park it.
Here's where it gets interesting... As soon as I got the 5-Ton parked and powered down, I saw a puff of smoke come up on the passenger side of the cab. I jumped out and tried to open the passenger side door from the outside, but it was jammed. I jumped back into the truck and pulled the handle and kicked the door open. Hawkeye jumped up on the passenger side and I raised the seat from the driver side, to expose the 4 NEW batteries. Hawkeye said there was a FIRE in the battery compartment. Apparently, the batteries shifted in the ride and something was touching something else that it wasn't supposed to. I grabbed a fire extinguisher and sprayed it in the compartment. I then grabbed a prybar and Hawkeye pried the batteries apart. Two of the batteries are now melted on the side and leaking acid. The other two batteries are just fine. The leed on the main positive cable is melted off now, so I've got to buy two MORE batteries, and a new leed to for the melted one.
I am VERY lucky though, with the help of Jim and Hawkeye, we were able to get the truck home, and put the fire out......
SO, the good news is the engine fires up and runs like a champ now - well - when I get batteries installed again, and the air tanks build up air pressure. Hopefully, the brakes will start working after I uncage them.
From what Jim says, this was an EASY recovery..... I would hate to take part in a
HARD recovery!!!!
I really am thankful for Jim working his butt off all day, and Hawkeye saving the day!
Oct 5/6/7 - Fri/Sat/Sun - Alliance Air show - Setup on Friday, Oct 5.
