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Got a call tonight from a central missouri funeral director. He seen our ladder truck at the local small town picnic a couple weeks ago and asked if I would set it up at the cementary where a 7 year old firetruck worshiper will be interned Sunday.
It's about a 100 mile round trip and I just don't trust going that far with it. This will be on my mind all weekend.
We'll see what happens.

Don

Go for it!
God works in mysterious ways. You'll make it.

Don,
Taking the ladder truck would be the ultimate salute for that little boy and more importantly his family!
It's only 50 miles one way and I'm sure you'll make it! Plus I'm sure there will be a higher power riding shotgun.
I know if it were myself, I'd be there somehow someway. What a shame, 7yrs old!
I can't even imagine what his famy is going through
God speed my friend!
Jim

Don,
one more thing, you probably know of another ladder truck in the area. With the two of you combined, make an arch for a proper salute. Or maybe contact the local FD and maybe they will help in that task!
Just a thought
Jim

Great idea. You should make it and you are retired. You have the time to deal with whatever comes up.

Went to town this morning to see if I could get parts for a tune up. The Napa guys, who are in my opinion are the best, had to get the old books out. Cap and rotor are not avialable. The engine is running fine, but it has a drive train issue.
As for another ladder truck in this area, I know of none.
The funeral director said he has five old pumpers and also called the local fire department about setting one up. They said they would only do it, if it was an active member or a veteran.
I'll be under it today and see if I can help it any and will probably try getting it there anyway.
Oh, I made a mistake, the boy was only five years old.

Thanks for the encouragement and I'll update latter.
Don

Don, consider it an honour to be asked to do this. I know you'll try your best to be there. Good luck!

Update
The wife and I got the buckets of soap and water out today and I will be headed to the celebration of life with the "flag pole".
Our neighbors son, owns a interstate big rig towing service and I know he will give us a good deal, if I do need a tow. I'll have his number with me.
I also will have my camera with me and post some pics from the top of the ladder.
It will be a hot ride, but well worth it and an honor.
Leo, Vicki said to say Hi!

Don

Don,
Been thinking about you all day yesterday. Your a good man!!
Best to you and Vicki!
Jim

Let us know how it went.

Good on ya! The Nashville Tennessee chapter of the Patriot Guard Riders has a member with a big American LaFrance pumper he makes available for veterans' and/or First responders' memorial rides. I've ridden several missions where he was displaying a BIG American flag from the bed of the truck in the funeral procession. He's a real attention-getter!
Jerry

Update
Truck was running fair most of the way on two lane roads 40-45 MPH.
Got into Columbia Mo. Where I had to drive thru downtown Broadway. Cementary just past there.
Before I got to the downtown area, at a stoplight a few cars back from the light. When the light turned green, I killed the engine starting off. Hit the starter and nothing. Not a click, just nothing.
Lucky it was a four lane road and I was a little back from the light.
Turned on the rear beacon which worked and got out when it was safe.
Popped the cab and tried doing the starter screw driver jump, nothing, no flash/arc, nothing.
Tried from the main starter cable to the frame and a small spark.
That's when I called the towing company to come and get me, I had their phone number with me and then called the wife to meet at her brothers garage, also the director to tell him I will not make it.
At this time a city COP pulled up, with his lights on and I told him the situation and asked if I could get in and cool off some. Turned out to be the head of the K-9 unit in the city and a real good old country boy.
I enjoyed talking to him as we waited.
Did I say it was at a main intersection?
Tow drive showed up about an hour latter, he came 50 miles also with his wife on a Sunday.
Turned out he was the same guy that hauled the 1970 American Lafrance home for me.
After another 45 minutes of work getting it hooked up with my help, where I could (tool runner), we were on our way. I also thanked the COP as he sat there a long time keeping us safe.
Got it to my brother in laws garage and now it's well over 90 degrees and not much wind.
Driver went right to work starting to get it unhooked laying in the grass and he yelled "I gotta get outta here". Turned out we had parked in the grass over a bed of small fire ants that bite. He shed his shirt really quick and we brushed him off, he thru the shirt in the trash and had some small welts showing.

Then the bill paying time came after the work was done.
To my surprise, it was way less than I expected for a 20 mile tow of a 25,600 pound truck. He cut me a deal and said thanks for the help. Good people are willing to help.
Another thing, I called the director when I was about half way there and he said they had a really big flag to hang from the ladder and somebody to video tape the procession, as it came by the Firetruck under the flag.
I'm really sad, I was only about a mile away and could not be there for them.
I wish it could of held out a little longer till after the cementary.
Time for a shower and bed.

Don

Don
I for one, thank you, your wife and all the others that tried to help. From personal experience, all these many years later, I can tell you it really means something.
Best Regards and Peace Be With All.
Sparky

Don,
Sorry to hear that you came up just short on your good deed! Especially with the finish line just ahead. I'm sure that you feel better that you tried instead of wondering if I should have.
Your a good man!
Jim

Don, you will be blessed for you efforts. I'm sure it meant just as much to the family that you were willing to try.

...hope the repair damage is not to bad.

Nice try Don. Jim says it well, better to have tried and failed than to have not tried at all.

Don,

Good try!

You know the problem is going to be something really silly and simple.

My fire truck has two batteries and if #1 fails the truck will not start with the key, there is a push-button switch on the dash that you use to allow battery # 2 to start the truck. I found this out the hard way, I never realized that battery #1 ALWAYS started the truck via the key no matter what battery was selected to be in-service.

Hope it's an easy fix!

Mike B

I want to thank everyone for the support and am really glad I tried.
It's going to be 95 plus degrees the next two day and I'll start trouble shooting when the high is below 90.
Like Mike said, it's probably something simple, maybe a battery cable and I'll post what I find out or have more questions on what to look for.

Thanks
Don

Thank you Don, for doing such a wonderful thing.
Sir, I hope you don't feel that you fell short, as I know in my heart there were so many more little eyes looking in wonder and amazement at your shiny big red truck as it made it's trek down the roadway.
There may have been some requests for a toy fire truck and there may have been some decisions made on what they want to be when they grow up.
I'm certain you made great impressions along the way. I'm just saying you may have done so much more than you even realize.
I'm very happy for you and I know there's a young angel smiling over what you did for him.
Maybe now, this will get the truck ready for travels that won't make you fretful.
You ROCK, brother!
Jerry

Don,

Are you running 2 batteries? Wierd that the lights worked but the starter wouldn't even click and the screw driver trick didn't work either. Maybe the lights are on Battery #2 ???

Mike B

You gave it your best. No one can do more.

Above and beyond the call, Don. Hope you get it figured out and running well again. You can rest easy now. Jim

I want to thank everyone again for the support.
Part of the bonus of driving an old rig is the possiblity of a breakdown and then the challenge of getting it back going again.
Like Cletis at the Reunion last year and his alternater when it quit. I enjoyed helping out.


Really glad I made the effort and not have to have guilt, of not trying at all. I'll do some trouble shooting when it cools off some.
My brother-in-law is a forien car mechanic and will help me out some with the trouble shooting.
And Mike, it only has one truck battery.
I'll do some more checking of the wiring system in a few days.
Sure could use some of Sweet's tuneup expertise now.

Thanks
Don

another reason to get the ODSS crew out to KC in Sept.

Got back to it yesterday and Mike was right, it was something simple.
Battery shot craps on me and would only put out 3 volts, just enough to spin two lights slow, but not enough to do anything else.
It's really my fault, it's the old style battery with caps that you have to check the water every once in a while. Guess I got used to the newer batteries, that you don't check and I never did.
Put a good battery in and it fired right up.
Laid a tarp down and installed the driveshaft.
Pulled it to a good spot next to Brother-in-laws auto repair shop and put the flagpole up to draw attention.
I'll get it home early next week when I can get the wife to take me over there.

Thanks for the support and I would try it again if given the chance.
Don

Glad to hear it was a simple fix...

Mike B

Don,

As usual, I'm late to the party, but wanted to put a couple of ideas in front of you about your battery.

I had a similar experience to you a few years ago. Coming home from a night event, and the lights got dimmer and dimmer. Got off the highway, and the truck gave out turning up the hill - blocking traffic! Ran out of juice, because the charging system wasn't charging.

So . . . do you know for sure that it was just the battery, and not a failed charging system? If your truck has a voltmeter, it should read 13-14 volts when you're running. Remember that you have to put in higher voltage than the system to "fill" the battery back up. If the truck has an ammeter, it should read in the positive, especially right after cranking to start, then settle towards "even".

You can also use a volt-meter at the battery terminals to determine if the generator is charging the battery. Check the battery voltage before starting the truck (should be 12.6-13.2). Then, test it again with the truck running. Should be over 14, though over 13 will get you by probably.

It would be frustrating to find out with your new battery, that the charging system isn't working, and you get stranded again!

Good on ya' for trying - your efforts will be rewarded in some way. Cosmic Karma demands it. Call me if you want to chat.

-Michael

Thanks Michael
It was the battery. Put a new one in and it fired right up and the amp guage showed a good charge. To double check, I unhooked one of the battery cabbles and the engine kept running off the big alternator.
It was mostly my fault since the big truck battery that was in it, had caps to add water.
I guess I have gotten used to not having to add water to batteries and never did check it.
Hope you are still considering going to the KC Reunion next month. Don't worry about bringing a truck, there will be plenty there and you will have a great time meeting everyone.

Don

please let me know if you can advise me for parts and manual for a ua 50