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I recieved my instalation manual for the pump and I have a few questions about it. I was wondering if someone could explain how how the cooling system operates in conjunction with the pump. Can I use an anti-freeze solution when the pump is not in operation, and what happens if you want to put the pump into service? Does the anti-freeze solution get pumped out of the system? Also the harmonic balancer has been removed and in it's place just a fan pulley and drive shaft has been installed. How does this affect the performance of the motor's operation? Can this truck be driven at normal operating speed for its type or is it compromised due to the addition of the pump? I would welcome any help from anyone who has experience with this type of pump. Thanks Joe B.

If our SVFD 1st Engineer doesn't get around to reading your post in a few days - you might give - Mikestem - a PM and ask him . I got my Barton pump manual from him and he is more familiar with these pumps than I am . I have a older model U40 but have yet to get the chance to fool with it . You might get some answers if you read the post " need a definition " in this fourm . ED H

Joe B,

Whoops! Don't know how I missed your post.

Anyway - The cooling system on the Barton pumps is really just a water jacket bolted to the front of the pump casing. Just like the water jacket on your engine, there should be NO interaction between the jacket and the inside of the pump. If there is, well . . . that's a problem.

The two lines connected to the pump jacket are just a send and receive (in and out) line connecting the water jacket to the truck's cooling system. Basically, the pump is nothing more than another addition to the system, much like the accessory cab heaters. The whole point of this is that, when the anti-freeze heats up, it circulates through the pump jacket and keeps the pump housing from freezing while responding to an alarm in cold weather/climates.

The literature in-fact touts both the heating AND cooling benefits. The reasoning being, in hot conditions, especially when the truck is working standing still (like when pumping), the engine doesn't get the cooling benefit of wind blowing through the radiator. In this case, the pump actually acts as an auxilliary radiator, giving more cool surface area (the pump water carries away the heat) to keep the temp. down.

As for the pump transmission - Short answer, no, you don't need to limit your rpms because of the pump. The pump transmission is designed for the engine it's mated to. The drive shaft connected to the dampner pulley will turn whenever the engine turns. This is proper, and causes no damage UNLESS there's no oil in your pump transmission housing!!! The specification calls for 20-weight oil usually, although if I weren't pumping at all, and couldn't easily find 20 weight, I'd use whatever motor oil I could get my hands on, just to be able to drive around.

There were two ways these pumps were connected to the engine. The simpler, and I'm assuming earlier, is nothing more than a straight shaft, keyed into the center of the harmonic balancer, and mated to the pump tranny with a three-toothed set-up. The better way, is where a universal joint flange is bolted to the dampner, and another u-joint is bolted to the pump tranny, so the drive-shaft turns thru 2 universal joints. This spares a lot of hassle and worry, trying to perfectly align the drive shaft. I will soon be in the process of converting from the older to the u-joint set-up on my '41.

OK, I've lectured so long I can't remember your other questions. Guess it's time to end this response!

Hey, do we have details on your truck? Any photos? What condition? Any equipment? Who made it? Inquiring minds want to know . . .

-First Engineer Michael

Mike Thanks for the info, it helps me understand better what I have here and how it works. Yes I do have pictures posted on photobucket and there is a link on my last post here. Actually you have seen some pictures of this truck already. I contacted Kert Rosenkotter in Missouri to see if he could help me find out some more info about the truck. I bought it last year in O'fallon Mo. The truck was in service with the Qulin Fire Dept. I have tried to contact the Qulin Fire dept but have gotten no response. It seems that the truck has been repainted within the past 20 years. The spot lights and siren has been removed and the holes have been mig welded in. It could have been done sooner or later but that is my guess. The lettering on the door was done by a Bill Yates in Doniphan Mo. Maybe this could be another lead I could check into?
Last year sometime in November I believe that this truck was up for auction and a couple of Stovebolters were talkin about it. About two months later the truck went up for auction on Ebay and that is how I bought it. The previous owner stated that the rumor was this truck helped to extinguish a fire at the boyhood home of Mark Twain.
The truck is in excellent restoreable condition, I want to try to fix what I need to and get the truck on the road this spring. I don't want to take the truck all apart and not be able to use it for a few years. Maybe in the future but for now it is in my garage and I am enjoying it . Joe B.
Here are some more specs about the truck for those who are interested:
1950 Chevy fire truck
16,000 gvw
235 low pressure 6 cyl.
4spd with 2spd rear

Barton-American UA-50 front mount pump (500 gpm)
32' wooden extension ladder
fireman's ax
3 4" x 12' hard suction lines
Sun Tachometer with transmitter
Motorola 2 way radio model D436-1
Pa speaker
8" sireno revolving light
Dietz 10" search light
factory truck bumper guards
dual tire chains

Joe,

Yeah, after I posted and looked at the pix, I thought, "hey . . . that truck looks familiar!". At our meeting, we even found Qulin on a map. Wow, puttin' out a fire at Mark Twain's home - didn't think the truck was that old! (sorry, couldn't resist )

Guess you've started figuring out about the primer and the governor, too, from the looks of the photos. The hole in the fender is prob. from the Primer pull handle. Was there an auxiliary cooler under the hood as well? Usually a fairly crude box shaped contraption with lines running to and from it, above the radiator.

Keep us informed, always interested.

-Mike