Looking at old grain trucks... Need help.

[npalen]

The two speed axle can get the truck up to speed faster as it can help keep engine RPM at the sweet spot of the torque curve.

 

[BHD]

I would be concerned about the tires, hard to come by for a reasonable cost, and the rims are mostly two piece, and many tire shops will not work on them, the tires on the 52 would most likely be at least 22 years old if last licensed in 92.

If you plan on licensing them they most likely will need DOT numbers, and CDL to drive,

just some thing to think about,

 

[Marveltone]

I'm good friends with a tire shop owner. He works on old farm equipment rims and tires all the time and can get me serviceable used tires for farm (non-highway) use. Farm trucks in Minnesota do not need CDL as long as they stay within 150 miles from the farm.

Joe

 

[Loadstar]

When hauled ice two speeds were usually disconnected by the garage. It was much cheaper that way. Saw a lot of exploded guts from them. I would look to see if it is vac or elec. Farmer down the road had a vac two speed studabaker and it liked two die between shifts. He said it made things interesting. Personally if the straight single axle was a better truck I would not get hung up for long on the two speed. You are working with a antique, load it like one not a quad axle. You are not winning the drag races, truck pulls, or mud bogs with it so take it easy be patient. Truck will be so cheap it is ridiculous. Insurance for my 55, and 78s is $50 every 6 months. You also have a cheap drivetrain to maintain. Plate it low with farm plates and remember to always have wheel chocks.

 

[super55]

Did a google search on them for pics. (Those are some cool old looking trucks).

As for the truck if you only have a few miles to go and live in a flat area I would I would consider the first truck. Sure the second truck gives you twice gear ratio to work with but I'm looking at this as more simple being better unless it is geared too high to move under load without burning the clutch but most of these trucks 1st gear is usually a creeper gear and can start off in 2nd even under load.

Years ago our fire department had an old 1950's chevy truck that was converted into a 1200 gallon water tender. It had a split axle. Most of us that ever drove the thing just kept in high range and it managed to take off fine with about a 6 ton load on it when fully loaded. It never got anywhere fast but it actually was a pretty dependable slow old truck.

Sounds like you got a pretty good relationship with the farmer so I would ask him if you could test drive both and see which one drives better and shifts better. With vehicles this age you I would make my choice solely on the one that runs better. You're only going a few miles and speed and fuel economy are kind of a non-issue.

Are you planning on having your 1510 in tow to load with or you have something larger and heavier you going to pull?

Post some pics of these old gems if you get a chance.

 

[npalen]

I agree that the split shift two-speed is not that much of an issue given the age of the truck and the very intermittent service expected. I do want to point out an additional advantage of the two-speed though and that being pulling up a fairly long hill it might be easier to shift down a "half notch" rather than a full gear. The full gear shift down might present problems in the lower gears that may not be synchronized. Again, no big deal either way.

 

[Marveltone]

I agree that the split shift two-speed is not that much of an issue given the age of the truck and the very intermittent service expected. I do want to point out an additional advantage of the two-speed though and that being pulling up a fairly long hill it might be easier to shift down a "half notch" rather than a full gear. The full gear shift down might present problems in the lower gears that may not be synchronized. Again, no big deal either way.

So... seeing as I've never driven anything with a two-speed rear end, I'll post another question. I'm fairly certain we're talking about a vacuum shift, but how does it operate? Do I have to clutch it just like a normal shift, or do I just let up on the gas and pull the lever?

Joe

 

[tcartwri]

Pull up on the button, lift momentarily on the throttle for the upshift, or blip the throttle on the downshift. Biggest thing to know, is that you DO NOT want to miss a split down shift going down hill. You will not recover it, and you will be freewheeling.

 

[Marveltone]

Did a google search on them for pics. (Those are some cool old looking trucks).

As for the truck if you only have a few miles to go and live in a flat area I would I would consider the first truck. Sure the second truck gives you twice gear ratio to work with but I'm looking at this as more simple being better unless it is geared too high to move under load without burning the clutch but most of these trucks 1st gear is usually a creeper gear and can start off in 2nd even under load.

Yeah, it's pretty flat over here. Our house is on the side of a small hill (a gravel ridge, really) but the rest of the county is flat as a pancake. The choice between better gearing and simplicity is a tough one. Simple often means less to go wrong, which I can appreciate. I won't know until I get a chance to drive them both.

Years ago our fire department had an old 1950's chevy truck that was converted into a 1200 gallon water tender. It had a split axle. Most of us that ever drove the thing just kept in high range and it managed to take off fine with about a 6 ton load on it when fully loaded. It never got anywhere fast but it actually was a pretty dependable slow old truck.

Sounds like you got a pretty good relationship with the farmer so I would ask him if you could test drive both and see which one drives better and shifts better. With vehicles this age you I would make my choice solely on the one that runs better. You're only going a few miles and speed and fuel economy are kind of a non-issue.

I fully intend to test drive them both as soon as time and weather permit. In fact, my friend was going to start them up right there until he remembered he pulled the batteries out and kept them in town.

Are you planning on having your 1510 in tow to load with or you have something larger and heavier you going to pull?

I'm just planning on towing the 1510 for short (less than 10 miles) trips to haul manure as a means to fill the box. I'll use my Ram 2500 for any heavy or long hauls.

Joe

 

[Stimw]

I have driven may miles with 2 speed rear ends (5 & 2) in Semi's and dump trucks. I LOVE driving them!!
Once you get them figured out it's like playing a piano or some other instrument, it comes naturally.
One good thing about the Chevy's, you can probably still order most parts from NAPA!! (if you get an older parts person)