1977 Mack RL: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 1977-09-19 (September 19, 1977)

THE FRONT WHEEL ALUMINUM HUBS ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY BE SUBJECT TO CRACKS WHICH MAY PROGRESS CIRCUMFERENTIALLY AROUND THE BARREL OF THE HUB. THIS COULD LEAD TO A FRACTURE IN THE "BARREL" POSITION OF THE HUB AND COMPLETE HUB FAILURE.

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL STEEL HUBS IN PLACE OF ALUMINUM HUBS WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

Reported: 1977-10-12 (October 12, 1977)

THE FLEX BLADE FANS ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY DEVELOP CRACKS IN THE LAMINATED STIFFENER AS A RESULT OF FATIGUE DURING OPERATION. IF SUCH A CONDITION EXISTS AND THE CRACKS GO UNDETECTED, CONTINUED OPERATION COULD CAUSE PIECES OF THE STIFFENER TO BREAK OFF.

Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE ORIGINAL FAN WITH A STEEL FIXED BLADE FAN, FREE OF CHARGE.

Reported: 1977-11-21 (November 21, 1977)

A DEFICIENCY EXISTS IN THE WELDS SECURING THE REAR SPRING INSULATOR BRACKET TO THE AXLE HOUSING. THIS IS DUE TO IMPROPER POSITIONING OF THE WELD, IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE BRACKET AND AXLE HOUSING. FAILURE OF THE WELDS WOULD CAUSE SEPARATION OF THE SPRING INSULATOR BRACKET AND THE AXLE HOUSING, RESULTING IN IMPROPER ALIGNMENT OF THE AFFECTED AXLE.

Remedy: DEALER WILL REWELD THE INSULATOR SPRING BRACKET AT NO COST TO OWNER.

Reported: 1978-02-09 (February 9, 1978)

A DESIGN DEFICIENCY EXISTS IN THE AIR DRYER PIPING IN THE AREA OF THE PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE AND COMPRESSOR GOVERNOR CONTROL LINK. MOISTURE IS PASSED AND BUILDS UP IN THIS RELIEF VALVE AND CONTROL LINE. IN FREEZING AMBIENT TEMPERATURES, THIS MOISTURE MAY FREEZE, ALLOWING THE CHASSIS AIR SYSTEM PRESSURE TO EXCEED 150 PSI. EXCESSIVE AIR SYSTEM PRESSURE CAN CAUSE SEPARATION OF AIR PIPING CONNECTIONS AND AIR SYSTEM VALVE FAILURE.

Remedy: THE DEALER WILL RELOCATE THE AIR SYSTEM COMPRESSOR GOVERNOR LINE AND PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE TO ELIMINATE MOISTURE ACCUMULATION.

Reported: 1978-10-03 (October 3, 1978)

DELAYS OF UP TO ABOUT 2 SECONDS MAY EXIST IN THE BRAKE APPLICATION TIMES TO THE BRAKES ON THE BOGIE AXLES IN THE PRESENCE OF CERTAIN TYPES OF WHEEL SPEED SENSOR SIGNAL DISCONTINUITIES OR DISTORTIONS THAT MAY OCCUR AS A RESULT OF SENSOR WIRE FAILURE. THIS CONSTITUTES A NON-COMPLIANCE TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS".

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL NEW WHEEL SPEED SENSORS THAT INCORPORATE IMPROVED WIRING AND THE PRESENT BOGIE ANTI-WHEEL LOCK SYSTEM WILL BE CHANGED TO AN AXLE-TO-AXLE SYSTEM FOR IMPROVED RELIABILITY.

Reported: 1978-10-11 (October 11, 1978)

A SHORT CIRCUIT COULD OCCUR DUE TO CHAFING OR WIRE DISCONNECTION IN THE BOX.

Remedy: THE WIRING IN THE SLEEPER BOX WILL BE CORRECTED, FREE OF CHARGE.

Reported: 1979-05-31 (May 31, 1979)

IN THE EVENT OF TURBOCHARGER COMPRESSOR WHEEL FAILURE, ONE OR MORE OF THE FOUR CAPSCREWS THAT HOLD THE TURBOCHARGER TOGETHER MAY BE STRUCK BY PARTS OF THE COMPRESSOR WHEEL, RESULTING IN THE CAPSCREWS BEING DAMAGED. IF THESE CAPSCREWS ARE DAMAGED TO THE POINT THAT THEY ALLOW THE COMPRESSOR BACK PLATE TO DISLOCATE FROM THE TURBOCHARGER BEARING HOUSING, ENGINE LUBRICATING OIL MAY BE ALLOWED TO ESCAPE UNDER PRESSURE, CONTACTING THE ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD SECTIONS OR TURBOCHARGER TURBINE HOUSING.

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL A SHIELD FOR THE HEADS OF THE FOUR CAPSCREWS, ALONG WITH STRONGER SAE 8 GRADE 8 CAPSCREWS, IF NECESSARY, AT NO COST TO OWNER.

Reported: 1979-05-30 (May 30, 1979)

IN THE INVOLVED TRUCKS IT IS POSSIBLE THE ADJUSTABLE STEERING COLUMN REAR MOUNTING BRACKET COULD FAIL, ALLOWING STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO FALL DOWN ONTO THE OPERATOR"S LAP.

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL BRACKET IN THIS AREA TO PREVENT THE STEERING WHEEL FROM DISLOCATING IN THE EVENT OF A BRACKET FAILURE.