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Message |
    
692
Junior Member
Username: 692
Post Number: 34
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, October 22, 2005 - 6:09 pm: | 
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Anyone ever had this problem? I have a 2004 Kenworth and the Radio will be quiet as can be until you get the wheels rolling, By the time you get into high gear the meter will be at about a 7 or 9. When you hit the brakes the meter goes to 0. Which probably grounds it somehow. Also when the road is wet there is no problem. Any suggestions. And yes i have Ground wires run everywhere. |
Chad
Advanced Member
Username: Chad
Post Number: 519
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, October 22, 2005 - 9:41 pm: |
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Wheel speed sensor? |
Mopar2ya
New member
Username: Mopar2ya
Post Number: 2
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 2:14 am: |
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I originally posted the information below in Nov. 2003. The Columbia that I originally had now has over 550,000 miles without any sign of bearing failure.
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I had this EXACT same problem and I solved it... For the most part. Keep in mind that these are my theories and others may disagree, but I have tested my ideas on my truck (Freightliner Columbia) and have had good results. Here is what I noticed.
Static changes when pavement changes. Examples are bridges, wet pavement (this eliminates problem completely), stripes on road, tar strips, etc.
Static changes when you apply brakes. But only when they are applied rather heavily.
Static doesn't change when you apply trailer brakes.
The last two puzzled me. Why only heavy braking, and why only the tractor brakes. Here is my conclusion. It is the steer tires causing the problem (it is also the trailer, but you will only notice that problem once you fix the truck because the truck is closer to the antenna and drowns out the trailer noise).
Why? I believe it is because the only thing connecting the steers to the truck are the bearings which are now suspended in synthetic lube which does not dissipate static. When you apply the brakes, it only works under heavy braking because the steers are proportioned to have less braking than the drives. The drives don't have the problem because they are bolted to the axle shafts and gears which seem to dissipate the static much better.
Once you fix the steers, not only will you notice that your CB works better, but also your AM radio. And you will also notice that certain trailers have the problem also. But, this is not as much of a problem because the trailer tires are so far from the antenna. If you haul the same trailer, you could apply the fix to the trailer as well.
The fix? Powdered graphite added to the front hubs. I added it and problem solved. I used a cap off a pump spray bottle (you know, the clear one that is on hair spray pumps or the like?) and filled it. This amounts to about 8 ml. I just measured it now.
My powdered graphite came from Panef Corp. in Milwaukee, WI. It is Powdered Graphite Lubricant L-600. I purchased a 1 lb. lifetime supply for $13.00 from True Value Hardware.
Now, not only will you hear 10X better, but you will also be amazed at how many trucks you pass that you will “hear” through your radio, that have the same problem. I pass dozens every night.
If you are worried about adding a foreign substance to your hubs, I was too. I didn’t want to add anything with a liquid in it that might have a bad reaction with the existing lube. That is why I went with completely dry graphite. I have approximately 60,000 miles so far without any relapse of the problem, or wheel bearing failure.
If you are wondering why this works, it is because Graphite is electrically conductive, and will dissipate the static through the wheel bearings.
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Nobodyknows
Intermediate Member
Username: Nobodyknows
Post Number: 118
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 3:01 am: |
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This doesn't exactly help your problem but this is something i observed a couple of weeks ago.
My mom had car trouble and so i went and attempted to rescue her. While sitting litterally on the side of I-35, waiting for the overheating engine to cool, About 10 big rigs passed by over a 30 minute span going aprox 70 MPH. (4 am, not much traffic) Each and every truck that passed by would static out my receive with about 9 s units of noise. Cars didn't really make static but those trucks sure did..
I'm thinking, wheel bearings spinning, radial tires.. somethings sure building up static on those trucks. |
Kid_vicious
Advanced Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 728
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 3:08 am: |
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there is an old book called "99 ways to improve your CB radio." you can find it on the auction site.
in this book, the author talks about static from the wheels and tires.
if i remember right, there was some sort of additive that you could inject into the valve stem to cure the problem.
who knows if the stuff is around anymore as the book im referring to was published in the 60's.
the author's name was Len Buckwalter.
i hope this helps,
matt |
Tech291
Moderator
Username: Tech291
Post Number: 266
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 9:15 am: |
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Kid vicious,
Years ago I had that booklet and the tire static additive was powdered graphite.they also touched on the subject of adding static chains like the fuel tankers use to have.If I remember right though the problem started dissapearing with the introduction of radial tires.
tech291
cef#291
kc8zpj
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692
Junior Member
Username: 692
Post Number: 35
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 2:14 pm: |
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Hey thanks for the response, Everybody else i would tell this to would just look at me kinda funny and ask me if i felt ok. But i have been around and tinkered with radios for a long time so i am very picky when setting up a radio ( SWR-Coax-Antennas-Ground) Where the other Drivers i work with will just turn up the squelch and be happy. This is the 4th Truck i have at this company and by far the worst to get all of the noise out of. It was picking up the Refridgerator but i put a filter on the fridge and solved most of that problem. They are all Kenworth T-600s by the way. I have 310,000 miles on the truck so i will be getting a new set of drive tires soon also a different brand so i was waiting to see if anything changed.
Thanks Mopar2ya, it is good to talk to another driver that knows how crazy these trucks can be. Just like you stated the static changes when you cross a bridge (Pavement to Concrete)But i dont have to get on the brakes hard at all, Just tap them and it goes away. So my problem could be more in the drive axles. Also after you drive about 20 miles or so the noise will go away but as soon as you apply the brakes an let off it comes back. I will look for the Powdered Gaphite today, Sounds like it is worth a try.
Thanks Again.
692 |
Chad
Advanced Member
Username: Chad
Post Number: 522
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 10:40 pm: |
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WOW you learn something new every day! I always wondered why my radio went nuts when a truck went by! Now I know.
As for wheel the speed sensor idea I posted earlier. I had some oxidation in the connector going to the speed sensor on my front wheel, it's for ABS sensing/etc. Although I am sure it's an inductive pickup device, that oxidation and current pulsing was causing it to become a great little AM transmitter. It just drove me crazy. I was done with an oil change and thought, what the heck, I'm gonna jack it up a little higher, spin these wheels, and listen. One wheel did it! I then lowered the truck and grabbed a beer in amazement. The connector that has a rubber seal was not seated all the way, Darn ball-joint mechanics! This allowed moisture into it. I replaced the pins and sleeves snapped it together and exorcised the noise! I then grabbed another beer 
Chad
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692
Junior Member
Username: 692
Post Number: 36
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, November 19, 2005 - 6:00 pm: |
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Just wanted to send out a HUGE thank you to Mopar2ya! The Powdered Graphite took out 100% of the noise i was getting in my receive. I added two small tubes in the left front hub,( Antenna mounted on drivers side)and it took care of the problem. Sure glad you posted this information.
Thanks Again, 692. |
Therealporkchop
Intermediate Member
Username: Therealporkchop
Post Number: 476
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Friday, November 25, 2005 - 12:26 am: |
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Yes, that is cool. I was going to mention maybe chains also or other means of grounding the truck to the road. I too will add the graphite in my hubs.
Early tires were bias ply tires, and yes I do believe they had problems with them like that too.
Way to go Mopar2ya!!! |
Wildrat
Advanced Member
Username: Wildrat
Post Number: 835
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 7:18 pm: |
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Did you just pop the wheel bearing hub off and put the graphite in the cap? |
Im4jc
Intermediate Member
Username: Im4jc
Post Number: 176
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, September 09, 2006 - 12:37 pm: |
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Well, My Kenworth W900 has been doing this too. Static level changes with different types of road surfaces, completely goes away on wet roads, and also goes away when I touch my brakes. It was driving me crazy....until I remembered this old post. I added a small tube from an auto parts store (they market the graphite powder as lock cylinder lubricant) to each of the front hubs and within 30 miles of driving my noise level dropped about 4 S-units (from around 6 to around 2) and has stayed there ever since. An interesting side note - I run all-purpose oil and not synthetic. Thanks for the info! |
Tech237
Moderator
Username: Tech237
Post Number: 524
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, September 10, 2006 - 9:38 am: |
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You can also add powdered Graphite into the tyre to help. |
Im4jc
Intermediate Member
Username: Im4jc
Post Number: 181
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, September 10, 2006 - 12:13 pm: |
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Interesting Tech237, but how would one introduce powder into a tire that's inflated to 110 PSI? I'll do it if I can figure that one out. |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 11142
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, September 10, 2006 - 12:43 pm: |
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Let the air out of the tire remove the valve core install the Powdered Graphite re-install the valve core and re-inflate the tire to 110 PSI.
Same procedure for any tire no matter what the PSI.
Hope this help's,
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9CEF
CVC#2 |
852
Member
Username: 852
Post Number: 93
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, September 10, 2006 - 1:27 pm: |
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Might have to give the graphite a try on my T800 dumptruck. Anything that helps is always worth a try. |
Ferd1605
Junior Member
Username: Ferd1605
Post Number: 21
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, September 17, 2006 - 2:28 am: |
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692 ... i drive a 2005 Volvo {i know .. a wannabe truck} .. i had the same problem also and did the same thing as Mopar2ya did . i also did it to my w900l i used to drive and it did work , only problem i have now is the noise from that damn computtin thingy for the engine , which comes and goes at random cycles ..... AND ... if anyother drivers have a newer Volvo and using the factory antennas , get a "BIRD PERCH" mount .. I put my antenna analyzer on my factory setup and i tried EVERYTHING to get the SWR's down but even with a 2 ft whip , it stayed resonant at 24.900mhz. With a Bird Perch , you take out a bold holding the mirror on the upper mount and screw in the prech , then mout a regular tenna mount and antenna and ya have a better RF grnd and ALOT better recive/xmit ... though i would through that in . |
852
Member
Username: 852
Post Number: 99
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 03, 2006 - 7:45 pm: |
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Okay, I was a bit skeptical at first. But this past weekend I decided to give it a try. I added the powdered graphite (same as used to lubricate door locks) to the hubs on the steering axle of my Kenworth T800 dumptruck. And sure enuff now when I go down the road no static. Before my "s" meter would hover between 7 and 9 and sometimes it was so bad, that hearing anyone any distance away was just a dream. But after adding the graphite I now drive along with the "s" meter barely flinching from any static.So I can now honestly say I'm no longer skeptical. It really did the trick for me.
Thomas "852"
CEF750 |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 11464
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 04, 2006 - 5:44 pm: |
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852,
GREAT!
Now you know the little secret we have used with over a million miles of OTR driving in our Pete379 and KW L900 and NO STATIC. 
On a side note we also use powdered lock graphite in all of our 4 wheel vehicles and the ONLY problem's we have had is when we have had flats and our tire dealer goes OH NOOOOOOOO not him again. 
But it does make a pretty POOFFFF CLOUD when they pop them off the rim. 
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9CEF
CVC#2 |
Hotwire
Senior Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 1858
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, October 05, 2006 - 1:23 pm: |
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I have a friend that could benifit from powdered graghite.
How much powder should someone use per tire? If you used too much is it possible to throw the wheel out of balance? |
Chad
Senior Member
Username: Chad
Post Number: 1133
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, October 05, 2006 - 3:30 pm: |
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Yeah I wondered what would happen when they un-beaded the tire... now I know It's like putting baby powder in a drummer's hi-hat
Chad |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 11476
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, October 05, 2006 - 5:43 pm: |
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Hotwire,
I use a quanity of "1" of the 1-1/8 oz size bottle's of PANEF Lub & Spray Multi Purpose DRY GRAPHITE in each car & truck tire.
On our Pete and KW I installed 2 bottles per tire.
Hope this help's,
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9CEF
CVC#2 |
Chad
Senior Member
Username: Chad
Post Number: 1134
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, October 05, 2006 - 11:01 pm: |
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In the tire. Imagine rubbing a balloon on a wool sweater and sticking it to the wall, same principle. I tried it just tonight with a balloon with graphite in it. Guess what? No Stickie!
The kids first science fair project awaits! to bad he's only in Kindergarten
Chad |
Hotwire
Senior Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 1866
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Friday, October 06, 2006 - 12:36 pm: |
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Thanks Lon.
Chad, What a cool demo! |
