TRUK Advice Column

In the present economic climate in South Africa, buying a new vehicle is virtually out of reach for some owner operators, so buying a used vehicle is the only option, and may be the answer to their needs.

Before you buy a used vehicle make sure it has been well maintained and has the engine and drive line specs suitable for your needs.

Make sure the vehicle is suited to the type of work you will be doing with it.  Proper specs are very important.  

Don't buy just because you feel it is a good deal. 

An underpowered truck for heavy hauling loads will be a VERY COSTLY MISTAKE, one which you cannot afford to make.  

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If you’ve noticed that your clutch has been slipping lately, you may be in need of some professional clutch service. Although a clutch should last you for many years, it won’t last forever. And there are many parts that make up a clutch, which means that there are many things that can possibly go wrong with it if regular maintenance isn’t applied. For example, if oil happens to get on the clutch and it isn’t removed immediately as it  should be, it could possibly ruin the clutch.

Because there are so many things that can cause a busted clutch, it can be well worth your time to take a look at a few things yourself first before having to seek some professional clutch service.

Is Your Trucks Clutch Slipping?

If your trucks clutch is slipping, you are definitely not alone. In fact, a slipping clutch is one of the more common problems when it comes to a trucks clutch not working properly. Although it’s necessary for a clutch to slip a little in order for it to slide into the proper gear, once you’ve completely taken your foot off the clutch pedal, there should be no slippage at all. If there is, it’s very possible that you may have a busted clutch.

Because a little bit of clutch slipping tends to lead to more clutch slipping, the reason for the slippage definitely needs to be investigated so that it can be fixed as soon as possible. The more a clutch slips, the more likely it is to create heat that’s so hot that the gears won’t be able to stay in their proper position. This can easily cause damage to all of the clutch parts, including the flywheel and the pressure plate.

Most truck drivers tend to notice that their clutch is beginning to slip when they’re carrying a very heavy load, driving up a long hill, or when driving at a low speed when in high gear. Because it’s highly likely that normal wear and tear is going to be the reason why your clutch is now slipping, some necessary clutch service may be in your near future.

If you happen to be experiencing a slipping clutch even though you just recently had the clutch installed in your truck, it’s most likely due to the following – a defective cable adjuster, a cylinder being blocked, wrongly installed release bearings, a wrong modification on the release system, or even by oil or grease getting into a part where they don’t belong 

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Over time, the plastic that makes up your headlights will degrade and cloud over. If yours aren't shining quite like they used to, here's what to do.

Most headlights are made of polycarbonate plastic, which is durable and scratch-resistant. But over time polycarbonate clouds over, mostly due to UV rays that degrade the outer layer of plastic. Fortunately, there are plenty of products on the market designed to help you restore your car's 20/20 nighttime vision.

To test the latest brands, I headed over to the Town & Country salvage yard in Ann Arbor, Mich., where Mike, the guy behind the counter, proudly showed me our shared name on his work shirt and loaned me the dirtiest, cloudiest headlights in the lot; I promised to return them clean. Back in the PopMech garage, I polished half of each headlight with a different product to demonstrate what I hoped would be dramatic before-and-after improvements. I wasn't disappointed. These headlights went from filthy to fancy after less than a half-hour of work. I also applied all the products in strips to a single headlight to judge the results side by side. After soiling a stack of microfiber towels and raising plenty of sanding dust, I found out that all the products restored clarity to the lenses, but a few emerged as our favorites.

Basic Headlight Cleaning

Prep Wipe as much grime as possible off the headlights with glass cleaner or soap and water. After drying the area, tape around the headlights to ensure you don't end up sanding your car's paint. You can also remove headlights for cleaning, but you might have to align them after reinstallation.
Sand All of these products use an abrasive such as sandpaper to scuff away the outer layer of haze. This is the most important step, so be thorough.

When you're done, the entire headlight should be clear of any yellowing and have a rough, dull surface.

Polish A fine polish cleans up the sandpaper scratches and makes the headlight lenses clear again.
Apply UV Sealant There's a reason we tested only headlight lens restorers with a UV protectant. The sanding step removes any protective layer that was originally applied to the headlight, and if you don't reapply that shield your lights will haze over again in as little as a few weeks. Some products, such as the ones from Sylvania and Lenz Solution, promise extended protection.

Adjusting Your Headlights

If you've removed your lights to clean them, you need to line them up properly after you put them back on. Here's a quick way to eyeball the aiming.

Step 1 On a level surface, park the car a few inches from your garage door or the wall of a large building.
Step 2 Use chalk to mark the locations of the headlight beams.
Step 3 Back up 25 feet (about two car lengths); the low beams should still be level and pointing straight ahead to within a few inches of the chalk marks.
Step 4 If not, adjust the beams by turning the headlight's two setscrews—one for up/down, one for left/right.

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You need to be free to concentrate on running your Trucking Business

You don’t have the knowhow or time to spend doing the advertising too

Contact us for more information on how we can manage that important task for you by clicking the link below

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Step 1 Do one headlight at a time. Start by washing the lens and surrounding area completely using dish detergent. Normally you would avoid harsh detergent because it strips your car’s wax and dries out the paint, but that's what you need in this case. Rinse and allow to dry completely.		Step 2 Apply painter's tape to the car's body around the headlight, making sure to cover the rubber seal around the headlight (if there is one). Apply more tape for a wider margin of safety. Use a rubber spatula to press the tape down and work it into the crevices around the light. Use a razor to trim away excess tape where the rubber seal meets the lens.
Step 3 Wrap a strip of 500-grit sandpaper around a foam sanding block or large sponge. The foam helps distribute pressure on the sandpaper so you don’t leave deep gouges in the lens.		Step 4 Press the sandpaper-wrapped block to the headlight lens, and start sanding the lens in a back-and-forth motion. Every 10 seconds or so, switch the direction of sanding. This straight-line, alternating-stroke method avoids putting circular swirls in the plastic, which will show in the finished product.
Step 5 Keep sanding until the surface is uniformly frosty and completely opaque. Keep sanding until it feels as silky smooth as sanded pinewood.		Step 6 Wipe the headlight down with a microfiber cloth to check your work. Be sure you adequately sanded edges and corners. When you're satisfied, rinse the headlight with clean water.
Step 7 Fill a 5L container with water. Add dish detergent and drop in a few pieces of 1000- and 2000-grit sandpaper to soak.		Step 8 Fill a spray bottle with soapy water from the container and heavily mist your headlight. Wrap the foam block 1000-grit sandpaper and sand the headlight just as you did with the 500-grit. Keeping the spray bottle in your other hand, give the lens a fresh spray every time you change sanding directions. Keep it wet and slippery.
Step 9 Sand until the paper slides smoothly over the headlight lens and you can't feel any rough spots. Rinse and dry the lens, preferably with compressed air. Look at the lens from an angle. If you see irregularities, re-wet the lens and keep sanding with a fresh piece of wet sandpaper.		Step 10 Wash, rinse, and repeat with 2000-grit paper. Rinse and dry the lens completely when you're finished. The lens should be almost uniformly clear (with some slight hazing).
Step 11 Fold a microfiber polishing rag into quarters. If you're using liquid headlight polish, run a thick line of polish along the top of the headlight. If you're using a paste-type plastic polish, load your rag up with about an ounce and smear it all over the lens.		Step 12 Work the polish all over the lens until it’s covered uniformly, then add a bit more polish to your rag. Polish the lens with medium pressure, using the same method you used while sanding. Make complete passes over the lens, polishing in one direction; then flip the rag over to a cleaner side for another pass. The longer you polish, the better the result will be. Keep going until the surface feels completely smooth and uniform. Note: This will take much longer than you expect it to.
Step 13 Wash the headlight with detergent water, rinse thoroughly, and allow to dry completely. Wipe the lens down with rubbing alcohol and a clean, lint-free towel. Spray with lens sealer and wipe it with a lint-free towel as directed by the sealer packaging.		Step 14 Step back to admire your work. With the lens completely clear and smooth, and the sealer filling in any minor imperfections to form a perfect, glass-like sheen, your headlight should glitter, jewel-like, in the sun. Now repeat all of these steps on the other headlight.

Get two microfiber cloths—one to wash, one to dry. Microfiber cloths can be purchased at most supermarkets, auto supply stores and home centers. They are machine washable and reusable.

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It is no longer optional to have a Social Media presence as there are over two billion internet users with active Social Media Accounts.

If your customers or potential customers can't find you, they WILL find your competitors who are making use of Social Media Advertisig and Marketing.   Marketing and Advertising takes up a lot of time, so your best option is to put it in the hand of the professionals, who know what needs to be done.

Click on our link below and request a call back.  We will gladly set up a meeting to discuss your needs and what will work best for you.  Don't wait until tomorrow, time not utilized, is time lost, and you cannot get that back.

Click now, we are waiting to hear from you

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Don't make the same mistake some small town businesses make by saying "Whatever is left over, we'll use for advertising."

If you don't put enough money aside for advertising and marketing, your sales can and will go down, and suddenly you find you have even less for promoting your business.

Marketing should be handled by experts, and that is where we come in.

We will handle your marketing for you while you handle your business.

Contact us today by clicking the link below to set up a meeting.

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Don't procastronate, act now!!!

The One Thing Every Great Business Has in Common

Having the best professional marketing available, and wanting to create a good life for themselves, their families, their employees and their customers.

If you would like to be one of the great businesses, then you need to start with getting good, reliable, professional marketers like Truk to handle your marketing for you.

Need to know more about what Truk will do for your business?  

Click on the link below and request a meeting with our experts.   We will gladly meet and arrange a marketing strategy to best suit your business needs.

Whatever your business goals are, success hinges on your marketing and advertising, so that you will be found easily and your brand will stand out.

Here is the link to click and make 2019 a great year for your business

http://www.truk.co.za/call-back.html

By allowing a professional to handle your advertising and marketing, you won't be missing opportunities to increase your business revenue.

You need to increase your brand awareness, and what better way to do it than to use professionals who have the experience to put the spotlight on your brand.Marketing is not a vague option, it is a real necessity in this competitive world we live in today. 

Without marketing and advertising your business will remain obscure.

Make the decision today and contact us by clicking the link below to set up a meeting to discuss a marketing strategy for your business.

http://www.truk.co.za/call-back.html