2004 FORD F650 tires

Front brakes
Hoses:Checked for cracked, worn or frayed hoses.
Make sure all couplings are secured.
Chambers:Make sure brake chambers are not cracked or
dented and that they are securely mounted.
Slack adjuster:Check for broken, loose or missing parts; the
angle between the push rod and adjuster arm
should be approximately 90 degrees when the
brakes are applied. When pulled by hand, the
push rod should not move more than
approximately 2.5 cm (one inch).
Drum:Make sure there are no cracks, dents or holes
and no loose or missing bolts. Make sure brake
linings are not worn or dangerously thin or
contaminated by lubricant.
Front wheels
Rims:Check for damaged or bent rims. Rims should
not have welding repairs and no rust trails that
indicate it is loose on the wheel.
Lug nuts:Make sure all lug nuts are present and not
loose (look for rust trails around the lug nuts).
There should be no cracks radiating from the
lug bolt holes or distortion of the bolt holes.
Hub oil seal:Check wheel hub oil seal for leaks, and if sight
glass if present, check to see that the oil level
is adequate.
Oil-lubricated front
wheel bearing:If the hubcap has a transparent window, check
for proper lubrication level. If the hubcap does
not have a transparent window, remove the
rubber fill-plug and check for proper level.
If a wheel must be changed, obtain expert tire service help.
Mounting and un-mounting of tires should only be performed by
a qualified technician using necessary safety procedures and
equipment, otherwise the result could be property damage, personal
injury or death.
2004 F650/750(f67)
Supplement
USA English(fus)
Vehicle inspection guide
14

Rear wheels
Spacers:Make sure dual wheels are evenly separated
and that tires are not touching one another.
Rims:Check for damaged or bent rims. Rims should
not have welding repairs and no rust trails that
indicate it is loose on the wheel.
Lug nuts:Make sure all lug nuts are present and not
loose (look for rust trails around the lug nuts).
There should be no cracks radiating from the
lug bolt holes or distortion of the bolt holes.
Rear of vehicle
Signal/Brake lights:Make sure both brake lights illuminate when
the brake pedal is applied. Also, make sure
each signal flashes. Make sure that four-way
flashers work properly.
Lights, reflectors:Make sure all lights illuminate and are clean.
Make sure headlights function on both high
and low beams. Make sure reflectors are clean
and unbroken and of proper color (red on
rear, amber elsewhere). Make sure the running
lights are also clean and unbroken. Rear
running lights must be checked separately
from signal, flasher and brake lights.
TRAILER
If you are operating a tractor with a trailer attached, an inspection of the
trailer similar to that of the tractor should be done. Such an inspection
should follow trailer manufacturer recommendation and should include at
a minimum: general condition, landing gear, doors, sides, lights,
reflectors, suspension, brakes, tires and wheels.
2004 F650/750(f67)
Supplement
USA English(fus)
Vehicle inspection guide
18

When the Traction Controlswitch, located on the instrument panel, is
in the off position, the traction control light will be illuminated.
If you should become stuck in snow or ice or on a very slippery road
surface, try switching the Traction Controlsystem off. This may allow
excess wheel spin to“dig”the vehicle out and enable a successful
“rocking”maneuver.
Aggressive driving in any road conditions can cause you to lose
control of your vehicle increasing the risk of severe personal
injury or property damage. The occurrence of a Traction Control
event is an indication that at least some of the tires have exceeded
their ability to grip the road; this may lead to an increased risk of loss
of vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personal injury and death. If you
experience a severe road event, SLOW DOWN.
AIR SUSPENSION (IF EQUIPPED)
Note:The vehicle must not be operated without air in the suspension
springs. Operating the vehicle without air in the air suspension springs
will damage the suspension, degrade ride performance and may cause
property damage.
The suspension system automatically adjusts to different loads to
maintain a constant frame height. The system allows for ease of vehicle
loading and provides improved vehicle ride and increased driver comfort.
Air suspension dump switch (if equipped)
The system is controlled by a switch
located on the instrument panel.
The switch will operate only when
the ignition is in the ACC
(Accessory) or IGNITION positions
and the air tanks have sufficient
pressure to fill the air springs. When
the ignition is turned off, the
suspension will remain in whatever
state it was last set.
Note:The suspension will dump air when the ignition is in the ACC or
IGNITION position, but will only fill when the ignition is in the IGNITION
position.
When the upper portion of the switch is pressed and the vehicle speed is
below 8 kn/h (5 mph), air supplied to the air spring is exhausted,
2004 F650/750(f67)
Supplement
USA English(fus)
Driving
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When operating a loaded vehicle, the driver must keep all
adjustable axles on the ground at all times, supporting their
share of the vehicle’s load. Failure to do so can overload other axles,
tires, wheels, springs, steering components, brakes and frames,
resulting in early component failure, loss of vehicle control, possible
property damage and personal injury.
FIFTH WHEEL OPERATION
Failure to follow the fifth wheel manufacturer’s instructions for
hooking and unhooking as well as sliding the fifth wheel could
result in an accident, personal injury or death.
When the tractor and trailer are parked unattended, the trailer
brake hand control should never be used to apply the brake,
since air may leak from the system, allowing vehicle movement,
resulting in possible property damage, personal injury or death.
Hook-up
1. Fifth wheel jaws must be fully opened.
2. Tilt the fifth wheel back to prevent body damage when the tractor is
backed under a trailer.
3. Block the trailer wheels and be sure the trailer spring brakes are
adjusted and applied. Never chase a trailer.
4. Make sure the brake hoses and light cords are clear of the fifth wheel.
5. Back the tractor squarely under the trailer, engaging the fifth wheel
jaws on the kingpin. Always back-up slowly, making sure the trailer is
neither too high nor too low. Avoid backing under the trailer from an
angle.
6. Connect the service and emergency brake hoses and trailer light
connector. Refer toTractor-trailer connectionin this chapter, adhering
to the warning and using the three-point stance while connecting and
disconnecting the trailer.
7. Inspect the jaws of the fifth wheel to be sure they have fully closed on
the trailer kingpin and the trailer plate is resting securely on the fifth
wheel.
8. Be sure the coupler release lever is in the locked position.
2004 F650/750(f67)
Supplement
USA English(fus)
Driving
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Driver-controlled differential lock
To prevent the vehicle from moving when servicing the wheels, tires or
brakes, turn the engine off and raise all drive wheels of the locker
differential axle. Axles equipped with NoSPIN Detroit Locker differentials
deliver power to both wheels even when only one wheel is on the ground.
Failure to raise all drive wheels with this type of differential
could cause the vehicle to move unexpectedly, resulting in
property damage, personal injury or death.
Care should be taken to avoid sudden accelerations when both drive
wheels are on a slippery surface.
Sudden accelerations on slippery surfaces could cause the
wheels to spin, the vehicle to turn sideways on a crowned road
surface or in a turn, possibly resulting in loss of vehicle control and
personal injury.
Some Dana/Spicer drive axles have a driver-controlled differential lock.
The differential lock can lock or unlock the differential when the vehicle
is moving or stopped. When extra traction is required, the differential
lock will provide full power to both axles.
The differential can be locked or unlocked when the vehicle is moving at
a constant speed of less than 40 km/h (25 mph) and while the wheels
are not slipping. If the differential is locked and vehicle speed exceeds
40 km/h (25 mph), the differential will automatically unlock. Also, the
differential must not be locked when the vehicle is traveling down steep
grades and traction is minimal.
When the differential is locked, the vehicle’s turning radius will increase
(vehicle will“under-steer”)
Axle conversions
It is not recommended, or approved, for axle conversions to be
performed. However, it is understood that, on occasion, aftermarket
add-on axles are installed by others on the truck chassis which allow
operator control for weight transfer from other axles (i.e., air lift axles).
When operating a loaded vehicle, the driver must keep all
adjustable axles on the ground at all times, supporting their
share of the vehicle’s load. Failure to do so can overload other axles,
tires, wheels, springs, steering components, brakes and frames,
resulting in early component failure, loss of vehicle control, possible
property damage and personal injury.
2004 F650/750(f67)
Supplement
USA English(fus)
Driving
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•Canada
Under no circumstances should your vehicle be loaded in excess of the
GVWR or GAWR. It is the operator’s responsibility to assure that neither
the axle capacities, spring capacities, tire capacities nor the vehicle rated
GVWR is exceeded. For tire capacities, refer toMaintenance and
specificationschapter.
Unloaded or lightly loaded vehicles
The braking system has been designed to safely stop your vehicle when
fully loaded to its GVWR.
When operating empty or lightly loaded, sudden or hard braking
may induce wheel lockup with loss of vehicle control and the
possibility of accident and serious injury, especially on wet or slippery
road surfaces.
TRAILER TOWING
Towing a trailer places an additional load on your vehicle’s engine,
transmission, axle, brakes, tires and suspension. Inspect these
components carefully prior to and after any towing operation.
Your vehicle’s load capacity is designated by weight, not by volume, so
you cannot necessarily use all available space when loading a vehicle.
2nd unit bodies are not included in maximum trailer weight ratings. The
weight of the additional“body”must be subtracted from the maximum
trailer weight.
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vehicle at least once a year. Remember that regular maintenance and
replacement of worn components will usually prevent serious problems
from developing later.
Making modifications to various parts, components and systems
of the vehicle, such as brake and steering systems can adversely
affect the quality, reliability and operation of your vehicle and could
result in property damage, personal injury or death. Such modifications
must be avoided.
The lubrication intervals present a good opportunity to inspect the
vehicle. It is suggested that the various points listed herein be checked
at the lubrication or other recommended intervals.
Failure to properly perform maintenance and servicing
procedures could result in vehicle damage, personal injury or
death.
If the owner/operator of the vehicle is a skilled technician and intends on
performing the vehicle maintenance and service, he is strongly urged to
purchase a service manual.
Take care when performing any maintenance, system check or
service on your vehicle. Some of the materials may also be
hazardous if used, serviced or handled improperly and could result in
property damage, personal injury or death.
Air conditioning system checks
Have your air conditioning system checked each spring. The refrigerant
charge, cleanliness of the condenser-evaporator cores and belt condition
is essential to air conditioning performance.
When the air conditioning system is being used daily, remove the fresh
air filter (if equipped) once each season and check for dirt, lint, etc.
Replace the filter if necessary. Vehicles operating in unusually dusty
conditions may require inspecting and replacing the fresh air filter more
often.
Front axle - general service information
Maintaining the front axle alignment to specifications is very important
and should only be performed by a qualified technician. Toe-in
adjustment is particularly important with radial tires.
2004 F650/750(f67)
Supplement
USA English(fus)
Maintenance and specifications
159

Check to make sure that the axle mounting U-bolt nuts, attaching or
mounting bolts and nuts are securely tightened. Regularly check front
axle for damage, binding, worn parts and adequate lubrication.
At regular intervals, or during other scheduled maintenance, (tire
rotation/service, wheel bearing service, alignment, etc.) the kingpins
should be checked for excessive wear. Refer to the service manual for
proper procedures.
Toe-in setting - general inspection
Inspecting steer axle tires in the first 4,800–16,000 service km
(3,000–10,000 service miles) will generally show if tires are wearing
normally.
Rapid outside shoulder wear on both tires indicates too much toe-in.
Rapid inside shoulder wear on both tires indicates too much toe-out. In
P&D-type service, which includes school buses, left-to-right steer tire
tread life differentials up to 40% can be observed depending on routes
and other variables.
Follow the tire manufacturer’s recommended cold inflation pressure for
the tire size, load range (ply rating) and steer axle loading typical for
their operation (each steer axle tire will equal
1⁄2steer axle loading).
Special applications may warrant a setting based on past experience with
the type of tire operating loads and conditions. Radial tires are more
sensitive to toe-in setting than bias ply tires. While not insensitive to
vehicle alignment, fine tuning school bus alignment to line-haul truck
standards will not drastically improve tire tread life.
It is essential that correct toe-in and tire pressure be maintained for
optimum tire wear.
Rear axle - general inspection
Check to make sure that the axle mounting U-bolts, attaching or
mounting bolts and nuts are securely tightened. Refer toU-bolt nut
torque chartin this chapter. Regularly check the rear axle for damaged,
binding or worn parts.
NoSpin Detroit Locker positive locking differential
Vehicle equipped with this type differential have the operator’s manual
supplied with the vehicle. Refer to this manual for maintenance checks.
Brake system - general inspection
Your vehicle is equipped with non-asbestos brake linings. However,
exposure to excessive amounts of brake material (whether asbestos or
2004 F650/750(f67)
Supplement
USA English(fus)
Maintenance and specifications
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