mack attack

[IMG]http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n593/ronhor se/Mack.jpg[/img]

I first learned that a diesel engine would run backwards when I was driving an old NR Mack tipper at the Leigh Creek open cut coal fields in SA, I would back up under the mechanical shovel, kill the engine and wait to be loaded, (it was government so no hurry!) When I was loaded I would let the truck run forward , put it in 3rd gear and pop the clutch to start, well, one day I forgot and left the gearbox in reverse, the old mack started up and ran like a bird except for this plume of square of blue smoke going straight out of the radiator into the still air, engine running smooth as you like, Great stuff on the origin of the name "diesel" not only is this site amusing but informative as well!! Our Gardners werre badged "Gardner oil engines" as the Pom's were still a bit miffed at the Germans and wouldn't use the name, even dropped the SS from Jaguar>