As an X wrecker operator the booms actually extend on the units that ran. If you converted the wenches to hydraulic or electric it would make it easier to swing the booms out. You could look in the wrecking yard and find a set of extended booms or just make a set yourself. Those repairs are from over loading those booms as those winches don’t care and will pull way more then they are rated for.

@SwedeMachine

10 ай бұрын

Thank you for the insight. I definitely agree. Those winches are absolute powerhouses. I would imagine the weakest link would be your booms. I’ll keep an eye out and I’ll do some snooping around. It needs a lot of help, but honestly, it’s a lot of fun for a hobbyist. If I was doing full-time wrecker operations, this thing would make me exhausted after a while lol. But I love the old iron.😄👍🏼💪🏼. Thanks for dropping by!

Well hello. I just stumbled across your video and I must tell you, you certainly found a gem. When I started towing, I learned on a 69 Ford F-600 with the Holmes 500 for the back. Then worked my way all the way up into a Century 9055 on a Peterbilt. In the many years of towing, I have driven many sizes and types of trucks. From mechanical to hydraulic. Along the way, I have always loved where I started. The truck you have there is still in really nice shape. It does need some attention, but it is not a basket case. When I started towing in the 80’s, there was a tow company in southern CA that ran that paint scheme. For the life of me, I can’t remember the name. That’s probably where it started. I am on the east coast, so trucks such as this one are pretty much rust buckets. I have been out of towing for a few years now, and miss it from time to time. I think I’m going to look for a project truck such as an early Ford with the Holmes 440 or 480. Something to tinker with. Anyway I wish you the best of luck with this truck and keep us updated on what’s happening with it, if you can.

@SwedeMachine

5 ай бұрын

That’s a great story thanks for sharing. I do know the original company that had this in Cali and they are in fact still in business! It’s in ok shape, and if I need to fetch a vehicle it’ll tow tomorrow. Much to do here for sure🙃 Bless! 💪🏼✌🏼

Awesome machine looking forward to all new adventures this opens up 👍

You better check out that wheel lift really good that new paint on it makes me think it was repaired and badly

@SwedeMachine

18 күн бұрын

Absolutely! I might have time this year to get deeper into it. It definitely wasn’t taken care of. I haven’t even bothered to renew the tags on it since I towed the 77 Ford pick up Home. It’s in that rough shape.😕

That's not a Holmes,600 but it's a much smaller Holmes 500 the different is a 500 is a 10 ton wrecker and the 600 is a 16 ton wrecker Big different between the two the 600 has outregers on the mast and the 500 does not have outregers on it you can do way more with the 600 than you can with the 500 I hate to break your bubble I ran all of the older Holmes wreckers from the 400rw all the way to the Holmes 850 so I know all of them very good thank you very much Charlie kretschmar Phoenix Arizona

@SwedeMachine

10 ай бұрын

Thanks for taking the time to comment! My data plate says 613P for the Model number. Serial number states it was built in 1978. The reason for no outriggers on my truck is that they needed to be removed (or not installed at all) to make room for the hydraulic tank on the left for the wheel lift, and the truck battery’s needed to be installed on the right, where the booms would have gone, since I have dual fuel tanks. Thanks for watching

@steelfabmechanic6545

6 ай бұрын

​@SwedeMachine I agree with Charlie above, the tell tale sign that it's a 500 is the forward mast supports are angle iron, the 600's I've worked with had square tubes, and I also don't see the side leg mounts on the forward mast. The winch gearbox I believe is the same between the 500 and 600, but boom and mast design is much different between the two to achieve the extra 6 tons. The boom support cables also have a triple shive gooseneck on the top of the forward mast, the 500 has 2 different shive blocks.

@steelfabmechanic6545

6 ай бұрын

​@@SwedeMachinehere is a good picture of a 600 wrecker www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&client=ms-android-att-us-rvc3&source=android-browser&q=holmes+600+wrecker+body#vhid=zT7YFoJoJ8ixiM&vssid=l

@SwedeMachine

6 ай бұрын

Huh. Maybe you are right. I see the mast with the square tubing on the 600’s vs my angle iron type. Although this thing has been abused so much maybe things were swapped out. Maybe my data plate is wrong. Eh oh well. Still a great piece of history that will survive on the this channel anyways. Thanks for all your insights.

@Ballards1971

3 ай бұрын

Definitely not a Holmes 600 !! But still a tough little unit ! I run a 600 as my Heavy Recovery Truck and LOVE it !!. It works on those muscles but it's a BEAST !. Wish I could send pics.

Very sweet truck a international truck or truck tractor of the 80s is on a guys bucket list one day as I tell my wife!! Looking forward to more content to come.

@SwedeMachine

10 ай бұрын

Absolutely! I’m pulling fer ya!

That's a sweet Galaxy 959 I use to have one in my truck ran off a K40 mag mount and ran a Ranger 2990 Base station with a Antron 99 60 feet high use to talk all over on the LSB I still have a Silver eagle Astatic desk mic and I have a bunch of Portable hand held power mics a Astatic D104 and a Astatic road devil mic I still have my gear just not set up after I moved I did not hook it back up that had to be 10 years or more I still run the Radio in my truck I have a couple small 100 watt and a 150 watt Linear amps but I use to be right into the CB thing had a bunch of money into it use to Tune up the Cobra 148 GTL put HD finals and crank the watts and add more channels but they don't make the Cobra 148 GTL anymore but they use to be the best low budget radio that you could really make a power house out of.

@SwedeMachine

6 ай бұрын

Will definitely be saving the 969. Maybe throw it in the shop and have it tuned up and recalibrated. I would love to put a 102 inch whip on Lil tugger but I’m not sure where it would go. I’ll figure it out haha😁

I just did an alloy swap on my 1990 4700 4 door. When you swap inner wheel there like 5/8” thicker so possibility you have to press in longer studs.

@SwedeMachine

6 ай бұрын

Ah 10-4. Very possible I will have to do that. Thanks for the heads up!

I’m willing to bet they bent the loops on the wheel lift using the loops as a low connection points. (With the lift in the down position) Sometimes required for rolling vehicles.

@SwedeMachine

6 ай бұрын

Ahhh that's definitely possible. There really isn't a low connection point other than the wheel lift. If your out in the field and that's all you have to get the job done I get it.....but lets fix it at some point haha. Great opinion!

If wrecker abuse was a felony then someone in that poor truck’s history is on the FBI’s 10 most wanted list. The attempt at welding alone should warrant solitary confinement and the chain gang. It’s almost like a huge tree fell on the lift area of the wrecker. I like the old DT466 engines. They sure were reliable and relatively simple to maintain. I’m glad you got it and will show it some much needed love. I look forward to seeing you do what you can to get it in better condition. 👍

@SwedeMachine

10 ай бұрын

Absolutely. Maybe I should rename my channel to car rescue haven haha. But yes it will get much love here. 👍🏼💪🏼

Awesome unit Sir. Sumter Wrecker service KZread channel has a rig with a holmes 600 bed just like this one and has it in service.

@SwedeMachine

4 күн бұрын

No school like the old school 😁👏🏼💪🏼

I have a Holmes tow bar that yours is missing and I know where a set of booms are, I’m not sure where you’re located though. I’m in Pennsylvania. Also the style of fork receiver on the driver side is correct for a Century underlift. Is your crossbar 3.5x3.5? You can buy replacement frame & axle forks from Zips AW Direct or Irish Iron wrecker. The scotch blocks should have chains on them that go in the banjo eyes on the tailboard of the bed. You back the rear tires up on the scotch blocks as far as you can go without the tires falling off the backside and then hook the chains in the banjo eyes. Then when you start winching, the weight of the wrecker pushes down on the teeth of the scotch blocks and the chains help keep them planted under the wrecker so the wrecker doesn’t slide over the end of the scotch blocks. The banjo eyes are right next to the reverse lights. Zips AW Direct also should have the schematics for the Century Formula wheel lift and should be able to get you the rebuild parts for it, like the wear pads that go in the main tube. There’s nothing wrong with the steel inner wheels, they make rings that go in between inner wheel and the outer wheel so they don’t corrode together. They look like a gasket basically. Also the rear main seal probably isn’t leaking, that’s probably grease from the clutch release bearing. That little grease line hanging down out of the bottom hole of the bell housing is to grease the clutch release bearing. So the cool thing about Ernest Holmes and Century are, Gerald Holmes started Century Wrecker Corporation because he believed the old mechanical wrecker needed updating but he couldn’t convince his family that the mechanical wreckers needed updating and that’s why he started his own company. The black metal switch panel with the gumball light covers is an original Holmes panel. And if you grease the clutch release bearing, that noise should go away, just don’t pump too much grease into it that it leaks out onto the pressure plate and clutch disc. Yeah it should probably have the Leece Neville alternator. I absolutely love the truck and I can’t wait to see more videos on it!

@SwedeMachine

3 ай бұрын

Wow thanks for all your info! Thats funny how the Century business got started!! That’s an awesome story!

👏😎 Bravo. Great Work. 😎👍

Nice Rig!!! I'm jealous. Do you have a manual for the Holmes?

@SwedeMachine

10 күн бұрын

Ah no. I can get one from the eBay’s however. It’s on my shopping list 🙂

Awsome buy. looks ike she needs a runner!! great channel content guySS!! green leaker too11

You sold a boat and bought a barge, or should I say a TUG! HAH! Hopefully the F-350 won't get jealous. Looking forward for the content on the million different things you get to fix on this one!

@SwedeMachine

10 ай бұрын

Hopefully they will get along as a team haha. 🤣🤣

With Lil' Tugger and the Service Truck as a tag team, the amount of shenanigans you can get into should more than double! Keep up the great work!

@SwedeMachine

10 ай бұрын

Oh yes!

Nice truck m8 looking forwatd too see u fix her up sweet luv your tube makrs me laigh too good luck

It looks like something heavy fell on this truck damaging the cab and booms. Those welds on the boom are scary, I wonder if they were trying to use a mig with too little gas or perhaps did no weld prep. That aside I do love this ol gal, she needs plenty of love, but she's got plenty of life left in her. I'm happy to see she's got a brighter future than just being a forgotten mouse house that gets sold for scrap after a couple decades

@SwedeMachine

10 ай бұрын

My sentiments exactly!

You have your work cut out for you one your done bring your towing baby back to date you know it's been well worked on have fun keep sharing thank you be careful

@SwedeMachine

8 ай бұрын

Absolutely and will do boss👍🏼

😁😁👍👍

Was this stovalls in tennessees wrecker before?

@SwedeMachine

Ай бұрын

I checked Stovall’s paint job and no I don’t think so. I was able to find to company who had lil tugger with his current paint job and that tow company is still in business in California. (Dumb luck I found an original business card inside the cab) 😉

scotch blocks not wheel chocks

@SwedeMachine

4 ай бұрын

I legit didn’t know they had a name! Thanks

What could one expect for price ranges on a tow truck like this?

@SwedeMachine

8 ай бұрын

Oh 8,000 to 12,000. It very much depends on the condition and its configuration setup.

@junkdreams1

8 ай бұрын

Thank you for taking the time to answer my question first time it's ever happened for me on you tube!

@SwedeMachine

8 ай бұрын

@@junkdreams1 I’m a small channel so I have time…sort of haha! Most welcome

sweet i have a gmc 6500 197? WITH HOLMES 600 TWIN BOOM IN ALBERTA

@SwedeMachine

4 ай бұрын

Nice!!! Keep them old iron going!

That truck was from Sydney nb. The guy hauled my truck to his shop. Nice guy rip, but okie lol you wouldn't have wanted to see the car sling for the back it was worse welding job homemade

@SwedeMachine

10 ай бұрын

I figured people from the Midwest would recognize it. It definitely has a unique paint job. Oh my! The sling was worse? Yikes man. Will get another one scrounged up one of these days. Or I’ll custom build one. Either way I’m happy with the purchase. Also glad I was able to purchase it before the condition of it got any worse! Thanks for your story!

@user-cy1tb3kq4f

10 ай бұрын

Yea I was actually on my way from CA to nh when I lost a head gasket towing a trailer. It was definitely worse welding haha

@SwedeMachine

10 ай бұрын

@@user-cy1tb3kq4f Oh dear haha. Well I guess I don’t feel so bad now. Bless✌🏼🙂

Great truck...But even i would weld better than that and i would stick weld....there are alot of job that one can do i guess...Good luck or as we swedes say (Lycka till) 😁

@SwedeMachine

10 ай бұрын

Bless✌🏼

Nice truck but that's not a 600 it's a 500

@SwedeMachine

10 ай бұрын

Model No. is stamped 613P on the data plate. Thanks. Really love this thing👍🏼✌🏼

Hey bud I have a complete set of trucker cb twin antennas I would like to send you for your tow truck get ahold of me so I can send them to you

@SwedeMachine

9 ай бұрын

Oh wow! I appreciate that gesture. Currently I’m deep in the F250 project, but I’ll take a rain check on that offer🙂. Thanks✌🏼

If youre going to keep buying cars trucks to flip fix it and use it.

@SwedeMachine

10 ай бұрын

Will do. Its all ready done its first rescue and will be up for viewing here in about a month. Cheers