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Just realized the old truck stop in Bakersfield still has a working diesel pump island from the 80s
I was fueling up my service rig there last week and noticed they never replaced the original Gilbarco pumps, just kept fixing them. The hoses are new, but the whole mechanical meter and display setup is still ticking along. Has anyone else seen a place still running that old gear, and is it even worth trying to keep it alive?
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henryl102mo ago
Honestly used to think old pumps were a safety risk waiting to happen. But @phoenix_bailey has a point, if it passes inspection it's fine. Saw a place in Arizona still using those same Gilbarcos with the flip-down handles. The mechanic said the parts are simple and cheap, way easier to fix than a new digital one that just bricks itself. Changed my whole view on it.
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phoenix_bailey2mo ago
Seriously, it's just an old pump. If it works and passes inspection, who cares how old it is. Not everything needs to be a modern tech marvel.
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taraross1mo ago
Read an article a while back about a guy who collects old gas pumps. He said those mechanical Gilbarcos are tanks, built to last fifty years with basic care. The new ones have software that can glitch and needs a specialist just to reset it. That old truck stop is probably saving a fortune on service calls by keeping what already works.
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