Description

Barber Greene SB-170 1971 Service Manual – Factory Specs for the SB-170 Finisher

If you are trying to keep an old Barber Greene SB-170 finisher running without the original book, you are wasting time and risking expensive mistakes. I have watched guys guess on belt tensions, throw wrong hydraulic pressures at a system, and then spend a full day chasing leaks that a glance at the factory specs would have prevented. That is exactly why this Barber Greene SB-170 1971 Service Manual belongs on your bench.

This is not a reprint, not a scan of a scan. It is the genuine 196-page factory document from 1971, covering the SB-170 Matmaker. The table of contents may look like a stack of TIFF files, but inside you get the same sequence of checks and adjustments that Barber-Greene shipped with every new machine. Everything from engine RPM settings to the 7/32-inch belt deflection spec is in here.

Why the Barber Greene SB-170 1971 Service Manual Belongs on Your Bench

You cannot fix something right if you do not know what the factory intended. Aftermarket documentation will give you a generic procedure for a paver, but it will skip the SB-170-specific details like the clearance between flight chains and chain guard (7/16 inch, not a half inch) or the exact hydraulic system pressures at 2200 RPM. Page 3 lists those pressures. Page 2 walks you through the machine delivery inspection – the same checklist the dealer used when the rig was new. Following that list catches shipping damage, loose linkages, and improper fluid levels before you ever turn the key.

Pre-Delivery Inspection: Don’t Skip This Section

The manual starts with a twelve-step pre-delivery inspection. You will see items like crankcase oil level, radiator coolant level (50/50 antifreeze), belt deflection checks (7/32 inch midspan), and governor drive belts on gas engines. It also covers the screed unit – fuel tank oil supply, blower operation, burner ignition on both sides. I have seen guys fire up a paver that sat for years and then wonder why the screed won’t light. Follow page 2, step 6b. Check the blower. That takes thirty seconds and saves you a tow bill.

Each item has a clear check box. The manual does not assume you know where the dipstick is – it tells you to verify crankcase oil level to the dipstick mark. That level of detail is exactly what a shop needs when a green tech is doing the PDI.

Engine Specs and Power Unit Checks

Engine speed is set per engineering specifications: IHC Gas, IHC Diesel, GMC Diesel, and CAT Diesel all at 2200 RPM at full load. The manual gives you the exact RPM, not a range. It also lists generator/alternator installation checks, fan belt tension, and the procedure to start the engine and look for fuel, oil, water, or air leaks. No guesswork on what “tight” means – belt deflection is 7/32 inch.

For the transmission, you get oil level checks for feeder drive boxes (2), wheel propel (1), main pump drive (1). Drain plugs, mounting bolts, cover bolts – all must be tight. Breathers installed. Ease of shifting and noise level. If you are rebuilding a gearbox, these checks keep you from putting it back together with a loose cover bolt that leaks on the job site.

Hydraulic System Pressures: Factory Values on Page 3

Hydraulic system pressures are listed on page 3 at 2200 RPM. The manual tells you to check the strainer in the hydraulic tank, verify oil level to half height of sight gauge with oil at room temperature, and then read pressures. Without this data, you might set the relief valve too high and blow a seal, or too low and get slow feeder operation. I have seen both. The factory spec is the only safe starting point.

Transmission, Clutch, and Screed Adjustments – What the Factory Specs Say

The clutch section covers master clutch free lever action, linkage play, engagement/disengagement, and locknut tightness. For the screed, you check feeder operation – flight chains properly installed with drag bars laying flat on drag pans, takeup adjustments even on both sides. Screws must be matched, running free, and conveying properly (rotation and correct hand). Clearance between flight chains and chain guard is 7/16 inch approximately. You will also see brake fluid level, parking brake adjustment, and steering linkage free play. Each spec is a number, not a feel, because numbers do not lie.

Authenticity: OEM vs Aftermarket Manuals

I trust OEM documents because Barber-Greene wrote them for their own machines. Aftermarket books sometimes copy the table of contents but misplace a torque value or skip a step in the inspection sequence. This manual came from the factory floor in Aurora, Illinois, 1971. It matches the machine serial number SB170X. Every page is original factory content. If you want to keep your Barber Greene SB-170 Asphalt Paver Parts Manual”>parts manual or Barber-Greene SRG2 SRG1 Service Manual – Factory Specs for Screed”>screed service manual consistent, start with the factory source. Also check the Barber Greene BG-240 Parts Catalog – OEM Factory Parts Breakdown for Asphalt Pav”>BG-240 parts catalog if you have that model.

For background on Manual Transmission”>manual transmission basics or Manual Transmission”>manual transmission overhaul, external resources can help, but when it comes to the SB-170, only this manual has the correct factory data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the manual include torque specifications for the screed mounting bolts?

It does not list every fastener torque, but it includes clear specifications for belt tensions, hydraulic pressures, and clearances that directly affect the screed operation.

What does the pre-delivery inspection section cover in detail?

Page 2 lists twelve major areas: unloading and steering inspection, power unit checks (oil, coolant, belts, filters, battery), transmission oil levels and bolt tightness, clutch free play, screed fuel and ignition, belt drive alignment, feeder chain installation and takeup, screw matching, clearance checks including push rollers and flight chain guard, brake fluid and parking brake adjustment, hydraulic tank strainer and oil level, and hydraulic system pressures at 2200 RPM. Each step has sub-steps for the specific SB-170. This section alone can prevent 90% of startup issues on a used machine.

You have the serial number stamped on the machine. Match it to this manual and you will have every factory spec, every inspection step, and the confidence that you are not guessing. Access the Factory Manual and put it on your tablet or print the pages you need for the job. That book will pay for itself the first time it keeps you from overtightening a feeder drive belt.