What are you working on today?

[BrianF]

Worked some more on my Polaris Magnum. Snagged a new battery, which solved most of my issues. Solenoids power up, winch works but still won't start.

I think the starter button connections are toast. Got power to key switch, sends it to the handlebar switch group. Have continuity from the pin at the switch group to the starter solenoid but no connection within the switch group. I can jump the solenoid and she fires right up. I opened up the switch group again and best I can figure is the contact that powers the starter solenoid is worn down and unable to complete the connection. So I will order a new switch group and carry on.

 

[wander2039]

Changed the brake shoe on dads Spark, this set worked just fine. Dunno weird. Got rid of concrete in a McDs parking lot Repowered a 30+ year old tiller. The old 5hp was actually ok but vibrated real bad.. well unfortunately it still does with this one but at least started on the first pull. Going to order some isolators for it.

 

[D60]

Helped my buddy finish up the Auburn Select-A-Loc install on his '13 Express. Changed gear oil after 500 miles (regeared to 4.11) and wired up the switch for the locker portion.

He's a carpenter and mechanically inclined so I made him cut the rectangle hole for the switch. That way I'm not on the hook for potentially botching someone else's dash!!

I was wishing for more info on the SEO/upfitter stuff that might be on this vehicle as we struggled to find a source keyed with ignition. I did some searching but it appears the vans didn't always get the SEO stuff like the trucks did where you can just plug in a fuse and connect to an unused wire.

 

[D60]

Finished my second KL Cherokee 3.2 oil cooler in as many weeks.

This one was leaking more than the first

Fancy dipstick:

As clean as I got the valley. I of course got any gasket mating surfaces immaculate before mounting cooler or lower intake

I had a heckuva time getting the cooler to seat this time. The oil tube that inserts into the motor really put up a fight. Feeling inside the hole it had a semi-circular ridge almost like poor machining

 

[14Accent]

I put our WJ in the air for a tire rotation and installation of front shocks to match the rear set I installed 5k miles ago. I should have done them sooner, but life happens. I'm glad I ordered them when I did, it looks like Gabriel discontinued the Ultra Truck line. I ended up finding one brand new on eBay for $12 and picked up one of the last 3 available on Amazon to form a pair. I've been happy with the performance of the Gabriel's on the rear, and the fronts seem to perform just as well. I'm taking the truck to work tomorrow, that'll give me a good idea of ride quality.

While I had it up in the air I investigated the source of a light coolant smell I noticed over the weekend: the ~2 year old water pump is leaking from the shaft seal. ARGH! I'm going to see if O'Reilly has her purchase on file so I can push for a warranty claim, if not I'll likely order a metal-impeller GMB from RA.

 

[meep]

View attachment 231576

I put our WJ in the air for a tire rotation and installation of front shocks to match the rear set I installed 5k miles ago. I should have done them sooner, but life happens. I'm glad I ordered them when I did, it looks like Gabriel discontinued the Ultra Truck line. I ended up finding one brand new on eBay for $12 and picked up one of the last 3 available on Amazon to form a pair. I've been happy with the performance of the Gabriel's on the rear, and the fronts seem to perform just as well. I'm taking the truck to work tomorrow, that'll give me a good idea of ride quality.

While I had it up in the air I investigated the source of a light coolant smell I noticed over the weekend: the ~2 year old water pump is leaking from the shaft seal. ARGH! I'm going to see if O'Reilly has her purchase on file so I can push for a warranty claim, if not I'll likely order a metal-impeller GMB from RA.

Good stuff! I’m glad the Gabriel ultras are working so far!

 

[72C10]

Have been working on a poorly running Suzuki Boulevard that my uncle dropped off.

The gas tank was full of rust so I poured rust remover in the tank and found a damaged thermistor wire coming off of the fuel pump.

It looked like someone had caught it when tightening a fuel pump bolt so I ended up repairing the wire.

Next weekend I'll probably check the valve clearances and put the gas tank back on and see how she runs. If it's still not running right, I may send off the injectors for cleaning.

 

[BrianF]

Made a rudimentary starter switch for my Polaris Magnum. Crimped up some connectors to a rocker switch to power the starter solenoid. Works great and she roars to life. Tomorrow if I make it to town I will pick up a momentary switch for it as I wait for new switchgear.

 

[tiger862]

2012 Impala was told needed left lowbeam. Naturally it's a Chevy and light bulb didn't fix it. Replaced connector at bulb since connector was spread. Numerous wire connector repairs
177k miles.

 

[wander2039]

Looked over the cooling system on the 05 Chevy Express 6.0L. Didn’t like how it was acting after I had to change the waterpump earlier this year. Also didnt like how the thermostat went together so got another. Prior to the new waterpump the thermostat had the o ring and didn't need a gasket. Now its not sealing with just the o ring. Guess I’ll tear it apart again and put a gasket back in with the second thermostat, don’t get that. Should of just left it alone and let it overheat. And yes bleed it per the TSB everytime.

 

[Kennedy01]

Working at home again this week

2016 Kia Soul 1.6 4 cylinder
Replaced spark plugs, coil boots, air filter, changed oil

1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.7 V8
Replaced distributor assembly, cleaned mass air flow sensor, changed oil

 

[clinebarger]

Looked over the cooling system on the 05 Chevy Express 6.0L. Didn’t like how it was acting after I had to change the waterpump earlier this year. Also didnt like how the thermostat went together so got another. Prior to the new waterpump the thermostat had the o ring and didn't need a gasket. Now its not sealing with just the o ring. Guess I’ll tear it apart again and put a gasket back in with the second thermostat, don’t get that. Should of just left it alone and let it overheat. And yes bleed it per the TSB everytime.

Use housing & thermostat GM part# 12600172.

 

[wander2039]

Use housing & thermostat GM part# 12600172.

Probably should of got new housing but the old didn’t leak on the old pump. The new pump is a Ac Delco and stated either could be used.

 

[wander2039]

Failure 2 of the night.. my beloved shower head. Took it down to clean the deposits with vinegar. Which didn’t work and now the oring leaks. Debating on just getting a new one, got this one over 10 years ago for cheap at Restore. A equivalent is $$$$ though! Occasionally have a day nothing goes right

 

[clinebarger]

The O-ring style housing is obsolete & can get warped using the band-aid gasket to adapt early thermostat assemblies to updated casting pumps.

They're @ $50 out the door at Summit Racing.

Edit.....All Gen III LS water pump jobs get quoted a updated thermostat at my shop because I've dealt with the shenanigan's of the paper gasket hack.

 

[tbm3fan]

Friday the PIA rear brakes on wife's Mazda 3 with the electronic parking brakes that couldn't readily go into maintenance mode. Fronts were a piece of cake.

 

[tbm3fan]

Sunday spent 5 hours removing the gas tank on the 91 626. Ran over a 16" piece of 1 inch angle bar on the highway two weeks ago. Pinned on both sides and couldn't avoid. Heard a thud, then smelled gas a mile later, then another driver pulls along side and starts waving under the car. I look for a safe place to pull over off the freeway. Find it under the entire freeway and get out to look. Yep, pouring out and a full tank. Had to call 911 and ended up with two large County rigs, a hazmat truck, and one police officer. By then gas was 20 yards down the street. Reminded me of the Birds but fortunately no one smokes. Got the tank but couldn't find the time. Found it and the manual said do this and that. Yeah, right, and that doesn't work. Got to work around emergency brake cable, exhaust, and rear cross member for both out and in. Had 15 year old son help but he has no aptitude for this at all.

 

[wander2039]

The O-ring style housing is obsolete & can get warped using the band-aid gasket to adapt early thermostat assemblies to updated casting pumps.

They're @ $50 out the door at Summit Racing.

Edit.....All Gen III LS water pump jobs get quoted a updated thermostat at my shop because I've dealt with the shenanigan's of the paper gasket hack.

Looks like there's another o-ring style. The part number 12600172 was the style it has from factory. The waterpump ACDELCO 252845 shows the smaller o-ring and paper gasket but the thermostat I got MU545687 has the rubber gasket, so wonder which one is supposed to work. Story of my life.

 

[BrianF]

The fan in the 318G quit again the other day. Thankfully we didn't have to use it much in the scorching heat. It's first winter it had sucked in so much powdery snow that the fan and circuitry was exposed to moisture. Since then we have had intermittent issues with the fan.

Down to a science I pop the cab, expose the fan, then inspect and clean the contacts with cleaner. Back operational.

 

[clinebarger]

Looks like there's another o-ring style. The part number 12600172 was the style it has from factory. The waterpump ACDELCO 252845 shows the smaller o-ring and paper gasket but the thermostat I got MU545687 has the rubber gasket, so wonder which one is supposed to work. Story of my life.

Using the paper gasket seems to warp the thermostat housing, I just use 12600172 without the paper gasket.

When you stated O-ring I just assumed the early style with an actual O-ring.