What are you working on today?
- Thread starter Amkeer
- Start date
I am going to try a few other ways but not until Wednesday the 28th more than likely. Waiting for something to arrive.
Haven't had anything terribly interesting lately, as the shop has been quiet, so I took the down time as an opportunity to repair a 110 Backhoe we took in on trade a few months back. Customer brought it in for a noise in the front differential: upon inspection I discovered a failed driveshaft coupler which in turn destroyed the front differential's pinion shaft splines. These couplers are designed to be a "shear pin" of sorts, as their splines SHOULD strip when presented with an overload scenario, however they need to be replaced in short order as continued use of a failed coupler damages the splines of the mating shaft.
Repair wasn't difficult, but it was involved: I removed the front final drive units as complete assemblies then dropped the center section out and onto a table. Replacing the ring and pinion went smoothly, considering I haven't set up a differential in YEARS, but boy did it remind me in a hurry why I avoid it. Reassembly went great, the guts were in perfect shape so I was able to do a quicky rebuild with just the ring and pinion, input shaft seals, and shim kits to set pinion depth and rolling torque. The ring and pinion came as a matched set right from Dana/Spicer, complete with gear patterns and etched markings to facilitate setting the pinion depth, however the $1,700 price tag for a snack plate size ring gear seemed a bit excessive.
Repair wasn't difficult, but it was involved: I removed the front final drive units as complete assemblies then dropped the center section out and onto a table. Replacing the ring and pinion went smoothly, considering I haven't set up a differential in YEARS, but boy did it remind me in a hurry why I avoid it. Reassembly went great, the guts were in perfect shape so I was able to do a quicky rebuild with just the ring and pinion, input shaft seals, and shim kits to set pinion depth and rolling torque. The ring and pinion came as a matched set right from Dana/Spicer, complete with gear patterns and etched markings to facilitate setting the pinion depth, however the $1,700 price tag for a snack plate size ring gear seemed a bit excessive.
I installed a rebuilt vector drive, braking resistor, and low voltage supply board in a Haas VF4. When the vector drive fails it shunts power directly to the braking resistor and spectacularly overheats it. The braking resistor is basically 4 electric stove burners and they glow red and smoke until you shut down power.
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2005
- Messages
- 10,256
Inspected the Generac to make sure everything is good to go before the potential winter weather this weekend. Ordered a maintenance kit (oil & air filter + spark plugs) so I can do annual service when we get a few warm days.
Was pretty busy this week with smaller jobs, But made the time to get the 8L90 built.....
Today I helped out in the shop. Friend worked in his church's van for brake service and oil change. We did front rotors and pads on a 2008 Chevrolet Express 3500, tire rotation, air filter, checked all fluids, new wiper blades. This evening I got some exercise and tomorrow I'll be doing laundry and house cleaning.
Water pump R&R for the garbage O'Reilly pump installed April '24. 1999 Ram 1500
The only good news is that I've done enough Magnum pumps (and timing chain covers) that it went really quickly.
Pro tip: if this is a vehicle you think you'll ever see again, file these round nubs on the washer reservoir and coolant overflow
They pop into holes in the fan shroud but once engaged they'd stay in place for fifteen consecutive General Lee jumps, ie they will NOT release!!
Also cut out the leaking transmission lines and replaced w 3/8" line + clamps
The only good news is that I've done enough Magnum pumps (and timing chain covers) that it went really quickly.
Pro tip: if this is a vehicle you think you'll ever see again, file these round nubs on the washer reservoir and coolant overflow
They pop into holes in the fan shroud but once engaged they'd stay in place for fifteen consecutive General Lee jumps, ie they will NOT release!!
Also cut out the leaking transmission lines and replaced w 3/8" line + clamps
Was the offending pump also a Murray branded pump? I don't know who makes all these pumps, but largely all the parts store pumps seem to come from the same factory. I've overall had good service from AutoZone pumps, although I did have one for a small block Chevy machined wrong on the mounting surface. Of course I didn't catch it until I was refilling with coolant.
It was. I'm exercising the definition of insanity and warrantying itWas the offending pump also a Murray branded pump? I don't know who makes all these pumps, but largely all the parts store pumps seem to come from the same factory. I've overall had good service from AutoZone pumps, although I did have one for a small block Chevy machined wrong on the mounting surface. Of course I didn't catch it until I was refilling with coolant.
I've had an AC Delco for the exact same application -- but different truck -- fail in 4 months. I'm guessing the odds the Murray and AC Delco are built in the same factory are EXTREMELY high
Spent the last 2 days doing a short block and transmission on a 2018 Ford Escape I bought for my Dad. Pulled the head in chassis 2 months ago to have it pressure checked and reconditioned. Didnt intend for it to sit apart as long as it did but we had some issues with part availability on the transmission. This is the remaining assembly dropped out of the chassis.
I don't know what to do in regards to getting quality fuel pumps, water pumps etc when now a lot of AC Delco branded stuff is made in China like the parts store brands. Even standard SBC spark plugs are Chinese now. However Rapid fire (gold box) at least WERE still being made in the US. Hope this pump last longer than the defect
People here are praising GMB water pumps and RA does sell one for the Magnums......still, for what's effectively '94-01, is ANYONE really running a high quality assembly line for these water pumps? I don't know.....I don't know what to do in regards to getting quality fuel pumps, water pumps etc when now a lot of AC Delco branded stuff is made in China like the parts store brands. Even standard SBC spark plugs are Chinese now. However Rapid fire (gold box) at least WERE still being made in the US. Hope this pump last longer than the defect
edit: in most of the country 2nd Gen Rams have rotted away.
Well, I bought earlier last week a 1998 Subaru Legacy L Wagon for $750. Since it was in fact owned by the stereotype of a Subaru owner, I spent this weekend doing a deep cleaning on it as it had a million stickers on the back plus dog hair from a very large Great Dane.
The stickers were real pain; most of them were old as the car and have plasticized but I got them off with some PB blaster and a really good razor blade. I did find out some of the stickers were covering up damage on the bumper ha.
Interior got a good cleaning with just Simple Green cleaner and terry towels. I found some good tools like actual Vise-Grip brand vice grips and some Craftsmen wrenches, including 10mm under the seat. The werid part was under the nice WeatherTech mats were the original Subaru floot mats, which were worn to hell. So I chucked them. Deep vaccuming was need for the Great Dane hair. And to make it smell better, put in a Little Tree and lots of Frebreze and its good!
I did two exterior washes on it as it was sitting under a tree since November on the street. First one was at an gas station touchless wash that I got for free with a fill-up of gas, which helped a lot but wasn't perfect. So I did a second one with my son where at an self service wash where we got it looking way better.
I also replaced the factory stereo with an Dual brand single DIN Bluetooth stereo I had laying around. Alternator is from what I can tell starting to show signs of failure so I am keeping an eye out for a deal on that. Will replace the battery as its from 2022 and my testing shows its questionable.
The stickers were real pain; most of them were old as the car and have plasticized but I got them off with some PB blaster and a really good razor blade. I did find out some of the stickers were covering up damage on the bumper ha.
Interior got a good cleaning with just Simple Green cleaner and terry towels. I found some good tools like actual Vise-Grip brand vice grips and some Craftsmen wrenches, including 10mm under the seat. The werid part was under the nice WeatherTech mats were the original Subaru floot mats, which were worn to hell. So I chucked them. Deep vaccuming was need for the Great Dane hair. And to make it smell better, put in a Little Tree and lots of Frebreze and its good!
I did two exterior washes on it as it was sitting under a tree since November on the street. First one was at an gas station touchless wash that I got for free with a fill-up of gas, which helped a lot but wasn't perfect. So I did a second one with my son where at an self service wash where we got it looking way better.
I also replaced the factory stereo with an Dual brand single DIN Bluetooth stereo I had laying around. Alternator is from what I can tell starting to show signs of failure so I am keeping an eye out for a deal on that. Will replace the battery as its from 2022 and my testing shows its questionable.