Gremlins Rambling

[Sputnik40]

Well finally got around to swapping out the trail tires for my 37" MTR's and have had my 40 back on the road this week. Still have several serious Gremlins to fix - but at least it's running:

1) After Todd tells me about his t-case adventures - I decide to track down the leak in mine (I rebuilt 4 or so years ago) and found out that I had two loose bolts and one entirely missing on the front output cone??? Other than the fact that my much abused skidplate became one (i.e mashed by the rocks) with the t-case - I can't figure out how they came loose??? Needless to say, the leak is now gone...

2) Aaaaaah - never do a spring over without finishing your axle wrap bar setup - or as Mike pointed out - keeping the stiffer add-a-leaves in. This thing is streetable for now - but no trails till I finish that mess. Al - you got any pictures of the Fain's Ford Swap Out Session.

3) Death wobbles - just rebuilt the entire front axle, all new TRE's with the high steer, stiffer adjustable shocks, and new bushes when I welded in the shackle reversal. The only culprit is the krappy AGR Box - guess I'll add the rock ram and see if it solves the problem - althought it's barely noticable with the 37's compared to the unbalanced 38.5's.

4) Got to get that damn fuel injection speedo cable sensor in - bogs on the highway, but I'll be damned I think it still wants to run - Cruises at 60 no problems....

Lots of minor stuff - just good to get it out of the garage....

[Capt. Jim]

Been meaning to get mine out for the past couple of weekennds, but it still sits in the garage, a catch-all for a lot of boat/fishing crap. Perhaps this week I will resurrect mine, too.

I have some photo's of the Fain's Ford swap out, but I think you may already have them.

Workin' on fixing the camber on one of the axles on my boat trailer. If I finish it tomorrow (saturday) I plan on going out on sunday. Let me know if you're interested.

[Jerry D.]

I had a “DW” at about 30-45 mph with the new 38.5’s. I got them “balanced” at an off road place in Ocala. Came back and the DW was down to a “small wobble”, in same speed range. As I needed some width clearance in the rear, I put on 1-1/2” spacers all around. Rotated tires at that time, torqued down everything, and now have a very minor wobble about 35mph, nothing you would even conceder a problem. So now can run very comfortably up to 60 or so.

Still running the stock 2 bbl carb., fuel injection still an unknown.

Find us some wheeling place down your way!!! Next year at GSMTR let’s make sure we meet for a trail run.

Jerry D.

[Capt. Jim]

Death wobbles are not fun, that's for sure. I had a bad one a couple of years ago runnin' some older 38's of Barry's. Would start about 45 MPH and not stop until I decelerated down to about 15. Changed out the older tires and haven't had ine since.

Bill will tell you the FI makes a big difference, especially on the rocks. I concur with my SBC.

Martin Bradburn found a place open once a month down near hear in Okechobeee, but it is just mud. I hate mud. I also hate the older I get, the less time I have for this kind of thing. Hope all is well up in your neck of the woods.

[Capt. Jim]

BTW Bill, I flipped my batteries on in the 40 and she fired right up. That's after sitting in the garage since the end of may. No more battery drain.

[ChuckD]

Jerry, did you add the spacers after the wobble affair?

ChuckD

[lowtideride]

I might have some pics, I'll dig around man.

You slackers...I tells ya. First ya trailer them all the way up there and then ya let them sit for weeks on end...

My brother moved down, So now we got another 40 on 37s hanging around with us...

We are gonna hit the trails nextweekend since I got directions to Bravo which is NOT shut down at the moment. Hang tight down there WPB cruiserheads...


-Al

The real question is....Do you still have your best dressed broken pinion award???

[Sputnik40]

Jim - Missed you about boating. We took the whaler off Palm Beach snorkling again on Saturday. Saw the absolute biggest barracuda I have ever seen - was sick just watching it out of the corner of your eye as it lurked on the edge of the PB inlet, not to mention all the smaller ones... May be in the Key's this weekend - close to your lots actually, then guessing that Hurricane season is gonna fire shortly thereafter.

The DW is definitely tire balance related - not sure if I can get the beadlocks balanced, but it is much better with the streeter 37" MTR's . Still thinking it's the sector shaft being loose in the POS AGR box. Course - wouldn't hurt to get the rock ram or a stabilizer on there.

Yeah - Best Dressed!

Seriously considering making it out for one day of mud next time Martin spends the weekend out at Okeechobee.

[Jerry D.]

Hey ChuckD,

Put on the spacers and swapped tires/wheels front/back/front, all is fine now. Don't forget these 38.5 have the Staun internal bead locks in them, they are a bit heavy, but did balance...

No one showed for the ride in the forest Saturday, another time...

Jerry D.

[ChuckD]

Glad it wasn't related to the spacers. Yeah, I wasn't too sure if the ride was going on. Next time.

[martinjbradburn]

Here are a couple of links if anyone is interested.

http://www.martinsmotel.com/tlc
http://www.l-cross.com

We had a great time in the mud.