Jerry D!!! Post Up Your Story When You Get Home

[Sputnik40]

Sorry I couldn't get back to help out - no tail lights and it was too late. I passed on complete sets of both 11 and 12 mm knuckle studs and related parts - hoping you found the bearing somewhere? I'll be adding one from the parts pile at home to the trailer parts for future needs...

[TJDIV]

Yeah Jerry D....

Story time~

[Eric_FJ40]

ooooh, What happened?

[Sputnik40]

From my understanding - we left Jerry and Bob with 3 FJs on lower 2. They were going to be all day and I had to run upper 2, drop Dave back at McNabb, pick up Henry, blitz 6 up to 4 and over on 8 to 9 - nailed slick rock and caught part of the UC group. Then back out - it was a loooooooooong day of blitzing some fun trails. No breakage and some hard obstacles.

Anyways - I get back to camp and a couple of the FJ fella's were waiting to see if I had spare knuckle studs as Jerry had busted his passenger side steering arm off. I had both 11mm and 12 mm studs, cone washers and nuts - but no bearing. Just want to know if he managed to get it up to the top of 2 and onto a trailer or not....

[Eric_FJ40]

Bearing got messed up when the steering arm came out?

Yikes!

I never thought to carry spares for that.

Sounds like you were all over the trails. Must have been a good time.

You came out clean this time?

[Sputnik40]

Originally Posted by Eric_FJ40

Bearing got messed up when the steering arm came out?

Yikes!

I never thought to carry spares for that.

Sounds like you were all over the trails. Must have been a good time.

You came out clean this time?

Clean as a whistle, well not including body damage . Smashed the right front hood hold down on the rock sticking out of the bank on the big upper 2 obstacle (note - the bank is really getting dug out and a bit more confined - I had to walk up the middle of the rock - and was impressed that my 40 did it). Also got one new small right rear dent from the same obstacle. Mechanically solid - what a great trip!!!

Yes - I'll went and found an old one the other night - gonna clean that up and mayber even a few wheel bearings and toss them in the parts boxes. This was the first time in years that I didn't have a rare or odd part on the trailer that somebody was looking for...

Let me know when you're down in Jupiter visiting - you'll have to stop by.

[Eric_FJ40]

Originally Posted by Sputnik40

Let me know when you're down in Jupiter visiting - you'll have to stop by.

As a matter of fact...

I'll be getting in late tomorrow night. I have Friday and Monday off.

Going to clean out Dad's garage and then reorganize it so he can get around in it easier.

Alert the locals - let's all go out for dinner and drinks or something. Saturday night?

[Capt. Jim]

Originally Posted by Eric_FJ40

As a matter of fact...


Alert the locals - let's all go out for dinner and drinks or something. Saturday night?

I heard that!

Now if bill can only cancel 2 or 3 dates that night, he may even be able to show up.

[Eric_FJ40]

Originally Posted by Capt. Jim

I heard that!

Now if bill can only cancel 2 or 3 dates that night, he may even be able to show up.

Sorry for such late notice - I wasn't thinking...

[Eric_FJ40]

Sandy - you getting this?

[Sputnik40]

Originally Posted by Capt. Jim

I heard that!

Now if bill can only cancel 2 or 3 dates that night, he may even be able to show up.

Ummmm, well yeah - I kinda have plans, not a date per se, so don't be going around giving me a bad image there Jim . Hammer out a plan and I'll try and meet up with ya'all. I will definitely be home first thing Sat. morning as I'm getting some, ahem, some Land Rover parts delivered to the house .

[Eric_FJ40]

I'm going to see what's going on for Friday and Saturday nights.

I'm heading south after work today. Probably be in to Jupiter around 10-11 pm.

What do you guys' schedules look like?

Where is a good place to get some grub and just hang out and shoot the breeze?

[soggy60]

Will be on vacation and around home Friday...

may head to Orlando Sat afternoon ( eye Dr. in a.m.) returning Sun afternoon / evening....

So, I'm game for Friday supper . . . wanna test drive some FJCs ;-)

[Eric_FJ40]

FRIDAY night anyone?

[Sputnik40]

Originally Posted by Eric_FJ40

FRIDAY night anyone?

No can do as of now - things change, but have plans - where's the chick symbol .

Sat. early is good for me - maybe try to break free Sat. night.

Tons of places to meet up - depends where you wanna be - Clematis for Guiness, Lake Worth for Guiness, etc. etc.

[Eric_FJ40]

Okay - looks like I am busy on Saturday night too.

Who can get together Friday? Pete - Jim?

[soggy60]

Can do Friday . . .

You have my cell # . . .

let me know....

[Eric_FJ40]

Pete - I'll give you a call today.

Bill and Jim - breakfast or lunch tomorrow (saturday)?

[kiskat23]

Bill,

I was the FJ'r on the parts run last Saturday. I had to split at 9 to get back to FL but, I did speak with Bob and they drove his 40 back to the base of 2 and put it on his trailer & then took it apart and got Jerry's 40 off of 2. I think they got back to Crawford's by 2 AM Sunday tired but, full of memories. Karl

[Sputnik40]

Hey Karl - was nice to meet you. Thanks for running the parts over to Jerry. Yeah he had several adventures on that one. E-mailed to say he's ordered the six shooters and matching 4x4 arms from Luke - he should be bulletproof in a few more weeks time...

Originally Posted by kiskat23

Bill,

I was the FJ'r on the parts run last Saturday. I had to split at 9 to get back to FL but, I did speak with Bob and they drove his 40 back to the base of 2 and put it on his trailer & then took it apart and got Jerry's 40 off of 2. I think they got back to Crawford's by 2 AM Sunday tired but, full of memories. Karl

[Jerry D.]

Sorry for the late post…garage work/parts order/looking for money, those kind of things.

While trying to get 2 FJC and a newly “rock ready” 40 that Bob built, up Lower 2, the passenger side knuckle arm sheared off all four bolts just beyond the 180 turn of the Rock Garden around 12 noon.
The owner of the other 40 started disassembly of the knuckle and let me spot for the 2 FJC’s and drive his 40 up Lower 2.

Both FJC’s were lifted about 3 ½ inches, one had street tires, the other AT’s. With a lot of trust of the drivers, and a lot of people helping to rearrange some rocks, they got the FJC’s all the way without using a strap or a winch!!! The 40 walked it with little concern, and then like I said, it was someone else’s truck. That took until about 4 or 4:30.

About then Bob had been able to get three of the busted studs out of the knuckle and part of the knuckle bearing carnage out. We then took off the brakes, and pulled the Birfield and cleaned out the rest of the bearing debris. A couple of the FJC guys took off for McNab to try and find studs and a bearing. No luck, everyone was still on the trails. So Archie took off and headed back to Crawford’s to get his truck and trailer to be ready to take one back to camp if necessary.

What seemed like five hours later, they got Bob’s 40 the Archie’s trailer, then Bob took apart one of the knuckles and got abearing out for use on my 40. About that time someone got connected with Bill C. and got some studs for the knuckle. So by 10PM all was looking well.

This is sort of the dark side that Bill has spoken about. Not only was it DARK it was black DARK there on Lower 2. So we got the knuckle rebuilt, and got ther 40 turned around and started to head back down Lower 2. After I almost laid it on it’s side, things do look different in the dim light of headlights, we got to trail 1 and headed toward Crawford’s. We did have a FJC to follow us on our way out. But wait, why is my steering wobbling??? This occurred just prior to the Park entry station on the Crawford side. Oh look here, the knuckle arm is off again!!!!!!!!!!

So, off to Crawford’s in the FJC to get my truck and trailer, back to the 40, drive it on the trailer with the wheels looking at each other, tie it down, go to Crawford’s. Drink, drink, sleep…

Sunday I realize I trashed Bob’s bearing so he can’t get his 40 back on the trails, so it’s off to breakfast..

Bottom line of a long story, Bill had given me two different sizes of studs. Some were 11mm others 12mm, as he didn’t know what size I needed. Well, neither did I. I used the 11mm to reinstall the knuckle arm, as they were used and I didn’t want to use his new shiny ones. Wrong choice for me, mine were 12mm. That’s why the arm came off again and this time stripped the threads out of the knuckles.

So, today, Aug. 23rd, my new six bolt knuckles from Trail Gear, and rebuild kits, bearings etc. arrived. By Monday the new six bolt knuckle arms from Luke at 4X4 Labs should be here. In the mean time, I found my passenger side Birfield was cracked also. But I will use my stock spares as I can’t afford the Longfields right now.

Ask me about my rear driver's tire/wheel falling off...

Play hard, play long, rebuild, sleep, rest, play hard, play long…

Jerry D.

[Eric_FJ40]

Originally Posted by Jerry D.

Ask me about my rear driver's tire/wheel falling off...
Jerry D.

So...Tell me about your rear driver's tire/wheel falling off.

[Jerry D.]

Well…heading to the trails along Trail 1, at the entry check point (this must have been some sort of black hole for me this trip), I make turn into the parking lot so the others can get their passes, and when I came to a stop, the rear wheel fell off.

Luckily it didn’t allow the axle to fall to the ground, the remaining wheel lugs stopped when it hit the rim. So another “oversight” of mine came to view. It looks like the spacers I use loosened up a bit and allowed the holes to deform around the studs. Three of the studs broke, while the other three just stripped out the threads on the stud nuts.

We were able to remount the wheel with three studs and limp back to camp. There we replaced the broken ones with those on my spare axle, and then back on the trail.

This trip was a message to me to check EVERYTHING before you hit the trails. The Cruiser was running so well that I failed to do the basics. Lesson learned.

So on this whole trip, I busted my nuts, four total, snapped my studs, eleven total, lost my bearings, two total, and worked more that I played. Still was a great trip, but better planning on my part could have made it even better.

Jerry D.

[Eric_FJ40]

I'm taking notes too - I'll be sure to look over things more closely before hitting the trails as well.

Glad that you still made it out okay and were still able to play.

[Sputnik40]

It's just gonna happen - I've had some knarly breaks these last few years, and now when it happens, I just sit down and start wrenching - it's a natural response and I kinda enjoy it. I mean, sitting on the trail wrenching (albeit those rainy days suked) is better than sitting in the office typing this....

No breaks this last trip - just some more trail decorations .

[lowtideride]

Wish I could have been there for the carnage sounds like a hell of a trip...Checking the torque specs on knuckle arms is a good check every day before the trails. I have found loose ones before after some hard trails that I know the hydro assit would have soon snapped off.

Still wish I could have been there...