Events/Trails Christmas tree run Nov. 25 (2 Viewers)

[Mauser]

The Christmas Tree Run was fun but after Larry, Jeff, Marry and I split from the group and got out of radio range my 80 decided we needed a challenge.

View attachment 3177878

The first thing we needed to do was disconnect the fried cables. Larry didn’t hesitate and jumped into action.

View attachment 3177895

So at some point one of the battery hold down “J” hooks came off freeing the battery to bounce around.

While it bounced about it appears it started contacting the hood and welded the loose end of the battery hold down bar to the bottom of the hood. The continual contact of the terminals to the hood also started both the positive and negative winch cables on fire. The positive cable battery terminal also partially melted the positive cable and came loose killing the truck at which time I could see smoke coming from under the hood. I sprang to action and pulled the hood release to see what the smoke was from and found the winch battery cables a blaze. I huffed and I puffed until the flames went out. Wow almost burned my Cruiser up?

I was the least prepared person on the run and if it had not need for Larry and Jeff Hank and I would have had a long walk home.

Luckily they were there to help with the tools to remove the winch cables, reconnect the positive cable, and a bungee to secure the battery. After that to my surprise the truck started but not with out a few quirks.

It would not drive with the lights on and the few times I tried it would cause the check engine light to come on and the truck would start to sputter erratically and die. Turn the lights off and it would start back up just fine. It was getting dark so I drove it home behind Jeff and in front of Larry using their lights the rest of the way out.

It was an adventure, and I can’t say thanks enough to Jeff and Larry for the help getting out.

Dammit man. I always miss the fun stuff. Glad you got the fire out and were able to get home. That's pretty scary. We didn't have birthday candles for you so your cruiser stepped up.

You coulda harnessed up ol Hank and pulled that truck out.

 

[Mauser]

Thanks to the folks who led us around today and to everyone for a great day. We had an awesome time.

266.1 miles from home to home. Right at 13.5 hours. One big lap.

 

[Tank5]

Dammit man. I always miss the fun stuff. Glad you got the fire out and were able to get home. That's pretty scary. We didn't have birthday candles for you so your cruiser stepped up.

You coulda harnessed up ol Hank and pulled that truck out.

Yeap, the cruiser never lets me down. It was a good birthday and one to remember. I won’t take the Christmas Tree Run so lightly in future years. Goods times!

 

[krazykat69]

The Christmas Tree Run was fun but after Larry, Jeff, Marry and I split from the group and got out of radio range my 80 decided we needed a challenge.

View attachment 3177878

The first thing we needed to do was disconnect the fried cables. Larry didn’t hesitate and jumped into action.

View attachment 3177895

So at some point one of the battery hold down “J” hooks came off freeing the battery to bounce around.

While it bounced about it appears it started contacting the hood and welded the loose end of the battery hold down bar to the bottom of the hood. The continual contact of the terminals to the hood also started both the positive and negative winch cables on fire. The positive cable battery terminal also partially melted the positive cable and came loose killing the truck at which time I could see smoke coming from under the hood. I sprang to action and pulled the hood release to see what the smoke was from and found the winch battery cables a blaze. I huffed and I puffed until the flames went out. Wow almost burned my Cruiser up?

I was the least prepared person on the run and if it had not need for Larry and Jeff Hank and I would have had a long walk home.

Luckily they were there to help with the tools to remove the winch cables, reconnect the positive cable, and a bungee to secure the battery. After that to my surprise the truck started but not with out a few quirks.

It would not drive with the lights on and the few times I tried it would cause the check engine light to come on and the truck would start to sputter erratically and die. Turn the lights off and it would start back up just fine. It was getting dark so I drove it home behind Jeff and in front of Larry using their lights the rest of the way out.

It was an adventure, and I can’t say thanks enough to Jeff and Larry for the help getting out.

WOW!. That gives new meaning to having an onboard welder on your rig!!

 

[Tank5]

For anyone that wants to follow along or has ideas as I try to sort out my new electrical problems I posted it up in the 80 series section rather than clog up this thread.

US Spec. February 1990 Poverty 80

Congratulations finding your 80. My gets driven regularly but I have not made any changes to it. I have put all my efforts into getting my 45 done. I bought a non-cracked dash and some nice replacement door panels for it. I have a full 2uz drivetrain to swap into it at some point as well...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[Dumpolina]

I hate to say I only took one picture the whole day.

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That view makes up for it!

 

[Dumpolina]

Holy cow @Tank5 !!! That battery hold down dangling from the hood is a scary picture! Glad you’re 80 isn’t a pile of ashes now. Best of luck solving the gremlins

 

[Tank5]

Holy cow @Tank5 !!! That batter hood down dangling from the hood is a scary picture! Glad you’re 80 isn’t a pile of ashes now. Best of luck solving the gremlins

My welding skills are improving. I’m now 3FE welder certified. It is a risky method, so I don’t plan to do it again.

 

[JLH]

We were glad to be able to help get you off the hill @Tank5, it's always an adventure!

 

[NMBound]

Anybody else want to head to the mountains the day after Thanksgiving to cut a Christmas tree?

The tree that we brought back to Tucson from (edit) Greer, AZ last evening