Builds An Accidental Frame Off.................. (10 Viewers)

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Is this really a "parked too long" problem?
Mine just showed a few signs... and less than 12K on the rebuilt knuckles... just over 10K miles on mine, 5 years ago.
No, I don’t believe that it is a”parked to long” problem. I’ve suspected that there was a leak in there for a year or two but haven’t really worried about it much. I say parked too long because it sat long enough for oil to drip on the tires!
 
Looks like I parked for a little too long. I'll be damned if I only have 12K on the last knuckle rebuild, Marlin inner axle seals and I used the centering tool. Guess I might check out what it looks like inside......maybe during runoff.
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Isn't that what they are supposed to look like?! LOL! You have a functioning odometer?? Lucky!
 
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No, I don’t believe that it is a”parked to long” problem. I’ve suspected that there was a leak in there for a year or two but haven’t really worried about it much. I say parked too long because it sat long enough for oil to drip on the tires!
Good point... so the real issue at stake here is the fact that we've not driven them frequently enough to avoid spotting the problem...
 
My Marlin Eco Seals have held up nicely so far - but I put far fewer miles on my truck than you do. That said, no obvious axle leaks in about 5 years/3000mi
 
you should see what 6-7 years and 41,0000 miles looks like....
Edit
Apparently the answer is, not terrible. Honestly haven't looked at it lately.....kinda like ignorance is bliss.
the tires are dry, it had been raining off and on all day.

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So you've initiated the rust prevention mods... oil on everything, that's how I roll. Under 1/2" of junk are factory fresh axles. That's how I look at it ;)
 
Looking at my fuel logbook it seems like I've been losing some MPGs somehow. I logged 9.9 mpg on the last tank. Some of that driving was in 4 wheel high.

Time to check some stuff.
 
Obligatory photos of highlights from the last month or more.
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14 months of winter here in Montana.
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Aired up some 33" rubber from 18ish psi up to 22 psi, seems like they were bulging a little more than usual.
 
Looking at my fuel logbook it seems like I've been losing some MPGs somehow. I logged 9.9 mpg on the last tank. Some of that driving was in 4 wheel high.

Time to check some stuff.
You mean 9.9 isn’t GOOD? 🤣
 
This could be your MPG loss...
I'm hoping. There isn't really anything else I have noticed that is different, at least that I can feel driving it. The mileage has been on a downward trend for a while though.
 
I'm hoping. There isn't really anything else I have noticed that is different, at least that I can feel driving it. The mileage has been on a downward trend for a while though.
I’m thinking cold weather effects mileage...things just have to work harder during winter? I’m sure with spring on the way your mileage will improve...
 
I’m sure with spring on the way your mileage will improve...
Whether it's mechanical or environmental, it is going to improve one way or another!

Before I swapped tires I was logging around 14 mpg, after the tires went on it dropped to around 12, ever since then it has slowly but steadily dropped to the 10 territory.
 
Whether it's mechanical or environmental, it is going to improve one way or another!

Before I swapped tires I was logging around 14 mpg, after the tires went on it dropped to around 12, ever since then it has slowly but steadily dropped to the 10 territory.

These rolling bricks are very susceptible to unsprung weight (like tires and wheels) and prevailing wind speed and direction. Maybe a tune-up would help a bit.
 
These rolling bricks are very susceptible to unsprung weight (like tires and wheels) and prevailing wind speed and direction. Maybe a tune-up would help a bit.
I'm planning on checking out a few things next weekend, timing, valve job, clean the carb some. I did check vacuum yesterday, it's about 14 where it always is. The front wheels feel like they have a slight drag somewhere, it could have been the front brake pads, don't know yet.


One step at a time. I don't want to go "fix" 5 different things that aren't even an issue.
 

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