Here I Go Again...

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mac

mac

Crew Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2005
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121
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Location
Wet Coast
Well last year I went down to Cali to pick up a rust free FJ62 w/ a blown motor and I'm in the middle of a diesel swap and paint on that one. Now I've just bought an HDJ81 from Dawson City, Yukon with a bad bottom end. ( thanks MUD!!) Just have to figure out how to get it home...

I guess my tech qusetion is: Has anyone had to have their crank machined? Did anyone have knocking prior to changing out the BEB's? I've done BEB's in gassers that even though they were knocking didn't need any machining but I have a feeling I won't be so lucky with this one.

I know I'm dreaming a bit here but the easiest way to get this thing home would be to fly up and replace the bearings and drive it home. That said, if it does need machining, I'm screwed. How far would I make it with just doing the bearings? I don't think I want to take that chance.

Finding a shipper to load a non-runner is difficult. Well, it does run but I don't think I want to chance a rod through the block. Whoever thought it would be so hard to ship a dead vehicle from the far corner of the Yukon to the far corner of BC? (sarcasm intended)

Suggestions?
 
What about just towing it back to BC yourself? You could just rent a truck and trailer if you didn't have one already.
 
Sounds like an interesting journey. Bring camping gear.

Pull the pan and look at it. Bring new BEBs Maybe you luck out, but sounds like the crank is screwed. But you never know till you open it.


Edit: tow with a trailer for safety. With appropriate rig and trailer.


Then you can take your time and rebuild the engine........
 
Last edited:
rent or borrow a truck and trailer, 80 series will be a bitch to try and hook a tow bar to. better yet the seller quoted $600 for shipping... just pay the $600 and save the headaches...
 
$600 would be nice but that price was from Marco based on the rig running. I wonder how long it would have to run to be loaded on a rail car? Right now we're looking into an empty auto transport truck going back to Edmonton. Getting it from there to Vancouver will be a whole lot easier.

Brownbear, that would be the dream- to replace the shells and be good to go! It's a hell of a chance and I should somehow prepare for the worst. That's why I'm wondering if anyone has experience with these engines knocking and what the result was.

Wayne, what makes a tow bar difficult on an 80 series?
Thanks for all of the input guys, it's nice to have access to the thoughts of others.
 
Take the front bumper off and there is both frame rails sticking out.
You could bolt onto those.

Here is a pic from my ARB install:
install_5.jpg


Cheers.
 
problem is that most tow bars bolt to the front not the side so a custom piece of steel will be required to bolt to the frame strong enough to with stand 6000 lbs of force plus the idea of flat towing something that heavy back from the yukon would make me nervous. either a trailer with independent brakes or ship it...
if you do a search on mud there is an example of towing with too small a unit and the results...
not pretty.

also, you might kill or maim yourself which might be an acceptable expense to you but if something should go wrong and you take out an innocent family that will be eating at you for decades to come...

cheers
 
crushers said:
problem is that most tow bars bolt to the front not the side so a custom piece of steel will be required to bolt to the frame strong enough to with stand 6000 lbs of force plus the idea of flat towing something that heavy back from the yukon would make me nervous. either a trailer with independent brakes or ship it...
if you do a search on mud there is an example of towing with too small a unit and the results...
not pretty.

also, you might kill or maim yourself which might be an acceptable expense to you but if something should go wrong and you take out an innocent family that will be eating at you for decades to come...

cheers
Click to expand...


Yah I changed my earlier post. Best bet on a good trailer behind a suitable rig.

The post you are referring to I think Wayne is a guy tried to flat tow a FJ55 behind a 80, got in a really really bad accident.
 
What a about a frined help driving ( most for brake ) your 80 series .. making your pulling labor more easy ..
 
Tapage said:
What a about a frined help driving ( most for brake ) your 80 series .. making your pulling labor more easy ..
Click to expand...

That would work for a short distance but he is trying to get the vehicle from the Yukon to Edmonton.... I think 2500 plus kms.. So a little far for that.
 
Yes, flat towing can be nasty if it's not set up right. Even with the proper set up, I just about jack knifed mine coming back from GSMTR. If the tow vehicle gets on anything slick and you are braking, WATCH OUT! The 40 (much lighter than the 80 you are talking about) was pushing the rear end around on my tow vehicle...which was fully loaded and the tow bar was angled down towards the hitch. The thought of jacking and going off the edge of the road really scared me to death.
 
Yeah, I've been down this road before with the flat towing. It's legal almost everywhere but the only way to do it safely is to have a remote braking system attached to the trailing rig. This for me is a last result. I went to Cali w/ a flatbed and picked up the last one but I don't think that's going to be an option this time.
Anybody know anyone in the trucking business coming back from the North w/ an empty load? Yeah right!
I'm still thinking of flying up and trying my luck with the BEB's. We'll see. We're waiting on word about a couple of other shipping options as well.
 
if the BEB are toast then so is the crank, there will be damage beyond what you can fix quickly. once the BEB goes then either they will turn on the crank and or in the jurnals as well in which case it becomes a major job to repair. you will need a new crank, saddle and bearings plus you might have contamination through out the oiling passages...

the truck is there, is there any rush to get it back right away? if not then a posting at the truck stops might get you a cheap ride down to a closer city...

if you rush then expect to pay full price or a lot of hassle or both...

good things come to those that wait...

cheers and good luck
 
Thanks for the replies. No rush really. Just my own impatience to get the truck home and fixed. I've seen engines with bad BEB that did not require crank servicing but I agree it is a very likely possibility and more of a chance than I am willing to take. On to other options!
 
Back-haul out of the Yukon shouldn't be a major expense. Most trucks head south empty. Kluane Freightlines serves Whitehorse [867-667-7447] to Dawson [867-993-5632]. South from Whitehorse try Pacific Northwest Freight [867-667-2050] or Northwest Transport [867-633-4989]. If they can't help you, they'll know someone who can. If you could get the LC to the Dempster Highway Corner then finding an empty flatbed coming south from Inuvik and the MacDelta might be easy.
 
Thanks everyone for your input. Special thanks to M John Galt for that last post. I have been able to arrange shipping at what I feel is a reasonable price. The truck will be here by Friday or so next week and I don't have to go get it! It takes the stress out of the equation. Now I can save my stress for when I drop the pan!
I really would like to visit the Yukon soon but under easier circumstances. Thanks also to Greg (the seller) , he was excellent to work with.

Cheers guys,
Peter
 
crushers said:
problem is that most tow bars bolt to the front not the side so a custom piece of steel will be required to bolt to the frame strong enough to with stand 6000 lbs of force plus the idea of flat towing something that heavy back from the yukon would make me nervous. either a trailer with independent brakes or ship it...
if you do a search on mud there is an example of towing with too small a unit and the results...
not pretty.

also, you might kill or maim yourself which might be an acceptable expense to you but if something should go wrong and you take out an innocent family that will be eating at you for decades to come...

cheers
Click to expand...

You could get some 1/4 inch steel and bolt this to the winch mounting holes on the frame rails, then bolt the towbar upwards through this. Would certainly be strong enough or better than that, a piece of U Section bolted through the bottom and top, then mount the bar onto this. This setup is how the winch/winch bumper and the tow eyes fit onto the standard frame rails. All the mounting holes are ther, just need some appropriate bolts - seem to remember they are 12mm by 1.5 pitch.

Still a decent trailer would be best.
 
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