I can't drive 55

[RevISK]

you can pull the skid, drain tcase, remove side inspection/pto cover, jack up rear, make sure its in 2wd, I spin driveshaft by hand to confirm on mine, then shift & spin, put trans in nuetral, spin tire with foot, chalk a tire if its open so dline spins and watch gears, look at collar when shifted to see if it is moving all the way, if you have hubs, leave them unlocked and engage 4wd, spin with foot & feel nose cone for bad bearing. Are brakes dragging ?, is e-brake dragging ?

This is a logical next step.

 

[MatthewMcD]

you can pull the skid, drain tcase, remove side inspection/pto cover, jack up rear, make sure its in 2wd, I spin driveshaft by hand to confirm on mine, then shift & spin, put trans in nuetral, spin tire with foot, chalk a tire if its open so dline spins and watch gears, look at collar when shifted to see if it is moving all the way, if you have hubs, leave them unlocked and engage 4wd, spin with foot & feel nose cone for bad bearing. Are brakes dragging ?, is e-brake dragging ?

This is great. Thanks.

Can you explain "feel the nose cone"?

The rear brakes and e-brake aren't dragging. I can easily turn them by hand. When I changed the calipers on the front brakes, they were tight. I need to jack up the front end and check the alignment (post new suspension check list item). I'll check the front brakes then.

 

[MatthewMcD]

Wasn’t #3 the one that one of the oilers wasn’t so, excited?

I think it was #2, closer to the front.

 

[MatthewMcD]

Side question, because today was the first time I've had the valve cover off. We noticed that when the engine is running the push rods spin. Some of them spin pretty fast. Is this normal? What causes the spin?

 

[MatthewMcD]

I plan to check the transfer case and front brakes, but it also occurred to me that it could be an exhaust restriction. Lord knows I have removed 50 pounds of mud dauber nests from every other part of this truck. I still need to pressure wash the bird nests out of the frame rails.
Thoughts? Tips on how I can tell if the muffler is compromised?

 

[charliemeyer007]

Nothing man made is perfect - rod is moving up and down, some of that force is tangential which turns to rotation.

Put your hand over the exhaust pipe - you should feel the pulses with the engine on.

 

[brian]

If they are not dancing, there is a problem

 

[BOBWhite74]

They are designed to spin, it makes sure everything wears evenly on a flat tappet engine. Hopefully this picture illustrates WHY they spin:

Note: This is exaggerated, you usually cannot see or feel the slight angle they put Into the camshaft.

 

[BOBWhite74]

I'm not sure when they added catalytic converters to FJ40s but if its an original exhaust system (I highly doubt that it is) then it could be plugged up.

From the video it sounds like the timing could be a bit late/lazy sounding. Set the points and then loosen the bottom bolt on the dizzy and try and turning it clockwise (I believe) to advance the timing a bit. I like to use a timing gun but if you know an old guy they should be able to set the timing by ear/feel.
Edit: if you can take the vacuum line off for the dizzy and suck on the end of the line the engine should rev up a bit at idle.

 

[peesalot]

Feel, if when you rotate there is unusual grinding or roughness you will be able to feel it with your hand on the nosecone.

 

[RevISK]

I'm not sure when they added catalytic converters to FJ40s but if its an original exhaust system (I highly doubt that it is) then it could be plugged up.

From the video it sounds like the timing could be a bit late/lazy sounding. Set the points and then loosen the bottom bolt on the dizzy and try and turning it clockwise (I believe) to advance the timing a bit. I like to use a timing gun but if you know an old guy they should be able to set the timing by ear/feel.

The timing is right at 7*, loaned Matt my timing gun and I saw it at 7* yesterday.

Counter is advanced, yeah?

No cats. Looks to be an OE muffler but not old enough to be original.

This truck is a confusing mashup of years for sure.

 

[clrussell]

Probably not the problem. But some regular ole. Copper plugs will be plenty fine for your tractor engine. No need for platinum plugs

 

[clrussell]

The timing is right at 7*, loaned Matt my timing gun and I saw it at 7* yesterday.

Counter is advanced, yeah?

No cats. Looks to be an OE muffler but not old enough to be original.

This truck is a confusing mashup of years for sure.

Is your light adjustable? Can you see total advance with it?

I know when I went from 9 to 14 degrees with my Weber it felt like 50 hp.

 

[Pighead]

Is your light adjustable? Can you see total advance with it?

I know when I went from 9 to 14 degrees with my Weber it felt like 50 hp.

^This. This is where I disagree with the book.
Advance your timing, see what happens.

 

[RevISK]

Is your light adjustable? Can you see total advance with it?

I know when I went from 9 to 14 degrees with my Weber it felt like 50 hp.

Yeah, it’s adjustable.
I was just showing Matt how the advance function works and verified 7*.

I’m at 11* with my stupid Weber and it’s as close to a racetruck as I care to get.

 

[RevISK]

Yeah, it’s adjustable.
I was just showing Matt how the advance function works and verified 7*.

I’m at 11* with my stupid Weber and it’s as close to a racetruck as I care to get.

And I agree, advance. But guys, this carb is wacky doo. Matt, I said this today, but you really should look at getting a new carb.

 

[clrussell]

And I agree, advance. But guys, this carb is wacky doo. Matt, I said this today, but you really should look at getting a new carb.

I agree that carb is out of place.

 

[pb4ugo]

The bottom end can only go as fast as the top end can feed it.

 

[clrussell]

The bottom end can only go as fast as the top end can feed it.

So you’re saying that it needs a leaf blower down the hatch?

 

[MatthewMcD]

Was there a Mandela effect in post #89?

I don't know what this means...