Labor Day Run

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inkpot

inkpot

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Howdy! Doesn't sound like we have too many runs scheduled this weekend. :frown: I am planning :hhmm:on making a shakedown run on the Piggy. Maybe this Sunday. Maybe Montana Mtn. :meh: Easy run. Very stocker friendly. Mostly just good scenery. Optional exit has tons of turns, :steer:like following a rolly coaster. Just what I need to check out all my nuts/bolts/welding work.:banana: Any takers?? :beer:John:hillbilly:
 
There are a few side options at Montana Mountain if you feel froggy.
Here is one of them
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IMG_3846.jpg
 
Howdy! Yup, there are all kinds of side trips for fun and games. Plenty of entertainment if your looking for it. Should be a perfect day, cool, and no dust. So who all is meeting me out east of AJ about 9-ish????
 
medtro said:
How was the shakedown run? Got pics?
Click to expand...
Howdy! No pix, as there isn't much to that run. I ran in 2 low, but never used the front drive at all. I even left the tires up at street pressure so it would jar things a little harder to make sure it all stayed tight. My son came along in his 97 Dodge 2500 long bed. He had a lot of fun on the east end thru all the switch backs. The good news is that everything worked right, and nothing came loose. The bad news is that I felt so good about this run, that I went to Tip Top, Milk Ranch, and far beyond this last
saturday. Everything went good until after we had topped out on Joe's loop, where you can look nearly straight down onto the rooftops of Black Canyon City. We got up to a nasty 135 degree descinding right turn with some big boulders in the middle. First rig made it OK, second rig got hung up and took about 10 minutes to stir up the boulders enough to get out. Then I got into it, coming in high and wide to make it into a 5+ point turn. Got the front between the boulders, and that put my rear diff against a knob so I couldn't go back, and I couldn't go forward without driving over the edge of the cliff. I did about 100 steps back and forth, gaining just a little more each time, so I was slowly making the turn. My spotter said I was totally stuffing one front tire, and then the other when I rolled back and forth. About the time I got to the point where I could roll on out at the bottom, the spotter said mhe heard a metalic pop,and it looked like I no longer had power to the front left tire. After I rolled out of the turn, we looked it over and there was nothing obviously wrong. When I rolled the rig, you could hear it pop just a little bit, so we figured I now had my second membership to the BBB. I unlocked the hubs, shifted into 2 lo, and for the next 2.5 hours, I did it the HARD way. I made it all the way out without ever taking a strap. I only used a spotter once, and that was in a waterfall full of rolling boulders. Never heard any more noise from the Birf. Never had any steering issues. Ended up driving it all the way back to Chandler. Maybe it's the hub, or the diff, cause it really didn't act like a Birf once I started driving it. I won't know till I get it torn down.

P.S. Who says AzLCA is boring??
 
Howdy! Just an update. I put it up on stands and opened up the Asco hub. It was in fine shape. No damage. With the steering maxed out, I could rotate the tire and drag the end of the Birf along, and there was no noise or resistance. Tried this full lefty and full right. I am starting to think if I don't hear or feel a bad Birf that way, then it is a good change that I trashed the LockRight in the diff. It may be a couple of weeks before I can open it up and find out. John
 
UPATE!! Well, I got it opened up, and I got a little surprise. The LongBirf if still intack, although the outer splines for the lockout hub are twisted pretty bad. I could still carry it as a trail spare. It would work to get someone out of the woods. BUT, I snapped the driver's Longfield inner axle on the outer end, right at the inboard snap ring. It's a really clean break, like it had been cut with a diamond blade. The shaft pulled our of the diff OK, and the splines on that end look just fine. Looks like I'll be calling Bobby up on Monday Morning. Suppose I need to open up the other side now, so I can see if there is any twisted splines over there. I've already got a set of Marlin's super seals coming, so I've got to go there anyway when they get here. Hard to imagine doing that much damage with stock gears and a very tired 350, and Lord knows it couldn't be my driving style, huh?? Bonsai Bricker, over and out.......
 
:eek: :frown: :cheers:
 
inkpot said:
UPATE!! Well, I got it opened up, and I got a little surprise. The LongBirf if still intack, although the outer splines for the lockout hub are twisted pretty bad. I could still carry it as a trail spare. It would work to get someone out of the woods. BUT, I snapped the driver's Longfield inner axle on the outer end, right at the inboard snap ring. It's a really clean break, like it had been cut with a diamond blade. The shaft pulled our of the diff OK, and the splines on that end look just fine. Looks like I'll be calling Bobby up on Monday Morning. Suppose I need to open up the other side now, so I can see if there is any twisted splines over there. I've already got a set of Marlin's super seals coming, so I've got to go there anyway when they get here. Hard to imagine doing that much damage with stock gears and a very tired 350, and Lord knows it couldn't be my driving style, huh?? Bonsai Bricker, over and out.......
Click to expand...

Wow! Pictures:popcorn:
 
More Update. Opened up the PS. Other than needing a new seal, it is fine. Oh, did not get any metal bits in the bucket when I drained the diff, so I'm gunna go out on a limb here and guess that my cheapo LockRight is OK. Hmmm... maybe I should tap and drill my 11mm knuckle studs for the super 12mm, as I do feel a bit of slop in a couple of them now. Spose there ain't no better time.....John
 
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