Builds My first '40 and the venture (5 Viewers)
- Thread starter OlYellr
- Start date
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OlYellr
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #1,045
I forgot to mention - when I was removing the battery, battery tray etc to see how to get the quick connect cable recovered enough so I could get my winch running - I smelled gas and I thought - maybe the 43% angle isn't helping and dripping out of float bowl or puncture something since the fuel line runs along passenger.
Back to Yellr’s Kansas Adventure ...
Now at the staging area and that’s when I noticed… Yellr was still doing its best impression of a paperweight. No lights. No dash. Not even a click when turning the key.
Great.
Pop the hood, dig around the fuses by the battery—boom, one’s blown. (Of course, no pics) I’m running a non-OEM setup with two inline fuses doing the job of the original fusible link. Rus (@solomrus) had made some wiring upgrades to better protect my wiring back when the frame was getting some love.
Yellr uses those lovely square 30A fuses by the battery… which I never thought to carry spares for. A+ planning.
. I only had the glass fuses for spare.
Nobody else had one either. Finally found someone with a 20A. Figured: close enough.
Yellr started!
But something was off—idled weird, and when I hit the gas… nothing. No RPM change. Nada. I immediately thought there’s no way this thing’s driving home.
So now what?
Then I had a lightbulb moment (or more like a “electical smoke signal” moment). I realized that while scrambling in the ditch earlier trying to get the winch working, maybe I’d connected the headlight relays backwards or something. Well…
, I did.
Mystery solved: that’s why the fuse blew in the first place. So I shut off Yellr to fix the wiring.
You already know what’s coming: I smoked the last fuse again. Totally dead. Back to mooching in the parking lot - nope.
Scott drives into town for replacements. Lots of replacements.
Meanwhile, I get one bar of signal and call Rus. Told him about the fuel and RPM weirdness. Rus says most likely, Yellr being on its side for a long while flooded everything—the carb, the charcoal canister. (Oh yeah—forgot to mention I saw fuel dripping from the front spring pin area earlier when we got to the staging are.)
I poked around while chatting with Rus: fuel leak around the filter? Not leaking , everything looks and feel proper. Fuel in the carb bowl? Check. No visible leaks anymore. Guess everything just needed time to stop being dramatic finally sitting properly on the ground.
Scott returns like a fuses, pop in a new one—Yellr fires right up.
Now comes the logistics discussion. Do we tow it? Leave it in the park? Campground? Quote from Argo: “Best bad idea we have.”
After a while of Yellr idling, I reach behind the carb and give it a little throttle love… and it revs.
HOT. DAMN. I might just drive this thing out after all.
We decide to limp it into town to a gas station and stash it there if needed. Thought is to get it to the camp where side-by-sides are so there can be some eyes on it and it would be better watched. But Yell runs like a champ the whole 10–15 minutes to town.
Scott and I link up with a convoy of 9 other Jeeps a the gas station, then headed back to Nebraska. Call Rus to let him know we think we have a good convoy to get back with and going to try that. Rus has me double check the lights as it will get dark etc knowing I screwed up the wiring with the headlight relay before the fuse could protect it. They work. Good shape.
So we leave back home. Tried to turn on some tunes for the ride home—radio was dead. Yellr blew that circuit from my missteps. No music, no static, just… silence. Yellr clearly wasn’t in the mood. And let me tell you—Yellr gave me the full silent treatment. Not the peaceful kind. The “you better think about what you did” kind. —like Yellr was reconsidering this relationship.
Honestly, the drive felt like I was driving home with a very disappointed spouse.
I did smile some to boost my pride as I had all the time to reflect in my head on that drive - at least the Toyota was able to drive home from the events compared to the yellow jeep.
Takeaways:
Huge shoutout to all that helped me - Sam and others from the Jeep group, Scott, and Rus.
Back to Yellr’s Kansas Adventure ...
Now at the staging area and that’s when I noticed… Yellr was still doing its best impression of a paperweight. No lights. No dash. Not even a click when turning the key.
Great.
Pop the hood, dig around the fuses by the battery—boom, one’s blown. (Of course, no pics) I’m running a non-OEM setup with two inline fuses doing the job of the original fusible link. Rus (@solomrus) had made some wiring upgrades to better protect my wiring back when the frame was getting some love.
Yellr uses those lovely square 30A fuses by the battery… which I never thought to carry spares for. A+ planning.
. I only had the glass fuses for spare.Nobody else had one either. Finally found someone with a 20A. Figured: close enough.
Yellr started!
But something was off—idled weird, and when I hit the gas… nothing. No RPM change. Nada. I immediately thought there’s no way this thing’s driving home.So now what?
Then I had a lightbulb moment (or more like a “electical smoke signal” moment). I realized that while scrambling in the ditch earlier trying to get the winch working, maybe I’d connected the headlight relays backwards or something. Well…
, I did.Mystery solved: that’s why the fuse blew in the first place. So I shut off Yellr to fix the wiring.
You already know what’s coming: I smoked the last fuse again. Totally dead. Back to mooching in the parking lot - nope.
Scott drives into town for replacements. Lots of replacements.
Meanwhile, I get one bar of signal and call Rus. Told him about the fuel and RPM weirdness. Rus says most likely, Yellr being on its side for a long while flooded everything—the carb, the charcoal canister. (Oh yeah—forgot to mention I saw fuel dripping from the front spring pin area earlier when we got to the staging are.)
I poked around while chatting with Rus: fuel leak around the filter? Not leaking , everything looks and feel proper. Fuel in the carb bowl? Check. No visible leaks anymore. Guess everything just needed time to stop being dramatic finally sitting properly on the ground.
Scott returns like a fuses, pop in a new one—Yellr fires right up.
Now comes the logistics discussion. Do we tow it? Leave it in the park? Campground? Quote from Argo: “Best bad idea we have.”
After a while of Yellr idling, I reach behind the carb and give it a little throttle love… and it revs.
HOT. DAMN. I might just drive this thing out after all.
We decide to limp it into town to a gas station and stash it there if needed. Thought is to get it to the camp where side-by-sides are so there can be some eyes on it and it would be better watched. But Yell runs like a champ the whole 10–15 minutes to town.
Scott and I link up with a convoy of 9 other Jeeps a the gas station, then headed back to Nebraska. Call Rus to let him know we think we have a good convoy to get back with and going to try that. Rus has me double check the lights as it will get dark etc knowing I screwed up the wiring with the headlight relay before the fuse could protect it. They work. Good shape.
So we leave back home. Tried to turn on some tunes for the ride home—radio was dead. Yellr blew that circuit from my missteps. No music, no static, just… silence. Yellr clearly wasn’t in the mood. And let me tell you—Yellr gave me the full silent treatment. Not the peaceful kind. The “you better think about what you did” kind. —like Yellr was reconsidering this relationship.
Honestly, the drive felt like I was driving home with a very disappointed spouse.
I did smile some to boost my pride as I had all the time to reflect in my head on that drive - at least the Toyota was able to drive home from the events compared to the yellow jeep.
Takeaways:
- Always carry spare fuses.
- Off-roading builds character. And stories.
- Yellr may have a flair for the dramatic, but she gets me home.
- Sh$t will go sideways - roll with it and laugh.
- EDIT: Unless for some reason getting mad will solve the problem, don't get angry/upset etc. Don't be a dick. Just laugh.
Huge shoutout to all that helped me - Sam and others from the Jeep group, Scott, and Rus.
OlYellr
SILVER Star
Chungas Revenge
SILVER Star
I think you’ve already managed to get through all the stages.
denial - f$&#@%g he££, no way.
anger - Bloody f$&$#@g he££.
bargaining - COME ON, just let the f&$#@%g thing start.
depression - Bummer, no tunes. AND, I’m getting the f&$#@%g silent treatment.
acceptance - I always wanted some sliders. The 4plus basket is a super hero! Pretty sure I can have it fixed before SAS. Russ always brings beer
.
Looking forward to the updates.
denial - f$&#@%g he££, no way.
anger - Bloody f$&$#@g he££.
bargaining - COME ON, just let the f&$#@%g thing start.
depression - Bummer, no tunes. AND, I’m getting the f&$#@%g silent treatment.
acceptance - I always wanted some sliders. The 4plus basket is a super hero! Pretty sure I can have it fixed before SAS. Russ always brings beer
.Looking forward to the updates.
I am thinking you were able to drive home with yellr? I can easy see the torque in the steering wheel slapping your hands from trying to steer it out… at that point it’s got a mind of its own
Last edited:
OlYellr
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #1,050
No issues except awkward silent treatment drive home. At times was going 70 - steering straight - well my brake light would randomly come on as I was driving per Scott - found the brake wire connected to the switch under the Brake Master wasn't all all the way. Thinking maybe that is why they would flicker or come on even as I was zipping down the road home.
I am shocked by this story as I know you are. It started me thinking however… so many of us have winches. I used one 1 time back in the mid 1970’s but I question whether or not I would have the skills to give it the 101% effort and proper pull it would need to extricate the vehicle from a situation like this one. I know I’d have the adrenaline
currently, my winch connections to the battery are floating near the fender and likely 5% chance under those conditions to get it connected.
Fortunately many of the parts you need are available…. I think @cruisermatt has some he had been showing in his posts
You’ll be in great hands with @solomrus …. I’ll help in spirit!
currently, my winch connections to the battery are floating near the fender and likely 5% chance under those conditions to get it connected.
Fortunately many of the parts you need are available…. I think @cruisermatt has some he had been showing in his posts
You’ll be in great hands with @solomrus …. I’ll help in spirit!
It could have been a lot worse. Fender bits and running board might get you back? Sucks to just see it all. You had it dialed in and ready for SAS.
MOTOV8R
SILVER Star
Don’t feel bad, many of us have been there.
thatcabledude
GOLD Star
^This. Hell, I wrecked mine into my 80 in my own damn driveway… And I wasn’t even driving it!
And look at the conundrum. Stuck together. HOWINTHEHELL?! Had to release all air from tire and remove it and then remove bumper to separate.
And funny enough, I got the temp repair fender from @OlYellr
It was even black!
OlYellr
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #1,056
Holy smokes! I thought that fender looked familiar!!! Well it lasted almost a year.^This. Hell, I wrecked mine into my 80 in my own damn driveway… And I wasn’t even driving it!
View attachment 3924965
View attachment 3924980
And look at the conundrum. Stuck together. HOWINTHEHELL?! Had to release all air from tire and remove it and then remove bumper to separate.
View attachment 3924968
And funny enough, I got the temp repair fender from @OlYellr
View attachment 3924966
Luckily for me, the fender I didn't sell I have stored away.
thatcabledude
GOLD Star
Nah, I put yours on due to that. 40 fenders are good to have spares of. Have a set of new OEM stashed for next time. Lol
