Builds Putting the rust demon at bay (1 Viewer)

[archie73]

The old pattern looks like it could have been moved out a fuzz.


Makes me think it's been worked on before.

Could be. I’m at least the third owner. Supposedly pulled from a field in ‘93 when I bought it from a flipper.

My options:

1. Pull the diff out of the front of the cruiser and rebuild that one. I’m kinda brushing up against a timeline of sorts. This coming weekend is my only chance to get the locker in before I head to sand hollow. My only concern here is if something else goes wrong- I won’t have a rig for the coming trip.
2. Throw what I have together and see how it goes. I’m running out of time for shipping, so it either works or not. I guess if I can get an acceptable pattern I can run it for the trip…
3. Save the whole thing for another day. I have a rear locker, but I was hoping for a front one this trip.

I was looking forward to the front locker for this trip, but a running cruiser is more important. I think I’ll hope for #2 and except #3 if that’s what it comes to.

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

#2



We do it nice because we do it twice.

 

[archie73]

#2



We do it nice because we do it twice.

Yeah that’s a catchy disease right there

 

[ijonesinsp]

Is there any other logical location that shim came from? I could be wrong in my surmise about where the master shim is located; I’m just basing it off my experience doing mine and axles from other vehicles. My shim was under the head bearing, but a shim like you have under the race would accomplish the same adjustment. Hell, if you have the shim and k ow where it goes, put it together and run a pattern. They have to be pretty out of whack to wear anything out or be the cause of a breakdown at low speeds. I had to do my first one twice

Good luck!

 

[archie73]

Is there any other logical location that shim came from? I could be wrong in my surmise about where the master shim is located; I’m just basing it off my experience doing mine and axles from other vehicles. My shim was under the head bearing, but a shim like you have under the race would accomplish the same adjustment. Hell, if you have the shim and k ow where it goes, put it together and run a pattern. They have to be pretty out of whack to wear anything out or be the cause of a breakdown at low speeds. I had to do my first one twice

Good luck!

So it’s together!!! Is it right? I thought so. The pattern is pretty dang close to the original (no pic). Backlash is within spec. Only issue is after final torque on the bearing caps(75ft/#) it’s tight. Is this normal?

 

[ijonesinsp]

Not at all. It should still spin by hand. There shouldn’t be any difference in the bearing preload after you torque the carrier caps. Something is wrong.

 

[ijonesinsp]

How many inch pounds are you getting when you rotate the pinion now?

 

[archie73]

How many inch pounds are you getting when you rotate the pinion now?

With a he bearing caps loose, I’m getting 22 inches in/#. Here I used a fish scale.
With them torqued(75f/#), it’s to 140. This using a digital torque wrench.
So it’s the bearing caps getting compressed. I’ll pull it apart again.

 

[ijonesinsp]

With a he bearing caps loose, I’m getting 22 inches in/#. Here I used a fish scale.
With them torqued(75f/#), it’s to 140. This using a digital torque wrench.
So it’s the bearing caps getting compressed. I’ll pull it apart again.

Sounds too simple, but are your caps backward? Did you mark them before you took it apart?

 

[archie73]

Sounds too simple, but are your caps backward? Did you mark them before you took it apart?

Yeah I thought that too, but my marks are matched, so I don’t think so.

 

[archie73]

Ok I’m on track now. Preload is good and pattern matches what I pulled. I was pulling my hair out there for a bit. Thanks @ijonesinsp for your real time advice.

 

[ijonesinsp]

Ok I’m on track now. Preload is good and pattern matches what I pulled. I was pulling my hair out there for a bit. Thanks @ijonesinsp for your real time advice.

No worries @archie73! That’s what this is all about. Sooo, what was the issue?

 

[archie73]

No worries @archie73! That’s what this is all about. Sooo, what was the issue?

I don’t know actually, but I’ll blame it on my first diff rebuild. Hope to have it back on its wheels tomorrow when I finish the passenger knuckle rebuilt.

 

[archie73]

#2



We do it nice because we do it twice.

God, I wish this weren’t so true!! I ended up building the diff at least twice. The spindle went on and came back off since I left a gasket out both times. The drivers hub came off, because I thought it wasn’t locking. Rebuilding it was simple, but I was stressed and I couldn’t wrap my head around it.

Why was I stressed? ‘Cause the axle is back together and the locker is not locking!?!?! This sent me in a tailspin of checking everything- switch wiring, air lines, solenoid & free hub( see above). All eventually checked out. I was convinced I needed to tear the axle back down, so I could tear the diff down (again). Looking back I was pretty sure I followed the ARB instructions to the “T”. Pissed I stopped for the day and slept poorly. Next day I thought to check the airline coming out of the diff before I tore it down. The bulkhead came out a little to easy:

Well actually, the top half came off easy. The second part needed an easy-out, but it came out pretty easy too. So hopefully this is the reason for my angst. I have a new one on the way and next weekend I’m headed to Sand Hollow with a couple buddies. I really want a front locker for the trip. Oh well, I’m learning??????

 

[archie73]

So while I’m waiting for parts for the bulkhead for the locker, I decided an easy win was in order!!! I was gifted a synthetic winch line for Xmas. I’ve been resisting this for a while, but I had the kids out with me snow wheeling last spring. At one point I had to pull myself out of a drift and saw the logic in a synthetic rope. The kids listened and stayed away from the area, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of possibilities.

Maybe remembering that day, my friend bought me a new rope. Which prompted a new hawse. I really wanted the Yankum hawse, but ultimately the price was just out whack with the rest of the market. So I ended up with a simple black hawse- I’ll delete the hook anyway.
Next up was a wireless remote. While my Warn remote had never failed me, I was ready for something else. Recently, the mud terrain lugs had grabbed the cord while was using the winch and broken the socket out of the cover. Coincidentally, someone had posted up a $17 wireless remote on this forum, so I jumped on it.

Spooling it up showed just how neglected my batteries in the truck were. If I stalled the truck, it required the jump pack. Even a light pull required revving the engine to keep from stalling. But the line is loaded up on the spool and the cruiser is back in the garage. And the new line matches the cruiser color, so there’s that …

 

[archie73]

It’s sad Sunday, the rigs are back on the trailers. We’re headed out at first light to return to the snowy north. We can’t complain though- we had an awesome time down here in St. George. Weather is been a mix of everything- snow in the mountains, rain, wind and some sun. Pretty much what I’ve come to expect here.

Started the trip with the Sliplock trail. My front locker is still not working, but that’ll wait since I’m here now and don’t want to tear it down again right now. So I was not able to make all the climbs my buddies were. This would lead to my downfall- literally. After my attempt at this wall proved unsuccessful, my driver rear tire slipped off the wall and over I went.

While I wish the guys had gotten a picture, I appreciate how fast they had me back on four wheels. The windshield frame was the major loser in this affair.

I’ve seen it said “it’s not if you’ll rollover, but when. “ Overall it was a gentle rollover and I’m glad it turned out as well as it did.
At horseshoe falls I was able to repay my buddy for the new winch line by pulling him out of when he got to his limit. Would have made a great picture of a 40 pulling a Jeep out, but truth be told I was still rattled and took the bypass instead of the falls obstacle. We missed the right turn,so only did the first half of the trail. Still had fun and was able to see more fun in the coming days

 

[White Stripe]

Whew looks like it wasn't too bad. Any other damage? Is your buddy seriously running thornbirds?

 

[archie73]

Whew looks like it wasn't too bad. Any other damage? Is your buddy seriously running thornbirds?

Rollcage scuffed the powder coat, but it did its job. That one didn’t do anything else- pretty gentle. The next one was slightly worse.
As to the thornbirds, yeah he really likes them. He especially likes the price he paid- second hand, but brand new. He says he always wanted a set and couldn’t say no. I don’t care for the look, but he had little issue with hooking them up. When we hit the sand, those side lugs really spray it around. Wish I had gotten a picture, but I wasn’t quick enough.

 

[White Stripe]

Rollcage scuffed the powder coat, but it did its job. That one didn’t do anything else- pretty gentle. The next one was slightly worse.
As to the thornbirds, yeah he really likes them. He especially likes the price he paid- second hand, but brand new. He says he always wanted a set and couldn’t say no. I don’t care for the look, but he had little issue with hooking them up. When we hit the sand, those side lugs really spray it around. Wish I had gotten a picture, but I wasn’t quick enough.

Ya it's very rare to see those tires. Hardly anyone has them. Well glad your ok. Will you get a aqualu windshield frame or find a steel one?

 

[archie73]

Hopefully a stock steel one. I’ve got some feelers out in classifieds.my buddy thinks he can straighten it. I’ll get the glass out(hopefully in one piece) and give him a shot.