Damned if you do........Damned if you don't.......
- Thread starter Runs With Scissors
- Start date
I changed a thermostat and fan hub in a motel parking lot during a prairie dog hunt several years ago. Dang if it wasn’t on a Dodge too! Doubt I would tackle a differential though.
An old timer at our sportsman’s club likes to say prairie dog hunting is the most fun you can have with your pants on. I tend to agree. Good luck on your trip and as the farmers say “shoot em all!”
An old timer at our sportsman’s club likes to say prairie dog hunting is the most fun you can have with your pants on. I tend to agree. Good luck on your trip and as the farmers say “shoot em all!”
Runs With Scissors
Well-known member
Equipment
L2501 TLB , Grappel, Brush Hog, Box Blade, Ballast box, Forks, Tiller, PH digger
I probably did not word things well in the beginning, but this happened in June-August, so here is my story fellas…And from looking at my phones pic data, it's gonna be multi-day post with lots of pics, so be "for-warned", this will not be a post you, if you are on a "data diet".
So there I am not too long after crossing the border from Minnesota to South Dakota, about 800'ish miles into the trip. I decide to stop a some Taco Joint that I saw a sign for (Taco Joes or Johns????)
So when I fire up the truck, about 4 seconds later, I hear a "ding-ding" and the red "Check Engine" light pops on.....NOT good.....
After scanning the gauges, I see the alternator only putting out 10'ish volts....
M________________R. $%$%%^&&**** SUM-BITCH
I pop the hood to make sure the bearing hasn't failed and it hadn't, so I figure both batteries will get me probably a few hours down the road if I "conserve juice".
And Scenic SD is only a few hours away, so I am thinking I might be able to make it.
So I turn everything off........Including the A/C (F__K
)
(This happened once before and I made it 1.5 hours homes, so I have at least that long....I hope...)
After some "back and forth" with my wife, she starts calling ahead and after about a 1/2 hour, she finally finds a NAPA store that has my alternator.........for 500 dollars......in a place called Phillip, SD which is about another 60-70 miles away
I call the guy up and he warns me to not try and make it to Scenic SD, as there is nothing there (Great advice too.....there is actually NOTHING in Scenic SD....I mean NOTHING)
.........He gives me directions to Phillp, and I ask hime if they "sell tools" and he assures me they do......So maybe I am not as far up "Shits Creek" as I think....
Low an behold the NAPA store is connected to a small shop.
I buy the alternator and I ask him if they will put it on for me, and he says "sure"........
As I am standing there, talking with the guy, 2 "kids" start working on it.
I am trying to make "small talk" with this fella, but keeping my "ears open" as to what is going on behind me.
When I hear "Kid 1" say to "Kid 2".....".So we gotta take this belt off first......"
I could not stop myself.....It was a instinctive reaction, I immediately spun around and "NO SIR......no one is removing that belt... there is no need to...let me show you how to save yourself 25 minutes of labor that you can bill the "customer" for......"
I then commence to walk over and explain/show them how to use a set of locking needle nose to clamp the belt after you loosen it, so that it will not fall off, then you can R@R the alternator and not have to figure out how to re-route the belt afterwards......
So after I get the alternator on, I start talking with these guys and we get to talking about Prairie dog shooting, and after about 1.5 hours I am on my way again.
Very nice people in Phillp SD for sure!!!!
Long story short.........I made it there and back with no "axle problems" and it sounded just like it did when I left
The “Ole Dodge” did not let me down, even though looking back, it was kinda risky.
Now it’s time to fix her up.
I have/had a feeling the noise was coming from the front axle, however, I have been fooled before.
Those noises can travel, and have made a fool of me more than one time, that’s for sure.
I decide that since it has nearly 300K on it, and 2 really bad rear axle seal leaks, AND a rear pinion seal leak,
Here are some "before pics"
So there I am not too long after crossing the border from Minnesota to South Dakota, about 800'ish miles into the trip. I decide to stop a some Taco Joint that I saw a sign for (Taco Joes or Johns????)
So when I fire up the truck, about 4 seconds later, I hear a "ding-ding" and the red "Check Engine" light pops on.....NOT good.....
After scanning the gauges, I see the alternator only putting out 10'ish volts....
M________________R. $%$%%^&&**** SUM-BITCH
I pop the hood to make sure the bearing hasn't failed and it hadn't, so I figure both batteries will get me probably a few hours down the road if I "conserve juice".
And Scenic SD is only a few hours away, so I am thinking I might be able to make it.
So I turn everything off........Including the A/C (F__K
)(This happened once before and I made it 1.5 hours homes, so I have at least that long....I hope...)
After some "back and forth" with my wife, she starts calling ahead and after about a 1/2 hour, she finally finds a NAPA store that has my alternator.........for 500 dollars......in a place called Phillip, SD which is about another 60-70 miles away
I call the guy up and he warns me to not try and make it to Scenic SD, as there is nothing there (Great advice too.....there is actually NOTHING in Scenic SD....I mean NOTHING)
.........He gives me directions to Phillp, and I ask hime if they "sell tools" and he assures me they do......So maybe I am not as far up "Shits Creek" as I think....
Low an behold the NAPA store is connected to a small shop.
I buy the alternator and I ask him if they will put it on for me, and he says "sure"........
As I am standing there, talking with the guy, 2 "kids" start working on it.
I am trying to make "small talk" with this fella, but keeping my "ears open" as to what is going on behind me.
When I hear "Kid 1" say to "Kid 2".....".So we gotta take this belt off first......"
I could not stop myself.....It was a instinctive reaction, I immediately spun around and "NO SIR......no one is removing that belt... there is no need to...let me show you how to save yourself 25 minutes of labor that you can bill the "customer" for......"
I then commence to walk over and explain/show them how to use a set of locking needle nose to clamp the belt after you loosen it, so that it will not fall off, then you can R@R the alternator and not have to figure out how to re-route the belt afterwards......
So after I get the alternator on, I start talking with these guys and we get to talking about Prairie dog shooting, and after about 1.5 hours I am on my way again.
Very nice people in Phillp SD for sure!!!!
Long story short.........I made it there and back with no "axle problems" and it sounded just like it did when I left
The “Ole Dodge” did not let me down, even though looking back, it was kinda risky.
Now it’s time to fix her up.
I have/had a feeling the noise was coming from the front axle, however, I have been fooled before.
Those noises can travel, and have made a fool of me more than one time, that’s for sure.
I decide that since it has nearly 300K on it, and 2 really bad rear axle seal leaks, AND a rear pinion seal leak,
Here are some "before pics"