Tennessee Adventure About to Begin

[alphadeltaromeo]

Great pics and an even better story!

 

[clinto]

 

[rizzo]

nice story and pics

 

[cranetruck]

Slightly out of breath keeping up with the story.
The Tennessee mountains are the pits, you make on long hill and there is another..and another....
Glad you made it!

 

[devilman96]

Mike pulls out his tool bag and we remove the line. Mike reaches into the bag and pulls out a compression fitting and we make a quick roadside repair. I'll let Mike tell you why he had that fitting!

After watching Kenny having to change a brake line on the side of the road about 2 years ago on the tractor I go NO WHERE with out having 2 sets of compression fittings from 1/8th" thru 1/2" in the truck... It SO MUCH EASIER to splice than it is to try and find fuel or brake line at 2am on the side of the road!!!

 

[Offroadfabworks]

lol.. i wondered if you guys would stop there or not.. i could not stay away any longer, had to pulll over for a little bit. woke up never seen you guys there. i figured you guys must of made it by ok and had no problems.. so i keep on trucking... glad to hear the trip went ok though

 

[citizensoldier]

Great story Kenny.. I alway enjoy them.. I hope our trip down is as much fun but less fixing stuff.. See you guys soon. Now lets get them trucks muddy!

 

[jh1990]

looks like a tiring but fun trip, way to go guys, can wait till me and my buddies get to have a road trip like that.

 

[Junkyard Wars Crusher]

Great story, great trip. Glad to hear you guys are back safe and sound (and only slightly “worse for the wear”)

Regarding the rear main leak, . . . I suspect you guys are dead tired, and might not have had a chance to look at it closely yet, so I will share this story:

I had a similar fear last year on the convoy to Aberdeen. After about 200 miles into the trip, I started to notice a black spot on the road under the truck at each stop we made. After closer inspection, I found a black, oily substance dripping from the fording plug hole in the bottom of the bellhousing – the classic telltale sign of a failed rear main seal. I also could feel the clutch slipping under hard acceleration. However, I didn’t experience a subsequent drop in engine oil level. “Must not be too bad”, I thought, so we pressed on. (not like I really had a choice anyway, lol).

At the show, I was fortunate to get a chance to talk to John Winslow. He suggested that it might instead be gear oil coming from the front of the transmission. He explained that he had seen this before on trucks that had been driven really hard with the gear oil high. That was my case for sure. The Aberdeen convoy was brutal - trying to keep up with the Cucvs, I had the “go pedal” all the way on the floor for hours on end. In addition, while performing my pre-trip PMCS, I had “topped-off” the transmission, so I know it was full.

I went back and took a sample of the black, oily substance on my finger. It seemed thin like hot motor oil, but had the distinct gear oil smell. I pulled the fill plug on the transmission, and the level had dropped just slightly. The theory seemed to make sense - The hard driving really heats up the gear oil, it gets thin, and leaks through the front of the transmission. I’m not sure, but I don’t think there is a seal on the main shaft in the front of the transmission - just a bearing?

Since returning home, (1100+ miles later), I have only made short, local trips and the leak has seemed to disappear.

Just something to ponder.

 

[Recovry4x4]

Will have to look at that for sure Jeff. I can tell you this, Mike had the pedal smashed against the floor trying to keep up so it was certainly run hard.

 

[gimpyrobb]

Jeff, I told you, if I was going too fast to let me know. Sorry I broke your truck.

 

[citizensoldier]

I had this same thing happen on my M109 when I drove it back after sitting for some time and I ran the dog crap out of it.. What happened was I topped off the Transmission.. The oil heats up like you said and the screw back on the input shaft can not keep up with it.. In my case the screwback had some metal shavings in it to ad to its inabilaty to keep the oil in the case. It soaked the clutch and she started slipping bad. I took it apart cleaned the shaft, cleaned the clutch plate and flywheel, lowered the oil level and she has been fine ever since.. I would check this for sure I bet thats what happened.. Arent they supposed to use and leak a little oil out the main seal?

 

[devilman96]

Arent they supposed to use and leak a little oil out the main seal?

Wishful thinking brother!

Its the main... I've gone through the tranny thing before also... In this case the 2-3 missing gallons of engine oil sums it up nicely.

Karma... If I didnt have bad luck I'd have nothing at all!! lol

 

[m108]

Glad you boys made it back OK. Glad I could help.

 

[FreightTrain]

ehhh,you still didn't top the great Little Rock trip.......No wipers,Flat tire,monsoon,35degrees,and idiots in compact cars,Leaking fuel cans,ankle deep 33degree water,............

 

[snoplay]

Great adventure!! Glad to hear everyone made it home safe & sound, its great to know so many SS members are out there to help John

 

[Recovry4x4]

ehhh,you still didn't top the great Little Rock trip.......No wipers,Flat tire,monsoon,35degrees,and idiots in compact cars,Leaking fuel cans,ankle deep 33degree water,............

We used the 5 P's so we didn't end up like you guys

 

[Armada]

Great story and pics! What an adventure. Recovery trips are always a good time. And what's a good time without a roadside repair or two?? Thanks for sharing.

 

[vtdeucedriver]

Glad you made it. Here you were in TN and I was in S. Fla......

 

[Recovry4x4]

Dang Jeff, sorry we missed ya! The trip was a little grueling but very fun. I'm so used to taking these 1000 mile trips alone, its quite fun to have someone to convoy with. Looking forward to the next one!