What have you done to your 5 ton this week?

[US6x4]

I drove my truck to the Sunday potluck like you read about in the pioneer novels. I took all the teenage boys for rides with turbo whine & jake brake action and then told them to make sure their moms buys themselves an army truck...

The truck ran great all day and I didn't have to downshift on the big hill on the highway:
13+ psi in 5th at 50+mph, 900°F, stayed above 1900 rpm

 

[DeMilitarized]

Got some Rapco paint on the M931a2 (last picture is before)

 

[Micmada]

Hopefully theres not a 5 ton thread like this already. I tried search, and did not find anything. I just changed my 1st flat on one of the rear inner duals, on my 818. What a workout! Now back to rebuilding the airpack!

I had to stand on a 40 in breaker bar extended with a pipe to 60 in , jumping on it, to loosen the nuts on my wheels last weekend. I was changing axle seals. Previously a truck tire place had rotated my tires and, man, their impact wrenches are way too powerful. It is a heck of a workout indeed. Who needs the gym when the fees could pay for a 5 ton and its maintenance…

 

[Micmada]

I bought my M813 last year. I did the basics first. Did a full lube and service, replaced all the wheel seals, flush the fuel system, replaced all the rubber fuel lines.

Modifications that are complete:
added 1 1/2 spacers and longer studs on the front axle to make more room for bigger rubber
put on 1600R20 Michelin XZL's with combat wheels
under bumper shackle mounts
HID light bar
level winder and tensioner on the winch

Modifications that are in the works:
replacing the Cummins 250 with a Cummins 290 NTC big cam
rear of cab exhaust with extended stack
passengers side air intake with snorkel
rear shocks
bullet proof glass and first generation Irac conflict armor
Gun truck build with twin .50 cal mounts
dump bed and bed mounted crane
air ride driver seat

How do you replace an engine in that thing? You have a crane?

 

[Micmada]

So I installed my new air brake pistons this weekend. I find it hard to tighten the fittings without twisting the hoses. Some I manage to hold firmly the hose and it finally stops twisting it, others I cannot. I hear it is bad for hose life.

 

[simp5782]

So I installed my new air brake pistons this weekend. I find it hard to tighten the fittings without twisting the hoses. Some I manage to hold firmly the hose and it finally stops twisting it, others I cannot. I hear it is bad for hose life.

If this is on DOT nylon hose then just smack the fitting with the wrench a few times and it break the Farrel loose from the stem.

 

[Micmada]

I went to go hunting with my 5 ton. Usually park rangers think my truck is cool and ask how it handles what not, but not this one today. He stops me and asks me what have I been doing. I say I am heading back home from the weekend hunt. He made me step outside, looked at my licenses, ran my plate, looked at my guns and every cranny of my truck to see what kind of game I took. Kept asking why I am driving this. What the heck. Seems like some people do not like anything that does not conform to their little world. I suppose getting in debt and making a bank, a car maker and a dealer rich by buying a brand new Tundra is what is drilled in people.

 

[Mullaney]

I went to go hunting with my 5 ton. Usually park rangers think my truck is cool and ask how it handles what not, but not this one today. He stops me and asks me what have I been doing. I say I am heading back home from the weekend hunt. He made me step outside, looked at my licenses, ran my plate, looked at my guns and every cranny of my truck to see what kind of game I took. Kept asking why I am driving this. What the heck. Seems like some people do not like anything that does not conform to their little world. I suppose getting in debt and making a bank, a car maker and a dealer rich by buying a brand new Tundra is what is drilled in people.

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I hate to hear that...

I guess there are those in law enforcement who have to inject their opinion - rather than simply enforcing the laws.
Maybe your guy missed out on the classroom skills about Protect and Serve.
The part about interpersonal skills didn't "stick" when it was taught possibly?

More often than not - the police are good people.
Unfortunately it seems like you found the butthead.
At least he was just that rather than causing any serious harm...

 

[fuzzytoaster]

Got these two girls in yesterday. Both "non-runners" and by that I mean city employees don't understand or care so they sell them as such. The dump needs a few Q2 valves and the M923 needs an air dryer, air tank, and driver door. They're a little crusty but engines are solid. Anyone parting a truck out?

 

[therooster2001]

I am 5-ton less. Sold her and the MKT. Sad to see it go. Buyer drove it back to Illinois without issue.

 

[Micmada]

Went and drove in the mountains of North Georgia to pick up new tires. Stuff was epic going up and down hill in rain, fog and hair pin turns Drove about 500 mi. I wish I lived up there. It seems my rear differential vent is not working well. There was some oil leaking out the hubs despite having replaced the seals on the mid and rear diff last month (the mid was leaking and needed service then). Mid one is good, no leak, though.

When I opened the rear diff oil port to add some oil, there came out a puff of pressured air.

 

[Mullaney]

Went and drove in the mountains of North Georgia to pick up new tires. Stuff was epic going up and down hill in rain, fog and hair pin turns Drove about 500 mi. I wish I lived up there. It seems my rear differential vent is not working well. There was some oil leaking out the hubs despite having replaced the seals on the mid and rear diff last month (the mid was leaking and needed service then). Mid one is good, no leak, though.

When I opened the rear diff oil port to add some oil, there came out a puff of pressured air.

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The metal "flapper" on the end of the vent can sometimes be cleaned with a can of Brake Parts Cleaner. Helps get rid of the sticky if that is your problem. Some vents are pushed up in a rubber tube behind the cab - to be above the water line - and that piece of tubing could have collapsed...
Compressed air into the vent tube might blow out an obstruction maybe.

Chances are once the venting problem is solved, the hubs need to come off and your brake shoes will need a good cleaning with several cans of brake parts cleaner. That stuff tends to float the gear oil to the top, then in a few hours, spray them again and more oil will float to the top. PITA, but it is less than buying new shoes...

Hope you can get it squared away without a lot of effort. Just lots of time

 

[simp5782]

Went and drove in the mountains of North Georgia to pick up new tires. Stuff was epic going up and down hill in rain, fog and hair pin turns Drove about 500 mi. I wish I lived up there. It seems my rear differential vent is not working well. There was some oil leaking out the hubs despite having replaced the seals on the mid and rear diff last month (the mid was leaking and needed service then). Mid one is good, no leak, though.

When I opened the rear diff oil port to add some oil, there came out a puff of pressured air.

Pull top access cover on diff. Drill and install a bulkhead fitting rub a vent line up by the abs modules

 

[Ajax MD]

I am 5-ton less. Sold her and the MKT. Sad to see it go. Buyer drove it back to Illinois without issue.

Sad. What's next?

 

[Ajax MD]

Went and drove in the mountains of North Georgia to pick up new tires. Stuff was epic going up and down hill in rain, fog and hair pin turns Drove about 500 mi. I wish I lived up there. It seems my rear differential vent is not working well. There was some oil leaking out the hubs despite having replaced the seals on the mid and rear diff last month (the mid was leaking and needed service then). Mid one is good, no leak, though.

When I opened the rear diff oil port to add some oil, there came out a puff of pressured air.

I wish I wasn't such a pansy about driving my truck long distances. It hasn't given me any reason not to trust it.

 

[Mullaney]

I wish I wasn't such a pansy about driving my truck long distances. It hasn't given me any reason not to trust it.

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Need to find yourself a pal up there with another truck similar in size you yours - and a tow bar. Then you could build confidence in both vehicles and get yourselves home on the cheap if something does go wrong.

Of course, I say all that and I have nobody really close by me either... The plus for me though is an older son who I could convince to drive the half hour or so from his house to my shop and pick up one of the wreckers to drag something back home. Assuming that he is at home.

Still, it might be worth looking around to see who you might know up in Maryland. Looking at a quick lookup on the map - that looks like pretty country up there with water everywhere. Bet it is bitchin cold though in the winter!

 

[Micmada]

Well, it turns out the oil did not come out my hub. The hub area is dry. It came from somewhere else. I think it came from the valve itself. I was doing very tight turns which might have sloshed around severely the diff oil in the rearmost hub. I cleaned the area to confirm if it was the case or if there is a gasket somewhere leaking around the differential. Meanwhile I put a tube up with an adjustable valve upside down, snorkel style, and tiny SMC air filter instead of that water submersible “mighty valve”.

 

[Gunman1919]

I made my truck a littler cooler.

 

[Benldodge]

I finished rebuilding the COMPLETE brake system on my M818!! All new brake hoses, hard lines (I used the copper/nickle with stainless rock gaurds), new brass fittings, new master cylinder, new (or rebuilt, not sure) air pack, new brake cylinders on all 6 hubs, new brake shoes, just bleed the brakes with some purple DOT 5 fluid, new springs on all hubs, new seals, new non-zipper boots, had to replace 5 bearings, 3 inner 2 outer, a lot of new red grease, new ball bearings on passenger side Bendix axle, drained and replaced gear oil in all 3 differentials, new parking brake pads with new springs, and before I could take my beast on the road, MY BATTERIES DIED!! My voltage meter was all over the place too. I don't know where to start with this new problem. Life can be real funny sometimes...

Where did you buy all your brake lines and fittings? I need to replace all of mine as well. Just picked up a 1970 M818 bobbed. After a few weeks the brake lines all leaked out and no brakes. I want to replace them all. Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

 

[Gunny 0369]

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