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What have you done to your 5 ton this week?

Ajax MD

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Mayo, MD
I dove into my engine to tackle another one of my boogeymen- the belts, hoses and coolant.

I am quite fortunate that my truck isn't a rust bucket. So far, all fasteners have loosened up easily. I have all belts removed except for the water pump. Coolant is draining as we speak.

All the belts were cracked and/or glazed. The water pump looks the worst and I'm lucky I didn't lose it. Most of the hoses look like trash as well.

UNfortunately, it's raining. I'll let the coolant drain and tackle the water pump and hoses tomorrow. Once all the new belts and hoses are installed, I'll flush the engine, drain it again, and fill it with new coolant and DCA and be done with this project.

Looks like I may end up putting all my MVs up for sale thanks to a new Maryland law that took effect on 1 January "prohibiting" all military vehicles from public roads.
 

simp5782

Feo, Fuerte y Formal
Supporting Vendor
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Location
Mason, TN
I dove into my engine to tackle another one of my boogeymen- the belts, hoses and coolant.

I am quite fortunate that my truck isn't a rust bucket. So far, all fasteners have loosened up easily. I have all belts removed except for the water pump. Coolant is draining as we speak.

All the belts were cracked and/or glazed. The water pump looks the worst and I'm lucky I didn't lose it. Most of the hoses look like trash as well.

UNfortunately, it's raining. I'll let the coolant drain and tackle the water pump and hoses tomorrow. Once all the new belts and hoses are installed, I'll flush the engine, drain it again, and fill it with new coolant and DCA and be done with this project.

Looks like I may end up putting all my MVs up for sale thanks to a new Maryland law that took effect on 1 January "prohibiting" all military vehicles from public roads.
Did you get a new waterpump and crush ring? You will have to loosen the water pump in order to rotate the eccentric. the seal will probably leak once you tighten it back down. Smart solution is to just replace everything since you gotta go that far
 

Ajax MD

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Mayo, MD
Did you get a new waterpump and crush ring? You will have to loosen the water pump in order to rotate the eccentric. the seal will probably leak once you tighten it back down. Smart solution is to just replace everything since you gotta go that far
Yes, I have a new crush ring.
 

Larry Weibert

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Youngstown New York
I moved 30 loads of millings and concrete today. This truck loves weight. Once I get done getting the site work done for the new 60 X 125 building this dump will get redone and i plan on driving it alot. It drives great I really like it. We have been blessed with good weather in the Buffalo area so far.
 

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US6x4

Well-known member
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Wenatchee, WA
Looks like I may end up putting all my MVs up for sale thanks to a new Maryland law that took effect on 1 January "prohibiting" all military vehicles from public roads.
That's awful. I hope that doesn't happen in my state. Are there any loopholes? Technically yours is a FORMER military vehicle...
 

77 AMG

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Owingsville, KY
Well, me and the youngest son (18) got started tearing out stuff so that we can change the clutch in my M813 today. As a "Thank you", he got to drive the M923A1 around the yard a little bit. He was happy, but, cautious about it, like a good kid should be. Yeah, he had me hanging on the side, in case he needed my help. He didn't.
 

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Ajax MD

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Mayo, MD
Still forging ahead with the belts, hoses and engine flush.

Engine is drained, all belts removed. New water pump crush gasket installed with anti-seize. All new belts installed EXCEPT the G-D fan drive belts. I simply cannot get enough slack to hop over the pulleys. Yes, the adjustment is min'd out.

In fact, all the new belts were tight as heck. I had to slip the water pump belt over the back of the pump and cram the pump into the hole, then bolt up the retaining ring. The eccentric adjustment is min'd out with 1/4" belt deflection. I'm sure this is an effect of new belts and working in the cold. I brought the fan drive belts inside to warm up near the pellet stove all night and I'll try again tomorrow. I've verified all the belt part numbers from the thread stickies.

Once all the belt garbage is finished, I'll replace all the hoses. Then, I'll perform the engine flush with Cascade detergent and finally, fill it up and be done with this job.

I am grateful that the ARNG used anti-seize on everything. There were no stuck or busted fasteners.
 

US6x4

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Sounds familiar. I bruised my ribs/sternum leaning over the radiator battling those fan belts...

I couldn't find a trick or an easy approach - I think the belts finally got tired of fighting and let me eventually muscle them on. I should've ate more wheaties.
 

Russ Knight

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Perry, FL
A cumulative of things I have done in the last couple of weeks on my new to me M923a2....oil change, transmission fluid and filter change (Dex), new belt, new Simps 53's, got CTIS working, and just now
Tried to Install some headlights from TMG....big mistake. Complete junk connectors and wires.
I've bought several items from them. Mostly junk. No more.
 

Ajax MD

Well-known member
1,569
1,415
113
Location
Mayo, MD
Sounds familiar. I bruised my ribs/sternum leaning over the radiator battling those fan belts...

I couldn't find a trick or an easy approach - I think the belts finally got tired of fighting and let me eventually muscle them on. I should've ate more wheaties.
Ha, I'm sore in all the same places. I'll take another crack at it today and I'm warming up the belts to make them a little more pliable.
I was able to get one belt on, but couldn't hop it into the back grooves. I'm sure I can pry it over now that I'm rested.

I also need to hit NAPA today for some bulk hose to replace those short sections on the passenger side. I already have the upper & lower radiator hoses.
 

Ajax MD

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Location
Mayo, MD
Every time I think I'm having a hard time, I think of Mike over in the HEMTT thread and I calm down. ;)

I got 'er did.

All belts and hoses on, flushed the cooling system 3X. Nothing bad, just a bunch of iron sediment. Added fresh, plain green coolant and distilled water and DCA. I must have done it right the first time, because no leaks!

I also found and cleared the clog for the heater core and got all that cleaned out. I have real, usable cab heat! All the mouse nests have been cleared from the ducts, I installed the missing heater/defroster control cables.

The lower rad hose is a special shape and to my knowledge, there is no silicone replacement but I did get a racy, red silicone hose for the upper rad hose. :cool:
 

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vvwilkins

Active member
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Location
Riverside CA
On January 5th I took the Wife and family on a trail ride from Apple Valley to Big Bear (Fawnskin). My daughter drove her Silverado pickup and my Son's Fiancé drove her Jeep. Compiled a YouTube video documenting our adventure. We went from Sand to Snow in 3 hours of trail running. My first time driving THOR in the snow. Here's a link to the video if your interested:
 

Valor

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Apple Valley, Ca.
On January 5th I took the Wife and family on a trail ride from Apple Valley to Big Bear (Fawnskin). My daughter drove her Silverado pickup and my Son's Fiancé drove her Jeep. Compiled a YouTube video documenting our adventure. We went from Sand to Snow in 3 hours of trail running. My first time driving THOR in the snow. Here's a link to the video if your interested:
I've been that way a couple of times. It's a long drive! One time I came in from the fawnskin side and was going to go down along the trail but there was a big gate that was locked preventing anyone from going up or down. It would be a real bad day if someone drove all that way up the trail only to find that gate locked. I think it was just below hanna flat campground. Thanks for sharing that video. Great job! Hey, did you stay warm in Thor's cab?
 

77 AMG

Active member
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Location
Owingsville, KY
Man, it must be nice to have trails BIG enough to ride without peeling rocks, bushes and small Jeeps off of the side of the trail when you DO find one big enough to go down. One of the very few complaints that I have with my adopted Kentucky. Looks like it was fun!
 

fasttruck

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Location
Mesa, AZ
Reference post 8867 and color: this "mud" shade is apparently one of the Army's alternatives to basic OD which would have been applied when the truck was new. Is the dashboard and cab interior the same color ? My M37 was the same color when it was surplused out though I am sure it was not the original color and appears to have been applied in the field with a floor mop. With the coming of CARC paint, individual units were no longer authorized to paint complete vehicles.
 

Larry Weibert

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Location
Youngstown New York
Reference post 8867 and color: this "mud" shade is apparently one of the Army's alternatives to basic OD which would have been applied when the truck was new. Is the dashboard and cab interior the same color ? My M37 was the same color when it was surplused out though I am sure it was not the original color and appears to have been applied in the field with a floor mop. With the coming of CARC paint, individual units were no longer authorized to paint complete vehicles.

Thanks Fasttruck for that info. The interior is a green that is brownish but the entire paint on the truck is real thin, Its almost like its sun faded off but not sure. Ill post a pic tomorrow of the inside.

I put an emergency cable in it today using the TM helped with adjusting it properly it now works very well.
 

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