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What have you done to your HMMWV today/lately

FlameRed

FlameRed

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I am totally bummed out. Maybe time to take a vacation from being an amateur, terrible, MMMWV mechanic.

Tried to fix the AC, again. Installed a new condenser and the replacement was slightly larger than the origininal for some reason. So a PITA to build new mounts. Got discouraged, so I left it mounted RoadKill style for now.

Then I got a short or something somewhere as the wife told me the lights were on last night so I pulled the connections just to get them off. ARGH! Just want to fix one problem and did not want to deal with another! :-x

Charge the AC up with one can and checked for leaks and not finding any leak anymore with my leak detector. Went to fill it up with Freon and the starter started grinding! I checked and the engine in NOT frozen as I can turn it over by hand. So either the teeth are gone on the flexplate, or the starter is finished. Now I got another problem. I really, really am not in the mood to drop the tranny and replace the flex plate! aua

So I just put the tools away and went in for several beers... 🍻

I really need to get the rig squared away before the Florida Inferno begins when I won't want to mess with it at all.

This is on top of another project I am delayed on for another car that I abuse myself with. :grd:

Who was it that said if it wasn't for bad luck I would have no luck at all.

[/RANT]
 
C

cahilj

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It's been too cold to really do anything in the shop until last weekend.

I put in some OEM visors. I even put them exactly where the kit instructions showed :LOL:
20250308_100922.jpg

I've been piecing together everything for a static SINCGARS set up over the winter. I've got a tray, VAA, all the wires and antenna. The only things I need are a power amp and some sort of display radio. Unfortunately, I can't find a C/D model replica. There's E models and training models, but not what I want. I'll probably end up 3D printing it once I find a good file. For those with sharp eyes, the bracket under the antenna is for my GMRS radio that I'm going to put in the other VAA slot.
20250308_100937.jpg

Now when I show up to meet my buddies, I have the biggest antenna :ROFLMAO:
 
Cybul

Cybul

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Bulldogger said:
Looks good. Any tips for getting the tensioner in place given its strong tendency to want to push itself out of bolt hole alignment? I hope to be doing mine Sunday.
Bulldogger
Click to expand...

So....
First step is to remove side cover to have better access.
You will need such a ratchet spanner and some long extension. I used a steel tube from a fence :)
476486017_702750482080051_7923031024604027886_n.jpg

Insert spanner to tensioner.

476499564_1272365327194803_3779694325288773482_n.jpg

Add extension tube.

476485695_24040909998832578_5896289467383921716_n.jpg

Lift the tube up and remove belt from this roller:

476482255_500468112886166_147289406469420549_n.jpg

Then you can lower the tube and take out the ratchet spanner, remove the screw from tensioner.
Take off the belt.

Assembling in reverse order.
 
Bulldogger

Bulldogger

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Cybul said:
So....
First step is to remove side cover to have better access.
You will need such a ratchet spanner and some long extension. I used a steel tube from a fence :)
View attachment 941943

Insert spanner to tensioner.

View attachment 941944

Add extension tube.

View attachment 941945

Lift the tube up and remove belt from this roller:

View attachment 941946

Then you can lower the tube and take out the ratchet spanner, remove the screw from tensioner.
Take off the belt.

Assembling in reverse order.
Click to expand...
Many thanks for these details Cybul. We're going to have the cooling stack out, so we'll have decent access. I think a mount is cracked on my Champion radiator, so it needs to be removed for pressure testing and leak diagnosis. My challenge with the last attempt of a new tensioner was the new one had a LOT more spring travel in it and I couldn't back it off far enough to get in place while also getting the mounting bolts located. By then my help had left and despite using every magic word I know (swearing like the sailor I am) I could never actually mount it. I'll have more hands today, and I have bought a confirmed OEM tensioner, so hopefully this is all just me worrying for nothing.

I'll report on it once I'm done.

BDGR
 
Bulldogger

Bulldogger

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Bulldogger said:
Many thanks for these details Cybul. We're going to have the cooling stack out, so we'll have decent access. I think a mount is cracked on my Champion radiator, so it needs to be removed for pressure testing and leak diagnosis. My challenge with the last attempt of a new tensioner was the new one had a LOT more spring travel in it and I couldn't back it off far enough to get in place while also getting the mounting bolts located. By then my help had left and despite using every magic word I know (swearing like the sailor I am) I could never actually mount it. I'll have more hands today, and I have bought a confirmed OEM tensioner, so hopefully this is all just me worrying for nothing.

I'll report on it once I'm done.

BDGR
Click to expand...
Well today was a bust. It started well. I met my neighbor’s two teenage sons who are in auto technician school and gave them lots of instruction about HMMWVs. They were very helpful and we got the hood off and began tearing down the cooling stack to get my radiator off to pressure test.
Then we stopped. As the oil cooler lines came off gray milky fluid came out. I have a different coolant leak. An internal coolant leak. Looks like this engine is toast. It was a salvage from a scrapper that is (perhaps not surprisingly) out of business. I’ll have to sell a lot of soft slant back kits to pay for this.
If you’ll excuse me I’m going off to have a good cry.
Bulldogger
IMG_0460.jpeg
 
TOBASH

TOBASH

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Bulldogger said:
Well today was a bust. It started well. I met my neighbor’s two teenage sons who are in auto technician school and gave them lots of instruction about HMMWVs. They were very helpful and we got the hood off and began tearing down the cooling stack to get my radiator off to pressure test.
Then we stopped. As the oil cooler lines came off gray milky fluid came out. I have a different coolant leak. An internal coolant leak. Looks like this engine is toast. It was a salvage from a scrapper that is (perhaps not surprisingly) out of business. I’ll have to sell a lot of soft slant back kits to pay for this.
If you’ll excuse me I’m going off to have a good cry.
Bulldogger
View attachment 942038
Click to expand...
Before you cry, see if this is a head gasket rather than a cracked head. If gasket, replacement isn’t joyful BUT it is a lot cheaper.
 
Mainsail

Mainsail

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HoveringHMMWV said:
Not sure you could get them….. but would like to see some pics from the interior.
Click to expand...
Some easier than others. One of the vehicles has zip-ties around the door handles, holding the doors latched closed. They do that if the hinges are suspect, because if you open one of those doors and the door comes off- you'll need an ambulance.

Two are open the last time I was there. Let me know what parts of the interior you want pictures of and I'll see what I can do.
 
Gcelevator

Gcelevator

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Cybul said:
How long after installation did this tensioner break?
Did you have original OEM fitted or Chinese copy for around 60-100usd?
Click to expand...
The original to the engine lasted with me around 20k miles plus whatever before wa on it.
The 2nd one lasted a couple of months. The second one was the dame brand (i forgot yhe brand) and the cross reference showed it eas for a cummins something. Exact same piece.
It is worth to mention that my alternator bearing might have been bad (was bad)as i saw the serpentine belt jumping more than usual. Probably the cause of the breaking.
The 3rd one installed now also from hummer parts guy, probably it will last as i replaced my alternator.
I have another one broken from a M1114 engine i am swapping to a M1151, i don't know the history on this one as i received the truck like that.
All i see is a recurring pattern and all broke in yhe same section. Probably the wrong belts, probably a jumping belt, or just a flaw in yhe part. They all broke on the stopping tab, like the one in this picture.
 
HoveringHMMWV

HoveringHMMWV

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Mainsail said:
Some easier than others. One of the vehicles has zip-ties around the door handles, holding the doors latched closed. They do that if the hinges are suspect, because if you open one of those doors and the door comes off- you'll need an ambulance.

Two are open the last time I was there. Let me know what parts of the interior you want pictures of and I'll see what I can do.
Click to expand...
TM’s are excellent reference but pics are worth a thousand words. Still trying to get my turret hatch latches configured properly.
 
Bulldogger

Bulldogger

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TOBASH said:
Before you cry, see if this is a head gasket rather than a cracked head. If gasket, replacement isn’t joyful BUT it is a lot cheaper.
Click to expand...
Appreciated, and agreed, but this engine has never been great. It's leaking from every seam. Better to replace than repair at this point. I got maybe 3000mi on it after it was swapped in. I'll have to do a better job with the replacement.
BDGR
 
Mogman

Mogman

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Just doing some "semi annual" maint. before heading down to S. Padre Island for some spring break fun.
I went ahead and tossed a tire mount on the DuraVee, not having even bead locks in those Petlas tires means even a "simple" flat can cause allot of trouble.
I usually just toss the spare in the back but it's a little tight trying to sleep in the back.
Diggi Dog says lets go!!!
maint..jpgtire mount.jpg
EDIT, oh crud I just realized I covered up my license plate, will need to fix that :LOL:
 
HoveringHMMWV

HoveringHMMWV

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