Well got the bug again, especially since I can't go to the Turkey day thing. Drove more towards the northern part of Ocala National Forest as I've only ever explored the southern part. At first I was very pleased since the last fires burned up most of the trail blocking brush, and the trails were wide open. Like this:
My excitement was shortlived, as shortly down the trail, it went to being what ONF was known for... very closed in, unmaintained trails on flat, sandy ground. The kind of trails that make me thing it'd be worth it to Herculine my entire truck. As I went along this particular trail, it had been neglected for quite some time, so there were down trees everywhere. After spending 30 min sweating in the sun on the first one, clearing it with an axe, just to turn the corner and find a bigger obstruction... I decided to change my mission from "trail riding" to "trail re-blazing".
After I got out of that hell hole of a trail (which i had to turn around and go through it all again because they only closed ONE end of the trail) I found one that opened up a bit, but there was quite a few spots of standing water of which I was cautious about. To my comfort, it was wet sand, not mud, therefore traction was not at risk. This was a river crossing that was kinda deep (skip to 0:26, unless you like seeing me walk away from camera)
Then I discovered this lil' guy hanging out on my high-lift. I named him Larry. No idea what he is... but he is rather large.
As I'm on pavement, headed to the next trail, I hear a odd scratchy, grindy noise. At first I thought I was dragging a branch or something. Once I didn't see anything dragging, I investigated further and found this...
I got relatively lucky though. There appears to be no damage to the differential other than the outer race bearings. Apparently water is not as good of a lube as we previously thought........... When I popped the drain plug, nothing came out.
Left the CV out, put back the inner bearing support thingy, the threaded thingy and the rubbery thingy. Capped the hole with the cap to a medicine bottle. (I searched the roadside for while looking for an orange gatorade cap) As always, I keep extra fluids for almost every component of my truck, so I was able to re-fill the diff and drive home. I'm fortunate enough to have my patrol car out front and can use it off duty, so I wont have to drive my rig until i get it fixed.
Trans-Continental Trailblazer -5th Award Current Count of Transmission Rebuilds:5.5 ***The more you know, the less you need.*** USMC '07-'12 Dirty Bacon's Build
Well at least this time when you had an adventure you didn't go alone, though I'm not certain Larry would have been much help if you'd gotten stranded. Though he could catch you some flies to eat, then you could change your name to DirtyFly. Which sounds wrong in soooo many ways....
The problem with the Trailblazer is, people think you know what you're doing.
I'd have to be in some serious shit way back in a trail for me to call you guys from Clearwater. Even if I couldn't get this fixed, I was on an old asphalt road, so a tow truck could've got to me, if it came to that. If your referring to me goin wheelin and not calling you to join... I have no excuse and I apologize. I'll actually have a planned out trip soon, and I'll be sure to let yall know
Trans-Continental Trailblazer -5th Award Current Count of Transmission Rebuilds:5.5 ***The more you know, the less you need.*** USMC '07-'12 Dirty Bacon's Build
DirtyBacon04 wrote:I...I'll be sure to let yall know
HEY. You're in Florida, not Georgia!
I'm from NY and still say yall. Lol.
DirtyBacon04 wrote:I'd have to be in some serious shit way back in a trail for me to call you guys from Clearwater. Even if I couldn't get this fixed, I was on an old asphalt road, so a tow truck could've got to me, if it came to that. If your referring to me goin wheelin and not calling you to join... I have no excuse and I apologize. I'll actually have a planned out trip soon, and I'll be sure to let yall know
I was referring to you wheeling and not calling, but it sounds like this was more spur of the moment for you, much like ours can be. So no worries. Hopefully things will dry up later this fall and we can all have some fun.
Yea, 42,41, and 54 were still on the cv when I pulled it out. 43 was the damaged bearing and the needle bearings didn't start falling out until I had it out, so I dont think any ended up in the case.
Trans-Continental Trailblazer -5th Award Current Count of Transmission Rebuilds:5.5 ***The more you know, the less you need.*** USMC '07-'12 Dirty Bacon's Build
Well that would explain the adjuster unthreading itself, huh....
Oh, and thanks for noticing.
Now the question is: What caused the crack? Could it be as simple as lack of fluid = friction = heat = thermocrack? Or would something have had to fragment apart inside, causing a jam of moving parts. I will say though, the front diff was rather hot on this day.
Trans-Continental Trailblazer -5th Award Current Count of Transmission Rebuilds:5.5 ***The more you know, the less you need.*** USMC '07-'12 Dirty Bacon's Build
Its always pretty hot, its the same temp as the engine oil. With the location of that crack, I'd guess it was some sort of force pushing the pinion away from the diff, so - my guess is a fragment caught in the teeth.
Not sure the crack would lead to your adjuster unthreading. The outer seal is what holds the adjuster in place, not the friction of the adjuster threads. Figure out how your seal came out. I'd bet the cv circlip didn't get seated all the way into the side gear which eventually led to the destruction.
I now have two extra front diffs with 3.73's if your in need.
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. - Mark Twain --Build--
Trans-Continental Trailblazer -5th Award Current Count of Transmission Rebuilds:5.5 ***The more you know, the less you need.*** USMC '07-'12 Dirty Bacon's Build