So… it’s not pretty

Posted: November 14, 2024 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , | Leave a comment

If you read my last post, you know I had a bit of an issue getting to the trail last Saturday. After getting a tow home, I delayed doing a once over of the Jeep as I didn’t really want to know. Well, yesterday I got under the rig.

This was the first clue. I looked up and saw that the starter had one of its mounting tabs broken off. But if you look closely, there’s a second break.

Moving over for more of a side view, it was clear I had major issues.

In this photo, you can clearly see the break in the transmission from the sensor down through the starter mount.

I have no idea why this happened. I was driving down Highway 80 at 65mph and all of a sudden there was a major vibration.

Last summer, and again this summer, I got an engine code telling me of lean air on bank two and high transmission temp. This after crawling on the Rubicon for two hours. A fuel additive cleared the lean air code as I suspected a little carbon build up from cheap Sam’s gas. The high temp came while hauling rock for FOTR on the trail. And with all the armor under my rig I understand that. I’ve got an oversized aluminum ribbed trans pan on my work bench.

Hopefully, when I tear down the rig to get the trans out, I’ll discover why this happened.

JEEP: Just Expect Every Problem along with Just Empty Every Pocket

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Rubicon Ronin

A funny thing happened on the way to the trail…

Posted: November 9, 2024 | Author: | Filed under: Maintenance, Travel | Tags: , | Leave a comment

Yesterday, I got an email about an impromptu trail maintenance need on the Rubicon Trail. It seems the 112mph winds last week dropped a number of trees along the Rubicon Trail between Miller Lake and Cadillac Hill.

FOTR put out the word, I heard through the Sierra Stompers, and the volunteers rolled out to help. I was one of those volunteers that loaded up and rolled out to help but I didn’t roll too far.

Unfortunately, west bound on Highway 80, 7:15 in the morning, I developed a major vibration, as I approached Truckee.

An hour later, AAA picked me up and took me home.

My best guess is that something came loose in the transmission. The vibration was as violent as death wobble, been there done that, but felt more rotational than side to side. Although I had a check engine come on and the engine was not running smooth when I pulled over, I was able to start the engine, while waiting for AAA, and use the heater. Since it was in the 20 degrees alongside the highway, I didn’t get out and start looking for the reasons for the vibration.

When I got home and gingerly backed the TJ down my driveway, I felt and heard a thunk, thunk, thunk. I know, really technical. But it was driveline pace not engine pace. I’ll look into it next week. Too depressed at the moment and there’s college football on TV. Go Huskies!

AAA is awesome. Every Jeep owner should spend the money, get the upgrade and have 99-mile tow service.

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Rubicon Ronin

Distractions…

Posted: November 8, 2024 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

For those of you who follow this site, you’ve noticed a decline in posts. Well, it was another off year for me regarding getting the Jeep out. But my golf game is improving! I promise to better keep you up to date about the Tahoe side of the Rubicon Trail and all those side trails next ‘season’.

Here is one of my distractions. It’s a brand new, 1/10 scale, Traxxas TRX4 High Trail 4wd remote control wheeler.

You probably noticed the body is a little shifted. I figured I needed a before picture moments before I started taking it apart.

This is a 2006, 1/6 scale, GI Joe Willys MB Jeep.

What happens when you try to combine the two? Here’s a hint, it took a lot of cutting!

Here’s the goal…but built as if Sarge had retired and gone into rock crawling.

For those of you familiar with these rigs, they are extremely similar to the real thing. Motor, trans, x-fer case, links, driveshafts, coil suspension, shocks, endless tire choices, etc. Although nowhere near as expensive as working on the real thing, they are equally as frustrating. And if you think those parts are small, try working on a 1/24 scale. This is my 1/24 C10 on the work bench (kitchen counter) as I figure out spring choices.

Check out the detail underneath the TRX4! While just taking that photo, I noticed one loose bolt and one MISSING bolt and spacer. Time to go back to work. Rock rails installed to protect the plastic body. Still rock rash everywhere.

I think I got pretty close. And check out that flex!

An earlier picture showing flexibility on the course I built for the 1/24 scale C10.

The granite slabs above Donner Lake are awesome for wheeling these things.

Not the most technical run of the day, but I got this one on video.

I hope all of you are getting in the wheeling you want, be it full size or scaled down.

Be safe this winter. Prep your rig (street and trail) as if you have to spend the night in it.

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Rubicon Ronin

Snow on the Rubicon

Posted: November 5, 2024 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , | Leave a comment

Snow has finally fallen on the Rubicon Trail. I decided to check out how much yesterday. I met a couple from Arizona who were scouting the trail for a real trip next summer. We headed out together.

The trail right out of the staging area was well worn. That area maybe got three inches of snow. Anything with good sunlight had melted.

We decided to head up to Sourdough Hill on the Richardson Lake Trail, 14N39. There were no tracks on the ground in front of us. Okay, we did find bear tracks near the top of the hill.

A couple of poser shots. It was extremely quiet. Minimal wind. Great day.

It was nice to have someone following me to take pictures, even though I hadn’t asked.

At the summit of Sourdough, in the shade, there might have been 5-6 inches. Coming back down, I made a smart-ass comment about this is an awesome day, but we’re one slip of a tire away from wrapping our Jeep around a tree. 100 yards down the trail the back end started coming around on me but I corrected and kept it on the trail.

So, here come the same old safety lines…

Hit the trail prepared to spend the night: food, water, sleeping bags, tent, extra layers, winter boots, etc.

Let someone know where you’re going and when you’ll be back. Stay in touch with a ham radio.

Don’t go out alone. Phone a friend. Be safe, don’t take chances.

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Rubicon Ronin