Hey all, just would like to share a little story with y'all that applies to all of us and can happen at any time. So for starters I'm happy to announce that I am the proud owner of a Tera Low kit now, so watch out!! It went very smoothly then as I was putting it all together figured I'd get a new HD front drive shaft being that the one I had was sissy and lacking in the girth department, like some of our fellow club members
, and bent as well....like most of us in the club
Well in doing so I had to replace the yoke in the front diff, I did so and once yoke was in I felt the need to spin it, who wouldn't right
in doing so I felt a little grit and binding going on so the first thing in my head was "Spare Parts" but I hadn't been in my front end for quite some time.... I had no other choice than to crack the cover and inspect. Oh boy was that fun!!!!
It reminded me of the old game "Kerplunk" or a meal your tummy didn't agree with and it made you aware whilst on the throne reading your latest edition of "In Gear"... as the oil, synthetic of course, poured out it had a beautiful metallic look to it, like the color you would see on a burnt orange jeep with skinny wheels and hydraulics, and then quite a few chunks flowed out splashing on my HD4W newsletter....
Once the surprise settled here is what I found....
Here are some bolts that secure the ring gear to the carrier, I did not back them out, this is what I found...
Oh yeah and you will notice there are some missing as well... both bolts and TEETH ON THE RING GEAR....
Better shot of lack of teeth....I wish the tooth ferry would give me something for them other than an oily pillow....
This is what I found in the bottom of the oil pan and in the bottom of the diff along with chunks in and around the ring gear
Then after cleaning the inside of the cover discovered this awesome new scar from within....
I'm no investigator but I think I found the culprit..... Yup, it's a perfect fit!
Ever see the movie "Alien" when the monster is coming out of you and about to pop out of the skin....
...other "Alien" angle
So I had a professional gear guy set up my gears about 4 or so years ago, I know he used lock tight and torqued to specs... there were only 2 bolts holding the ring gear in place and barely at that, those 2 bolts were more than half way out... HOLY CRAP that could of been devastating on the trail!
I replaced all the ring gear bolts with new ones and lock tight, even though I have a few teeth missing now I'm going to roll with it.... come on really, are you surprised? I'll just match some of the hill billies we meet on the trail, you know, their "Grilles"
My next project when I get back in town is to pull the rear cover and re-torque all ring gear bolts. My gear set was put in at the same time and I can only imagine what's going on back there.
Hope you enjoyed my non-fiction story. Let's get out there and tear it up....MEN!!
JP
