Ya just never frigg'in know

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Tully Mars, Sep 25, 2014.


  1. Tully Mars

    Tully Mars Metal weldin' monkey

    I left our home here Sat. to go back to ND to oversee some business interests up there. Figured I'd be there til Thanksgiving, and then I'm done for the year. SOOOO, the Kats and I get in my '981/2 Dodge 3500 and head out. This truck has 250k on her but has been very well maintained and has never let me down. Til Sat. Just as the Kats (I travel with two cats that I swore I would never get attached to, but that's another story) and I are pulling into Memphis the tranny locks up. At a stop light. Can't move... Bloody hell! this truck never breaks down. After sitting through two stop light cycles, a young buck in a delivery truck offered to push me out of the way. Long story short, got us towed to a motel. Called Wifeypoo(she wasn't impressed) walked across the street and bought two cans of tuna, Arby's and a sixer for supper..;) Early next morning I got up and took the shifter off the tranny. I was able to get it "unlocked" and drove it around the parking lot until I was comfortable I could limp it home. Loaded the Boys up and headed back to 'Bama. Got in with no problems and pulled the truck into the shop. By 14:00 Monday had the tranny/transfer out, and then the clutch which was in a number of pieces.
    By suppertime all was right and I finished up Tues morning. Headed back up tomorrow. But ya just never know. While this truck is older, I have always fixed anything that was worn as soon as it was noticed. This came outta nowhere, but it still broke down. Would've really sucked if it was loaded down and we were bailing for a SHTF. Mechanical things WILL break, and never at a good time..
     
    Dogfood, GOG, tulianr and 5 others like this.
  2. kellory

    kellory An unemployed Jester, is nobody's fool. Banned

    I was in traffic at rush hour, when I pushed in the clutch on a '66 ford f-100, when the clutch pin dropped out!
    I could not drop it out of gear and I was slowing for a traffic light!
    I pullednit into the breakdown lane at speed, and killed the engine, until it stopped rolling. Then hopped under it to see what happened.
    On this old truck, there is an adjustable pin that pushes on the lever to release pressure on the clutch. By adjusting it's length, it adjusts the peddle.
    Well, it loosened up and dropped away, to dangle there.
    After a quick adjustment, I finished the drive home, then lock tited it at home.
     
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  3. kckndrgn

    kckndrgn Monkey+++ Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    @Tully Mars sucks that you broke down, and in Memphis. Next time you come through let me know, maybe we can meet up for some coffee.

    My worst clutch problem was an 80 chevy chevette. I was new to clutches going out and drove from the twin cities in MN to Duluth on a slipping clutch. I made it to my dorm in Duluth but the clutch gave out just after getting there. No fun trying to change the clutch in Dec in Northern MN on the side of a street.
     
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  4. -06

    -06 Monkey+++

    What I see is your ability and willingness to repair your own vehicles. That gives you a leg up on most folks. Have an electronic ignition on an older truck that is giving me a headache. It is about to get a point carrying distributor and all that wire junk is getting tossed. Just one wire to it from the ignition. Tell you a story about my son driving back from Montana. He went into a town and his Dodge 4X4 Power Wagon quit pulling. Tranny worked but nothing worked. Finally he stumbled onto the 4 wheel drive lever position. His back pack had gotten against it and pushed it into neutral.
     
  5. Gopherman

    Gopherman Sometimes I Wish I Could Go Back to Sleep

    Yeah I feel your pain! We always rent a vehicle when making road trips, mainly to avoid those situations. Nothing worse than being out of town and going down!
     
  6. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    Dang, I hate it when that happens.....
     
  7. Dogfood

    Dogfood Monkey+++

    Sounds like you rolled with it well. Some time no matter how much you plan Murphy can still derail everything.
     
  8. Gator 45/70

    Gator 45/70 Monkey+++

    You know not very many young people know how to drive a clutch. I find that not suprising Nowdays
     
  9. Tully Mars

    Tully Mars Metal weldin' monkey


    Sad but true. I learned on a standard tranny, 3 on the tree. I've made sure that my children can drive a stick.
     
    Motomom34 likes this.
  10. Tully Mars

    Tully Mars Metal weldin' monkey


    Thanks, and yeah, that Murphy guy can keep ya on yer toes...:)
     
  11. Tully Mars

    Tully Mars Metal weldin' monkey


    LOL, Man THAT brings back a memory!! Almost the exact same thing happened to me back when I was a kid with my '64 GTO. Now THERE was a car..:)
     
    Yard Dart and kellory like this.
  12. kckndrgn

    kckndrgn Monkey+++ Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Ya, i now, most don't know what a "standard" transmission is.

    I remember learning how to drive a stick on an '80 Chevy Chevette. Came out of school after B-ball practice and my dad was sittin in the passenger seat. First time for everything.

    Now Ford is no longer making F150's with a standard transmission, automatics only.
     
    kellory and Gator 45/70 like this.
  13. -06

    -06 Monkey+++

    Was 16 and my cousins clutch rod broke in the middle of Pittsburg. I had been driving for many years as a farm boy and told him I could drive it to the shop. Was a trying slow trip but we made it across town with only two start ups in gear. Knowing how to mesh gears by using the accelerator saved a tow bill.
     
    Tully Mars and kellory like this.
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