Recovery problems.

[TexAndy]

Why would you even consider such a plan? Uninsured as well I assume?

Pay someone to go get it for you.

That's the safe way.

No, I have insurance. The wheels of the State of Texas grind excruciatingly slowly. I'm waiting on my plates to get here (it's been close to 2 weeks) before the lady at the tax office will title and register my truck.

As for the WHY... well, to avoid having to pay $700 or so to get it hauled.

 

[Somemedic]

$700 aint doodly squat compared to 1) lost wages for being in jail for vehicular manslaughter 2) loss of life: Yours or theirs 3) some Sgt with a hard on backed by a GL staffer that may make your next visit very difficult if youre found out 4) loss of property: like say when an inexpirenced driver who doesnt tow large trucks for a living goes and plows through a building/car/something pricey when he tried to stop but couldnt... this list could progress but you get the idea.

Theres gotta be a SS member here who would help you out rather than entertain that last "less than brilliant" idea. I know this is frustrating being under the gun but you have to see that you stand a lot more to lose vs. a $700 tow. Try to relax and work with the GL guy. Go over the truck again and see if you dont find the problem.

 

[scrapman]

A short tow to the local Wal-Mart parking lot in the far corner will buy you some time & a place to regroup & a more neutral place to work on it.

 

[NDT]

You need to get it hauled!!! Forget heavy repairs on the base, that will be out of the question! Call Walker at TruckingDeals.com and he will get you a hot shot gooseneck truck within hours that will haul your truck home for around a dollar a mile. That's what I did with my dead Ft Sam deuce and boy was I glad I did!

 

[TexRdnec]

Would it even be safe to start? I've seen the oilpan and from the drainplug to the front it's 3" shorter. Gotta be an oil pickup tube in there somewhere...

 

[stampy]

Well working on the equipment at the base is a huge no no. Yes I know lots of us have done it. They have gotten REAL anal about it. And God forbid it leak oil (or you spill anything) on the ground! They will rake you over the coals! I have recovered (tow bar) two deuces, both about 200 mile trips. If you have no experience handling a heavy load, and do not have a well maintained truck I would not reccomend it. If you have both and are insured then why not! I found the best most direct interstate highway route is the easiest, DO NOT GO THROUGH TOWNS AND MAKE LOTS OF TURNS!!!!! Your recovery will be hell and the probability of some dumbA@@ cutting you off is higher! If you towbar it expext 3-4 times the stopping distance needed and be ready to downshift( read grenade the engine) to a much lower gear for a panic stop. Slow is your friend! Do not be in a hurry and DON'T switch lanes unless absolutely necessary. Above all remember these trucks were built by the lowest bidder and abused by FNG's..(that includes sitting around not being used) many are over 40 years old and based on even older designs. Good luck and for Gods sake be careful.

 

[stampy]

Oh and before you start the truck make sure all of the oil drains are shut! Don't ask me how I know.

 

[Keith_J]

I think it is fuel cut off, i should be back up to working next time.

DOL (direct support) would not have left the injectors lines loose, the most logical explanation would be some bidder trying to get it started.

First, make sure the fuel cut off isn't stuck. Then bleed the injector lines, torquing the nuts to 20 foot pounds, give or take. Then it should start.

Now, on the oil pan? The pickup is about 5" in diameter. It would be hard to block it off with pan damage that doesn't trash the pan. Fortunately, this is easy to knock out and you can get a good look at the health of the lower end.

 

[TexAndy]

Thanks guys.

I might head up again tomorrow and see what I can do to get it started, armed with the ideas ya'll threw at me in this thread. Keith is really sick, so I don't want to impose on him tomorrow... is there ANYONE else who is knowledgeable and available tomorrow, who could talk me through this over the phone? It would really help alot. IM me your number please, if so.

I looked at my deuce parked in my yard with the side of the engine compartment down so I could watch what happened when I pulled the engine stop. That allowed me to kind of identify what's happening and where the handle connects to the cable that runs to the actual valve on the IP.

But I'm not really sure what the valve should look like when it's correct, much less when it's stuck in the off position. It should be self evident, I know, but having someone's hand to hold would be really nice.

 

[jeep-Jeep]

There is a truck a ft sam with a bad fuel shutoff lever and bad brakes .
It has sold three times and then refused each time .
It has a white rag tied to the lifting shackle to indicate which one it is .
If its too cheap there was probably a reason.
The GL manager at ft SAM is chester and he is a great guy .
Did you sign for it and then leave without it ?
Also aprox 50% at that location never get picked up and the yard guys are tired of having no space to store things (small yard)
You should at this point call for a lowboy to haul it home.

 

[Westex]

It ain't Lester, his name is Chester. And he is a great guy. Tex Andy, where are you in Bee county. Are you in Beeville?

 

[Westex]

Oh, what is your final date to retrieve truck?

 

[jeep-Jeep]

Ok Chester is a great guy .
They are just tired of people not picking up the trucks they bid on .
I do not like it either because it runs the bids up.

 

[Westex]

That is precisely what he told me last week. He also 'indicated' that GL has put alot of pressure on him to move the Deuces out. Accordingly, if you don't get your truck in the 14 day window subsequent to EUC approval, you lose the truck. The reason for this 'pressure' on him, is that apparently 40K more Deuces are coming into fort Sam in the near future for liquidation.

 

[velociT]

40k?

 

[jeep-Jeep]

He may have signed for the truck and that is why they are wanting it gone .
once signed for it is not on the inventory and chester said he must turn a list daily of what is in his yard under the new contract and pay rent to store the trucks

 

[roscoe]

Otta be somebody that can assist him down that way. If its not too far - I'd consider that flatbed guy if no one is available to help.

 

[Westex]

That's what he told me. Where they're coming from I know not, but the Deuce I just drove home came from the Austin area (I forget the base name on the West side of Austin). Sounds incredible, but just dabble around and look at the pressure on these GL site guys???

 

[jeep-Jeep]

there have been just over 100 deuces sold at this location according to chester.
40k ?????

 

[Keith_J]

Relax folks, I will get it running. Since GL doesn't allow extensive work on the vehicles in the lot, I will have to make it quick. Hopefully I can dredge up products of my sinus infection to scare off any meddlers. . At least my nose is no longer smelling like a wet dog but still a nice shade of green.

Direct support would not have dropped it off like that. The injector lines were loosened by some bidder because they were checking on fuel flow after they could not get it started due to the engine kill being stuck. There are more than a few bidders who have limited knowledge on these vehicles. I take a Hippocratic Oath philosophy, "first, do no harm".

Andy, bring your combo wrench set. I'll bring my tools.