AM General M934 How difficult is it to find repairs & how much will they set me back?

[Coffey1]

Yes this is not correct you can change one it's difficult by yourself but doable with the proper tools.

 

[Nomadic]

Fuel line left the truck stranded for a couple days while patched up a repair till I can replace it with J844 line. Fixed the fuel gauge, just a sink instead of a float. Still finishing the tires, working on the last one that I have an o-ring for right now. Still have a fan clutch rebuild to do and a few other small things, but nothing major.

Doesn't sound too bad. I'm looking to learn from other peoples experiences. What happened to the fuel line?

 

[red]

With your smaller size it's both a good and a bad thing. Good because it's easier to reach the tight areas and 'bad' because you have to use the mindset of "work smarter not harder" (not really a bad thing honestly). For example with removing/installing the hubs when servicing the axle. The brake drums are inboard so they are attached to the hub and they come off the axle together. They weigh about 150 lbs. Here's an easy way that I use to pick them up





These trucks are very simple to work on and parts are reasonably priced so being mechanically inclined is good. If you have to take it to a shop the rates usually vary from 80-150 bucks an hour.

 

[98G]

Doesn't sound too bad. I'm looking to learn from other peoples experiences. What happened to the fuel line?

Forklifted

 

[Mos68x]

Forklifted

Technically speaking it was just the age of the vehicle and the fact that they prone to crack at the fuel fitting flare at the tank. The fuel tank got hit by the forklift yes, but that was on the bottom and any damage there was on the fuel line wasn't near where it cracked. Now my wet tank mount and air lines are a different story, I really want to smack that person upside the head for fork lifting the truck.

Alice, there isn't anything on the truck that you can't do by yourself if you have the right tools and motivation. Don't get me wrong there are tasks that are easier said than done, but still doable. I do have my brothers help, but only use him when I need to, like worn out from flipping tires. I don't have the tire davit for the truck so I just use a come-along to get it in the truck bed until the spare tire mount made for the rear end. Tomorrow I get to put on my last tire that I had o-rings to fix and I've done most it by myself. I don't believe in paying someone else to do what I can do myself, even if it means learning a new skill.

 

[Alice]

In that case **** it lets goooooooo. I sit on ideas for far too long trying to over anticipate any problem i can think of. I think its time i just found out through experience what i can handle. Thank you guys. I hope to be a part of this community for many many years. Youve all been very helpful!

 

[WillWagner]

Mine was one repair after another. Busted liner to injection pump rebuild twice. Make sure you can turn a wrench or stay away. My two brother in laws are diesel mechanics and they couldn't work on them cause no computer to tell them what was wrong.

What? Under the electrics, it's STILL a 4 cycle diesel engine. How can you be a "mechanic" if you can't understand, diagnose and repair BASICS? Wait, UTI/Wyo tech grads, right?

 

[simp5782]

What? Under the electrics, it's STILL a 4 cycle diesel engine. How can you be a "mechanic" if you can't understand, diagnose and repair BASICS? Wait, UTI/Wyo tech grads, right?

Not many people know how to do driveability diagnostics without a computer anymore. It is sad. If they cant do it on a diesel then they are not very qualified to do anything. Simple as can be.

 

[wreckerman893]

I've always had much respect your opinion wreckerman, but I'm having trouble understanding this statement???

Alice had already mentioned that she was a she.

I'm still pretty strong for my age but wrestling a 500 pound tire off and on the hub (maybe with traffic zooming inches away) is not something I want to tackle.

If you can keep it upright and rolling you are golden. If it falls down flat on the ground you are going to pull something trying to get it back upright. She said she is a buck twenty soaking wet. That tire is more than three times her weight.

The CTIS (if equipped) has to be taken off and replaced carefully. Some of the parts are made of "unobtainium" and are almost impossible to find, especially if you are on the side of the road at night or in bad weather.

Many road service tire technicians would prob pass on this if given the choice.

My whole point is that while life is an adventure it can quickly become a major goat roping when things go south.

If Alice is traveling alone or with another female the chances of being taken advantage of by a crooked repair shop is compounded unless she is very familiar with the vehicle systems and general labor rates depending on which part of the country you are in.

And this excludes the CDL/insurance questions that I purposely avoided.

 

[Alice]

Alice had already mentioned that she was a she.
If you can keep it upright and rolling you are golden. If it falls down flat on the ground you are going to pull something trying to get it back upright. She said she is a buck twenty soaking wet. That tire is more than three times her weight.
If Alice is traveling alone or with another female the chances of being taken advantage of by a crooked repair shop is compounded unless she is very familiar with the vehicle systems and general labor rates depending on which part of the country you are in.

Hehehe oh absolutely. Im strong AF for my weight and generally can keep up with an average dude but just about. So no way in helll would i flip that thing without getting crafty if it goes down.

As far as travelling alone or not, i guarantee someone will just see a young female and try to sell me a flux capacitor. Not the first time they've tried. Im used to *******s trying to get an angle so at least im cautious but just like with anything new its difficult to know if its fair deal or if the Doc is trying to sell you a trip 'back to the future'. Unfortunately comes with the territory, and this is where my knowledge is quite limited for now. But im glad to have access to such a wicked database here though!

If i read it right however, I think what JBbulach was asking to clarify was actually the technical aspect of you mentioning the A2 super sing tires, and why they'd be significantly different to manage from the M934? Perhaps.

 

[red]

Easy way to upright a tire if you physically are not able to. Use a prybar to raise up one side of the tire a few inches and run a strap under it. Wrap the strap around the tire and use a come along attached to the strap and somewhere on the truck to slowly winch it upright.

 

[wreckerman893]

If i read it right though I think what JBbulach was asking to clarify was actually the technical aspect of you mentioning the A2 super sing tires and why they'd be significantly different to manage from the M934? Perhaps.

The super single tires were an upgrade on the older trucks and were put on for various reasons.

The A2 upgrade got the Cummins 8.3 turbo diesel, CTIS, Super singles and sometimes electric wipers depending on where they were overhauled.

The 1100x20 dual tires weigh a lot less than a super single. Prop less than half. I can manage them easily using the technical knowledge I've gained over the last 30 years and using mechanical advantage.

The super single mod assumed that there would be a crew (at least two) manning the vehicle. A Truck Commander and Co-driver are Standard Operating Procedure when vehicles are in a field or wartime environment (assuming manpower is available).

If I remember correctly (and I may not) changing a tire on a A2 is not even driver level maintainance anymore. I think you had to get a mechanic to do the change since it required that the CTIS be removed if the tire had to come off. That was what the CTIS was for to keep the tire inflated if it had a slow leak or puncture.

In a wartime situation it is acceptable to run a truck to death to accomplish the mission or to escape danger. Many soldiers have had vehicles shot from under them and ran them till the engine locked up and they were running on the rims. Vehicles are expendable in wartime. Soldiers are not supposed to be.

My aim is not to deter Alice from getting an MV. We have lots of ladies in the hobby that are owners, not just passengers or spectators.

I just want her to go into this with eyes wide open.

 

[simp5782]

Alice had already mentioned that she was a she.

I'm still pretty strong for my age but wrestling a 500 pound tire off and on the hub (maybe with traffic zooming inches away) is not something I want to tackle.

If you can keep it upright and rolling you are golden. If it falls down flat on the ground you are going to pull something trying to get it back upright. She said she is a buck twenty soaking wet. That tire is more than three times her weight.

The CTIS (if equipped) has to be taken off and replaced carefully. Some of the parts are made of "unobtainium" and are almost impossible to find, especially if you are on the side of the road at night or in bad weather.

Many road service tire technicians would prob pass on this if given the choice.

My whole point is that while life is an adventure it can quickly become a major goat roping when things go south.

If Alice is traveling alone or with another female the chances of being taken advantage of by a crooked repair shop is compounded unless she is very familiar with the vehicle systems and general labor rates depending on which part of the country you are in.

And this excludes the CDL/insurance questions that I purposely avoided.

Wreckerman you know if that 14.00 fell on you that your old bag of bones would turn to dust immediately ha.

Sent from my SM-G935P using Tapatalk

 

[Coffey1]

He would definitely need one of those buttons to call.
Help I've fallen and can't get up.
Richard is your technical knowledge a jack attached to your walker.

 

[silverstate55]

As Red and a couple of others have pointed out, it is all about leverage. Think about lifting/moving without using your body weight/strength for anything other than guidance. Get a long prybar (at least a 5-footer, don't know what that is in metric sorry, LOL), a 20-ton hydraulic bottle jack or two, at least a 2-ton rated come-along (hand winch), some good wood blocks (hardwood, not soft stuff), and several lifting straps; that should get you started. As Simp pointed out, you can load a lot of these tools in ammo boxes of various sizes, and bolt the boxes if need be all around the truck or just carry them inside to stay secure.

I've lost track of the tires/wheels I've changed and mounted/demounted by myself, up to & including 16.00x20s. Just have to work smarter, not harder.

98G & I have moved a LOT of heavy stuff around....but then again, he's all muscle.

 

[Jbulach]

What silverstate said! Also a stubby jack is nice for making the first lift of the axle when the tire is missing... I also carry a decent size steel plate for a jack base when on soft ground, and don't forget the water jug when it's 95F outside!

 

[Alice]

Wreckerman893 that is wicked insight, you rock! Have you worked a lot with these types of truck specifically?

 

[98G]

Prepare for worst case - commercial heavy tow.

But set up for best case - someone not too far away with tools and a large military vehicle. Carry air lines, towbars, chains, and towlights, as well as tire changing tools and basic mechanics tools.

So you blow a tire and can't change it yourself. Call roadside assistance and fork over the $$. It isn't the end of the world...

Or you break down and need the vehicle towed. Get on here and yell for help. Very likely someone nearby will come out with a 5ton and tow you, especially if you already have the needed equipment. If not free, then at least cheaper than commercial towing. ("Will tow for food. ..") or worst case, fork over the $650 or so for a commercial tow. It's not like you'll be doing it every day... (or at least hope not...)

Here's one of my godforsaken trips, where I had so many blowouts I ran out of spares - http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showth...Bliss-to-OKC-to-Ft-Riley-to-St-Louis-and-back

 

[Alice]

Prepare for worst case - commercial heavy tow.
But set up for best case - someone not too far away with tools and a large military vehicle. Carry air lines, towbars, chains, and towlights, as well as tire changing tools and basic mechanics tools.
So you blow a tire and can't change it yourself. Call roadside assistance and fork over the $$. It isn't the end of the world...
Or you break down and need the vehicle towed. Get on here and yell for help. Very likely someone nearby will come out with a 5ton and tow you, especially if you already have the needed equipment. If not free, then at least cheaper than commercial towing. ("Will tow for food. ..") or worst case, fork over the $650 or so for a commercial tow. It's not like you'll be doing it every day... (or at least hope not...)
Here's one of my godforsaken trips, where I had so many blowouts I ran out of spares - http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showth...Bliss-to-OKC-to-Ft-Riley-to-St-Louis-and-back

I know i sound a bit overenthusiastic sometimes but its literally because you guys have been so awesome already with encouraging me to follow this passion for MVs. Its always kind of scary to jump ass first into anything but ive gotten a lot of confidence from being here, reading all of your stories and posts. Usually the forums i go on for other hobbies are quite pessimistic, like the dutch barge boating communities pretty much boo and hiss newcomers from the waters with horror stories before they even get a boat to sit on. I dont like that negative attitude. So im really glad i found you guys. I hope some day i can also come out and tow one of you guys out of a ****hole with my 5ton <3

About $650 worst case scenario sounds pretty reasonable to me!

Im now hunting for a pretty nicely maintained M934, hopefully by the end of the summer ill have some time on the roads with it.

 

[Mos68x]

Be sure to post some pics if you do find one. In a way I kinda wish mine had come with the van body instead of bare chassis, but I did get it considerably cheaper than if it had it.