Prioritize my PM?

[JCKnife]

Okay, drove the deuce home from Frankfort a little over a month ago, and just today got the title. That means I can get plates now. Yay!

But, in about a month (at the latest) I need to make a 350-mile round trip to Piqua, OH and back to pick up my ammo trailer. It's being stored at my employer's place and I need it here for an event on 3/13.

SO, with limited time and probably piss-poor weather between now and then, what do I ABSOLUTELY need to have done, PM wise, before then?

I was planning on...

1. Oil change (incl. filters o'course)
2. Fuel filter change
3. Check and possibly change the gear oil if needed
4. Inspect brake lines and fluid and wheel cylinders...

...but do I need to pull the wheels?

FYI it's not leaking anything anywhere that I have noticed, and the brakes seem to work fine.

Yes I have the TM's and I've been reading but I probably don't have time to do EVERYTHING that I could possibly do in the next month. So what's most important? I don't think the list in the TM is organized by importance.

Thank you for any advice.

 

[gimpyrobb]

How ya going to check the wheel cyls W/O pulling the wheels? Yeah, you need to pull them. You can see if your bearings need grease while your in there.

 

[blacktop_one]

I'd probably add:
Bleed/Flush the brakes
Coolant change
New wiper blades

Good luck with your trip!

 

[Heavysteven]

Going to change the fuel filters myself tomorrow.

I would buy the filters for the oil from Bladwin.

 

[JCKnife]

I had all my filters before I had the truck.

Sigh, I was hoping to avoid pulling the wheels because I don't have an easy way to lift them here. I'll have to figure that out.

 

[gimpyrobb]

"Lift"? You mean, like if you get a flat you can't change a tire cause you have no jack? You should fix that first.

 

[number9]

JC, one thing I'd invest in is a geared lug wrench to carry on the truck. A 12-ton bottle jack from Tractor Supply or Harbor Freight and a piece of 2x6 board about a foot or so long (or maybe a couple) to make a good base to sit the jack on for soft ground and to get the right height. And an air hose setup to run off the rear glad hand to air a tire up with. Oh, and a 3/4" breaker bar and 1 1/2" socket to get the spare tire down off the carrier.

I remember reading a post here where a guy got out on the road and had a flat tire with ZERO means of changing it. Something like that happening on the way or back beside the road would SUCK. Especially if it's cold and you've got your wife or kids with you.

......

 

[gimpyrobb]

I am headed north this weekend. If you want, I can pickup one of Kip's geared lug wrenches for ya to save you shipping. If you need to borrow a jack till later, I can help with that too. It will save you A TON of money not to fix this stuff while broke down on the road.

 

[papabear]

Wasn't mentioned in your checklist...but I know you will check lights/electrical systems. Might try to plug something into the truck to be sure the trailer connection works etc.
Also might wanna take a little extra wire and a few bulbs in case the trailer has issues?

As "little buddy" (gimp) said pull the wheels and look around...get a jack and a lug wrench.

I say spend the time you have on safety items...brakes, lights and lubes.

 

[JCKnife]

"Lift"? You mean, like if you get a flat you can't change a tire cause you have no jack? You should fix that first.

No no, I have a jack. But I've been reading that wheel and tire are like 165 lbs and you have to be careful when pulling them off not to mash the threads on the studs.

...or is it not as hard as I'm making it seem?

 

[JCKnife]

I have a lug wrench on order but it's not a "geared" one. I'll have to look that up, first I've heard of it...

 

[gimpyrobb]

Pics in the classifieds of the geared wrench, instructions in the PS magazine sections. The rim sits on the hub when unbolted, no need to worry about the threads.

 

[JCKnife]

Wasn't mentioned in your checklist...but I know you will check lights/electrical systems. Might try to plug something into the truck to be sure the trailer connection works etc.
Also might wanna take a little extra wire and a few bulbs in case the trailer has issues?

As "little buddy" (gimp) said pull the wheels and look around...get a jack and a lug wrench.

I say spend the time you have on safety items...brakes, lights and lubes.

Yeah, I did a basic check on lights before I drove it home of course. And everything seems ship-shape in that dept. I wonder if I could check the trailer pins with a multimeter? I'll have to look up the pin diagram. Good thought on bulbs for the trailer, hadn't considered that.

 

[gimpyrobb]

If the tail/stop/turn bulbs are out, you can pull a blackout bulb to replace it. Same bulb.

 

[sandcobra164]

JCKnife,
I've watched you're posts on here and you're alot like me. You tend to overthink things. In fact, you mentioned that you're truck is not leaking anything, you've changed the oil and checked you're trans, transfer and diffs. You also mentioned you have good brakes. I've also been putting off pulling the wheel's. I recently purchased all the tools required to put the spare tire on to replace a flat on the right rear. I've also got a leaking outer hub seal and need to fix that. You should be good to go on your pickup. For what it's worth, I've put over 500 miles on my Deuce with those faults. Drive it, top off what POL you've lost and enjoy it. Also, they only get around 10MPG!!!!! The people at the truck stop that I fill up at love me. PUT THEM ON THE ROAD!!!!!!!!

 

[63sierra10]

Yes a multi-meter or a 24 volt test light will work if you have no access to a military trailer plug in. For the lug wrench, I am old school and use a breaker bar with the Budd wheel socket and a cheater pipe. Also I use an air hose and a glad hand with an impact gun too. What ever floats your boat.

 

[number9]

Pics in the classifieds of the geared wrench, instructions in the PS magazine sections. The rim sits on the hub when unbolted, no need to worry about the threads.

I think he's talking about taking the hub/wheels assy off in one piece - when he says not letting the hub slide across the threads (on the axle tube).

........

 

[JCKnife]

JCKnife,
I've watched you're posts on here and you're alot like me. You tend to overthink things.

No doubt I can be a worry-wort when it comes to things like this. I'm not naturally very mechanical but I can do fine when I understand how things fit together. As a result I tend to ask too many questions.

I know the most popular answer is "read the TM" but I appreciate everyone's patience with me.

And h3ll yes, I am making this trip no matter what; just trying to do it as safely as I can.

Thing I've hesitated to mention...my spare is so cracked I doubt it's worth a damm. Probably need to get a better one soon, too...

 

[gimpyrobb]

If your running duals, you have 4 spares!

 

[JCKnife]

If your running duals, you have 4 spares!

That's the spirit!