A.J.'s Runner - "Please Stand-by"...Product Review

[CTENG in KS]

I am beginning to think I have reused this tire carrier one to many times...

[Duffil]

just buy a new rear axle man....

[CTENG in KS]

you are not helping.

[Duffil]

[CTENG in KS]

You know things have gone well when you are able to throw a couple Toyota gussets in to the mix.  I need to get a skinnier spare one fo these days, but I am thrilled that it is up out of my way now.

[CTENG in KS]

Did my taxes and then decided to get on the bike for a while.  Need to order some parts for the truck and I am stalling.  The seat mount is finished up and I am trying to decide on a position for the rear fender.  Anyone have any suggestions?  Not sure I like this...although the blue fender isn't helping.  It will be gray and red to match the tank at some point.

[CTENG in KS]

Finished the new tank mounts and got some pictures of the suspension.  I don't usually have enough room to take and decent pics of the back end.  I removed the lower crossmember I had built for the tank when I had it mounted lower so this is the bestest view I have been able to get.  I also mounted the dr side shock.  I need to get some batteries so I can see about starting this deal up.  I also need to have the rear driveshaft lengthened.  I moved the axle back so far it doesn't even allow the splines to connect.

[CTENG in KS]

Aaaaand ready for harnesses.  Still have to buy harnesses, but I am READY for them!

My grinder is dying :moment of silence:

[*** YELLER ***]

   

Looking good AJ you gonna leave the inside white or paint it later

[BLACKDOG]

grinders are on sale at HF, 10 bucks!    


rig is looking good buddy.  Wish I was moving as quick as you are

[DTB]

what kinda grinder?


I seen some hitachis and dewalts last a pretty damn long time


just and FYI....I've seen some HF grinders (and other electrical tools) burst into flames before..... 

[BLACKDOG]

what kinda grinder?


I seen some hitachis and dewalts last a pretty damn long time


just and FYI....I've seen some HF grinders (and other electrical tools) burst into flames before..... 

standard 4 1/2 angle grinder.  I've seen dewalts and milwalkees burst into flames too  

I just figure it'll take a lot of HF $10 grinders being burnt up or out before I hit the cost of 1 dewalt grinder

[CTENG in KS]

what kinda grinder?


I seen some hitachis and dewalts last a pretty damn long time


just and FYI....I've seen some HF grinders (and other electrical tools) burst into flames before..... 

Interesting I had my cheapo HF corded drill smoking today.  I bought it to keep my pilot nit in and ONLY drill pilot holes.  Today I tried to drill something larger and smelly smoke started coming out.  Oops.  Back to pilot holes only please. 
My grinder is the same Makita I have been mercilessly beating without maintenance for the last 5 or 6 years.  I ordered up another one just like it.  Should be here thursday or friday.  Then I will autopsy this one.  Might be salvagable to just keep a wire wheel on it...but I kinda doubt it.  Not with the noise it is making.  Sounds like gear teeth are missing.

YELLER...THE INSIDE IS NOT WHITE IT IS LIGHT FREAKING GRAY FOR THE HUNDRETH TIME!!!!

[*** YELLER ***]

YELLER...THE INSIDE IS NOT WHITE IT IS LIGHT FREAKING GRAY FOR THE HUNDRETH TIME!!!!

UM EDIT: ARE YOU GONNA KEEP THE INSIDE LIGHT FREEKIN GREY OR PAINT IT 

[CTENG in KS]

Grinder Autopsy - Part 1

My nice new Makita 4.5 inch grinder arrived today, so it is time to destruct the old one and see what there is to see.  If you have never pulled a grinder apart, here is a quick look at what is inside.

Start with one lightly used grinder making horrific noises.



First remove the ring gear and shaft housing with four screws.



Next remove the 4 screws holding the head of the grinder to the plastic body and unscrew the two large plastic plugs on the sides of the body.  Underneath the plugs are springs and blocks that ride on the bottom of the rotor.  Once the spring/blocks are removed the rotor and head assembly will pull out the top of the body.





Now using a flathead you can gently work the panel sealing off the rotor down and separate the rotor/pinion assembly from the last of the upper housing.  This will expose the cute tiny little pinion gear.



Unscrew the base from the plastic body and slide it down the cord to allow inspection of the wiring.



Finally pull out the dust cover from inside the top of the plastic body revealing the motor magnets.  If you wish you may go farther by pulling the wiring and taking the magnets out.  The wiring is a bit of a pain to access and this is not where the problems with this grinder lie, so I left them in.



This concludes part 1.  The gunky parts are currently taking a Palmolive bath to ready for inspection diagnosis.  More will follow tomorrow.

[THK Matt]

yuk.... mine probably looks disgusting. 7 years of abuse.

4in Dewalt.

[unclejpl4x4]

just poor some on it   it will all be better

[CTENG in KS]

Grinder Autopsy Part 2 - The Diagnosis

After a bit of soaking I was able to clear off enough gunk to figure out what is wrong.  I took the circle clip off that hold the pinion gear on and removed the gear.  The pinion bearing beneath it only makes a 1/4 turn before grinding and getting stuck.  Wonder if I can find a replacement.  I am gonna look for one.  And the worlds smallest bearing puller as well.
I also got the dr side harness bar in...the cage is now officially DONE!  Only the fenders and front bumper left to work out.  As soon as the harnesses get here the seats can go in and I can reassemble the dash area stuff.

[CTENG in KS]

One seat and belt set fully installed and adjusted.  What a massive PITA these things are.  There is enough extra belt to strap in a 1000# guy...or mount the belt tabs on the rear bumper.

[CTENG in KS]

Put on my new late(r) model steering wheel.  No more tiny wheel for me.  Hated that stoopid thing.  Seats and harnesses are in and done.  Then...oooops...sawzall assault!

[86turboyota]

Put on my new late(r) model steering wheel.  No more tiny wheel for me.  Hated that stoopid thing.

did you have to do anything special?  ive been thinking about putting a tacoma steering wheel in my 4runner

[CTENG in KS]

Nothing special...just bolt it on.  Splines are the same. 

[86turboyota]

sweet!

[jimbo74]

does that steering wheel have an airbag?

[unclejpl4x4]

does that steering wheel have an airbag?

i see a horn button in the middle i would think not.  I do see cruise controls those, are you gona hook them up or use them for some evil device AJ ? 

[CTENG in KS]

Those are the incognito NOS buttons. One for arming the system and the other for ludicris speed! 

No airbag...they didn't put them in the trucks that early.  Tacomas may have been the first with AB's.

[CTENG in KS]

Starting this magical mystery bumper with a winch plate given to me by Marlin himself.  THANKS MARLIN!!  I have had it in the garage for a year and a half, finally doing something with it.  It had wings, I cut them off to be turned into other parts of the bumper.

Just got a couple angles on.  Started with a cute little root weld using the wire welder, then on to a double shot of 7018.  By the fourth pass I was finally starting to figure out how this rod works.  This last weld actually came out decent.  More practice will follow.

[CTENG in KS]

The front skid is removable so I can access the winch bolts.  Mostly just looks like a maxi pad with wings right now.

[CTENG in KS]

Now it is a super maxi pad!

[CTENG in KS]

I am building the larger panels out of 16g plate to try to keep the weight down.  This means I need to add strength in local areas to make up for the lack of beef.  I used stiffene7ing straps along the inside of the largest panel to add a little extra moment in there.  Will probably add a vertical stiffener as well once the top plate is in place.  Got the corners figured out too.  I made cardboard models at work to decide what I liked.  The cool think is that, so far, I can lift the bumper with one hand easily...but it is pretty strong.