Welp, wrenched on the buggy until 9:30 Thursday night and finally left for Moab about 10:00. More details in build thread.
Woke up Saturday morning smiling and excited to see how the buggy would work knowing there could be major problems and at least many minor ones. Grabbed gas and groceries and some stuff from the auto parts store and headed out to BFE. We decided to trailer to the BFE parking area in case we had trouble and that was a wise choice. We unloaded and I checked fluids again, remembering I'd never checked the diffs I added a quart to the front and it could have used more. We spooled the winch and finally got started.
I pulled up to some big boulders but couldn't get the buggy in first. Still tried the obstacle and got up into a bad spot and POP. Steam and moisure covered the front end. We had removed a zip tie that was holding the upper radiator hose and forgot to put it back. It had dropped back into the alternator pulley and sliced real nice.
I unhooked the trailer and ran back into town for another hose and antifreeze. Back up to BFE and replaced everything and then adjusted shifter linkage. First gear is much better. :greg: After a couple of hours and burping the radiator a couple of times, we were cooling again and back on the road.
We played by the parking lot for a bit longer then headed for Minor Threat. I settled in and started getting used the buggy and it to me. It felt great to be in a buggy again and wheeling. The thing was working well. We went through everything without any trouble at all.
We pulled up to an obstacle that was looking fun with a bunch of people there. Turned out Steve Nance and a some old ARCA comptetitors and friends were there so we BS'd and watched them finish up and play a bit. I asked if we were going to do Green Day soon and they said this was the first obstacle. Of course I had to try a different line than everyone and bounced pretty hard after hitting the throttle a bit harder than I'd planned and hit my head on the roll bar. OUch, that left a mark. Found out 2 things, I love the throttle response of the 5.3 and I the seat is a bit close to the top of the cage. I really need to tighten my belts when trying stuff like that. I ended up just using the line that everyone else went up.
We proceded on the trail a ways and ran into a group that had flopped a TJ. I notice a big orange Scrambler there and knew Mike Bear had to close by. Sure enough he was with the group. It was good to catch up on old times and shoot the breeze. Man it was good to be out wheeling again. We waited for them to clear the trail and headed the rest of the way out.
When we got to the last waterfall I pulled up on it and it felt real good. I played for a minute and Scott told me to move my rear end over to the left a bit. I got there, lined up, and did a nice controlled climb, without much throttle at all, just momentum. It walked right up it. I couldn't believe how great it felt and did to be back on the hard stuff again. Then I pointed up the little squeeze notch above the waterfall and went up there without a problem, but did scratch some paint on the cage.
Those obstacles made my whole day, and trip for that matter. I couldn't be happier with how the buggy did.
The rest of the group played on both sections but didn't make it up and it was getting dark by this time we headed back. We were going down the steep gravel hill on Strike Ravine that ends up by the entrance to Upper Helldorado. I was having a blast until the buggy started acting funny. It wasn't slowing down like it should and when it would bounce it was vibrating badly. When I got the bottom I got out and looked and couldn't see anything, but it was pretty dark by then and I didn't have a light. I motored up the last hill was within a 100 feet of the trailer when the buggy shuddered hard, popped and I didn't have rear wheel drive any more. I got out and looked and the first thing I noticed was the rear driveline was hanging down and two caps were gone. Then I noticed the pinion pointing downward. I looked at the control arms to see which one was broken but they were all in place. Then I noticed the rear truss hanging in the air. It had broken loose from the axle and was barely hanging on. I limped it to the trailer in front wheel drive and loaded it up. Later on back at the hotel after dinner I noticed that the bottoms of both air shocks were broken also.
Despite the carnage I am extremely pleased with the buggy. I have a list of adjustments to make and need to get the shock parts and get the truss welded back on and reinforced a bit but that shouldn't take much time. I can't wait to get it fixed and back on the trail again. Wish there were pics but no one had a camera. I will have a couple pics of the buggy over in the build thread.
Woke up Saturday morning smiling and excited to see how the buggy would work knowing there could be major problems and at least many minor ones. Grabbed gas and groceries and some stuff from the auto parts store and headed out to BFE. We decided to trailer to the BFE parking area in case we had trouble and that was a wise choice. We unloaded and I checked fluids again, remembering I'd never checked the diffs I added a quart to the front and it could have used more. We spooled the winch and finally got started.
I pulled up to some big boulders but couldn't get the buggy in first. Still tried the obstacle and got up into a bad spot and POP. Steam and moisure covered the front end. We had removed a zip tie that was holding the upper radiator hose and forgot to put it back. It had dropped back into the alternator pulley and sliced real nice.
I unhooked the trailer and ran back into town for another hose and antifreeze. Back up to BFE and replaced everything and then adjusted shifter linkage. First gear is much better. :greg: After a couple of hours and burping the radiator a couple of times, we were cooling again and back on the road.
We played by the parking lot for a bit longer then headed for Minor Threat. I settled in and started getting used the buggy and it to me. It felt great to be in a buggy again and wheeling. The thing was working well. We went through everything without any trouble at all.
We pulled up to an obstacle that was looking fun with a bunch of people there. Turned out Steve Nance and a some old ARCA comptetitors and friends were there so we BS'd and watched them finish up and play a bit. I asked if we were going to do Green Day soon and they said this was the first obstacle. Of course I had to try a different line than everyone and bounced pretty hard after hitting the throttle a bit harder than I'd planned and hit my head on the roll bar. OUch, that left a mark. Found out 2 things, I love the throttle response of the 5.3 and I the seat is a bit close to the top of the cage. I really need to tighten my belts when trying stuff like that. I ended up just using the line that everyone else went up.
We proceded on the trail a ways and ran into a group that had flopped a TJ. I notice a big orange Scrambler there and knew Mike Bear had to close by. Sure enough he was with the group. It was good to catch up on old times and shoot the breeze. Man it was good to be out wheeling again. We waited for them to clear the trail and headed the rest of the way out.
When we got to the last waterfall I pulled up on it and it felt real good. I played for a minute and Scott told me to move my rear end over to the left a bit. I got there, lined up, and did a nice controlled climb, without much throttle at all, just momentum. It walked right up it. I couldn't believe how great it felt and did to be back on the hard stuff again. Then I pointed up the little squeeze notch above the waterfall and went up there without a problem, but did scratch some paint on the cage.
Those obstacles made my whole day, and trip for that matter. I couldn't be happier with how the buggy did.The rest of the group played on both sections but didn't make it up and it was getting dark by this time we headed back. We were going down the steep gravel hill on Strike Ravine that ends up by the entrance to Upper Helldorado. I was having a blast until the buggy started acting funny. It wasn't slowing down like it should and when it would bounce it was vibrating badly. When I got the bottom I got out and looked and couldn't see anything, but it was pretty dark by then and I didn't have a light. I motored up the last hill was within a 100 feet of the trailer when the buggy shuddered hard, popped and I didn't have rear wheel drive any more. I got out and looked and the first thing I noticed was the rear driveline was hanging down and two caps were gone. Then I noticed the pinion pointing downward. I looked at the control arms to see which one was broken but they were all in place. Then I noticed the rear truss hanging in the air. It had broken loose from the axle and was barely hanging on. I limped it to the trailer in front wheel drive and loaded it up. Later on back at the hotel after dinner I noticed that the bottoms of both air shocks were broken also.
Despite the carnage I am extremely pleased with the buggy. I have a list of adjustments to make and need to get the shock parts and get the truss welded back on and reinforced a bit but that shouldn't take much time. I can't wait to get it fixed and back on the trail again. Wish there were pics but no one had a camera. I will have a couple pics of the buggy over in the build thread.
