Kawgomoo
Banned
- 86
- 11
- 0
- Location
- Phoenix,Az
Well after much anticipation and searching i finally pulled the trigger and picked me up a 5 ton m923a1.
Won it off GL, Fontana yard.
This was my first time buying off GL, and my first time driving a 5ton. I had only seen one in person, once, the day before when a fellow member here took time to walk me around his truck.
Needless to say i was a little nervous. Ive read all the horror stories. But from what i could tell, it seemed like most the problems people have they bring on themselves. At least by taking others "for their word" on the condition of the truck. I could see this truck start and move under its own power. But other than that. No idea.
In the GL video they show the truck start, pull forward pull back. thats it. The in cab video was with the truck shut down, so no gauges or anything. I noticed the next item number they did the same thing but the in cab video was still with the truck running. This raised some doubt in my mind. But not enough apparently. I was off to bid!
Once i won and paid for the truck i was off to pick it up! I had everything i needed...or so i had hoped. Tools, airhose, glad hand connector, you name it! Once i got to the yard i realized the truck had a brand new inflator hose setup, new safety triangles, tire tools, bottle jack, shovel, fire axe, pick axe and handle. all brand new in their respective cardboard boxes. Truck was almost on Full of fuel too! sweet!
Truck started with a jump. The lot attendant started it, with a huff of ether. No idea why he did that, its 80 degree day in socal. But i dont speak spanish and he dont speak english so that will just remain a mystery. Once the truck was running he took off. They say no working on the truck, but i was escorted back there with my car full of tools and left at it. I dont think anyone really cares so long as you dont make a mess on the ground.
Trucks running, i thought i saw a little smoke coming from the dash. I write it off as dust blowing off the truck from sitting. I pull the truck to the front of the lot and let it run. The wife comments she thought she saw some smoke from under the hood, or maybe it was just dust? Leave truck running, go check out another item for a member real fast. Come back, jump in the truck and hit the road.
As soon as i jumped in the cab i had that sinking feeling. Seemed awful hot and humid in there, with that unmistakable sweet smell of coolant. But with the truck sitting, you didnt really notice anything. Pulled out the lot and out onto slover. Once the truck was moving forward, all the steam and crap was blowing into the cab through the air vents. It was a pure clam bake! Coolant by this time was starting to pool on the floor. I was about 100 yards from the GL lot. OH CRAP! What do i do now? When i pulled out the lot, i wanted to go directly to an auto parts store and look it over. This didnt happen. I went the wrong way, dead locked in traffic. People zippin all about, lookin for a place to ditch this beast and fast! Couldnt see out the **** windows because of all the steam.
I saw a little residential area and whipped in. Popped the hood and shut the truck down {will it start off its own batteries? i wondered} Knowing it was just a heater core issue i grabbed some gloves and a screwdriver and climbed up. Luckily these military trucks have everything covered. Each heater hose has petcock where it comes out the engine. Blow a line or something just shut off the petcocks and your golden! I still looped the line while i was there just for good measure though. After about ten minutes i closed it back up, fired the truck off her own batts and was off again.
Made the rest of the drive with only a few small issues.
Right headlight would occasionally flicker. Found out the hood insulation had fallen down and this was rubbing the back of the head light. maybe wiggling the connection. I have corrected the hood liner issue will see if the problem persists.
Tail lights are dim. Could be a bad ground, could just be the way they are. Also if parking brake is set tail lights {running lights} turn off. This seems very strange to me.
Has a small drip from trans pan, that was obviously over tightened and split the gasket at last service. easy fix. everything else looks real good on the truck. Ran about 65 all the from Fontana to Phoenix, it slowed to about 50 going up the grades but i realized if i just pinned the throttle before i hit the grade it would roll through it much better with minimal speed loss.
No air going to the horns. Voltage is present, solenoid clicks. No honk.
Need to check and adjust primary air pressure, seems about 10psi high.
Thats about it! I applied for my sf97 today {1-29-14} we will see how long it takes!
Won it off GL, Fontana yard.
This was my first time buying off GL, and my first time driving a 5ton. I had only seen one in person, once, the day before when a fellow member here took time to walk me around his truck.
Needless to say i was a little nervous. Ive read all the horror stories. But from what i could tell, it seemed like most the problems people have they bring on themselves. At least by taking others "for their word" on the condition of the truck. I could see this truck start and move under its own power. But other than that. No idea.
In the GL video they show the truck start, pull forward pull back. thats it. The in cab video was with the truck shut down, so no gauges or anything. I noticed the next item number they did the same thing but the in cab video was still with the truck running. This raised some doubt in my mind. But not enough apparently. I was off to bid!
Once i won and paid for the truck i was off to pick it up! I had everything i needed...or so i had hoped. Tools, airhose, glad hand connector, you name it! Once i got to the yard i realized the truck had a brand new inflator hose setup, new safety triangles, tire tools, bottle jack, shovel, fire axe, pick axe and handle. all brand new in their respective cardboard boxes. Truck was almost on Full of fuel too! sweet!
Truck started with a jump. The lot attendant started it, with a huff of ether. No idea why he did that, its 80 degree day in socal. But i dont speak spanish and he dont speak english so that will just remain a mystery. Once the truck was running he took off. They say no working on the truck, but i was escorted back there with my car full of tools and left at it. I dont think anyone really cares so long as you dont make a mess on the ground.
Trucks running, i thought i saw a little smoke coming from the dash. I write it off as dust blowing off the truck from sitting. I pull the truck to the front of the lot and let it run. The wife comments she thought she saw some smoke from under the hood, or maybe it was just dust? Leave truck running, go check out another item for a member real fast. Come back, jump in the truck and hit the road.
As soon as i jumped in the cab i had that sinking feeling. Seemed awful hot and humid in there, with that unmistakable sweet smell of coolant. But with the truck sitting, you didnt really notice anything. Pulled out the lot and out onto slover. Once the truck was moving forward, all the steam and crap was blowing into the cab through the air vents. It was a pure clam bake! Coolant by this time was starting to pool on the floor. I was about 100 yards from the GL lot. OH CRAP! What do i do now? When i pulled out the lot, i wanted to go directly to an auto parts store and look it over. This didnt happen. I went the wrong way, dead locked in traffic. People zippin all about, lookin for a place to ditch this beast and fast! Couldnt see out the **** windows because of all the steam.
I saw a little residential area and whipped in. Popped the hood and shut the truck down {will it start off its own batteries? i wondered} Knowing it was just a heater core issue i grabbed some gloves and a screwdriver and climbed up. Luckily these military trucks have everything covered. Each heater hose has petcock where it comes out the engine. Blow a line or something just shut off the petcocks and your golden! I still looped the line while i was there just for good measure though. After about ten minutes i closed it back up, fired the truck off her own batts and was off again.
Made the rest of the drive with only a few small issues.
Right headlight would occasionally flicker. Found out the hood insulation had fallen down and this was rubbing the back of the head light. maybe wiggling the connection. I have corrected the hood liner issue will see if the problem persists.
Tail lights are dim. Could be a bad ground, could just be the way they are. Also if parking brake is set tail lights {running lights} turn off. This seems very strange to me.
Has a small drip from trans pan, that was obviously over tightened and split the gasket at last service. easy fix. everything else looks real good on the truck. Ran about 65 all the from Fontana to Phoenix, it slowed to about 50 going up the grades but i realized if i just pinned the throttle before i hit the grade it would roll through it much better with minimal speed loss.
No air going to the horns. Voltage is present, solenoid clicks. No honk.
Need to check and adjust primary air pressure, seems about 10psi high.
Thats about it! I applied for my sf97 today {1-29-14} we will see how long it takes!
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