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Recovery disaster - Long

NDT

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Guys you are getting off track. Trailboss had already brought his 818 home and gone through it. He was now using it for what he bought it for, pulling trailers. The ole Cummins just came apart for whatever reason. It is a risk we all face anytime we use a mechanical device.
 

ctmustang

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Thomasville-N.C.
With all do respest to WVHillbilly-I like to purchase my trucks from GL. I recently in aug. purchased a truck from gl in pa. and on same trip we picked up a total of 5 deuces. When I saw my truck in person for the 1st time man what an ugly site. Paint all flaking and popping off-cargo cover torn and falling off-drivers seat all torn up-etc. But when I raised the hood what should appear but a fresh engine with paint still on areas it wouldn't be after say a few thousand miles and what a strong runner it is. 10 new tires trans and transfer case and all u joints recently replaced. All 5 trucks ran flawlessly all the way from pa. to nc. all 550 miles. I am about half done with the frame off resto. I am having a blast restoring the truck to it's original 1970 appearance. Just have to say I love the thrill - adventure of the unknown when buying from GL.
Just my 3 cents worth respectfully
CTMustang:beer:
 

wvhillbilly

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Glad I replied, love to stir the pot!!!

You folks love your trucks your way, an' I luv 'em my way. Just remember one thing, we all love OD green. The way I bought mine is MY way, you buy 'em yer way. I will say that I have had all tires/drums/axles out of my truck and was satisfied that all components were in good shape. In addition, I have had the top off of the tranny to inspect the gears. Result A-ok. I do however need to reeplace the rear main bearing seal as it it a little wet between the engine/trans. Not dripping, just damp. Am also going to convert the oil filters to spin ons with a conversion kit I have available thru my store. Jeff Hill,
ASE certified Parts Specialist, Fisher Auto Parts store manager.:p
 

OPCOM

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pictures and detail report of the engine boo-boo please??

And a far as buying from a PVT seller or GL, there is no guarantee either way whatsoever that 110 miles down the road, the otherwise good machiney won't have some kind of issue. All you get when you buy from a person is that you can check it over and drive it off the property (unless there is some kind of stated guarantee).

When you buy from a PVT party, the benefit is the truck should have been checked through and in the advertised operating condition. Maybe they have put 1000 miles on it, so it's been debugged. But there are always more bugs waiting.
 

MCHoward

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Kansas City,MO
TB thank you for the pix on how to rig the tow truck. I hope I never need to use such info but its good to know. I just drove from Kansas city up to fort dodge last friday to recover my M35a2. After airing up a tire and checking everythingi could think of i drove it home some 200miles with no problems. i did take a friend and his big truck and trailer just in case
 

Trailboss

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Appreciate all the comments, on recovering trucks from GL. I've done it both ways, and it just depends on a lot of things if I'll drive or haul next time.

In this case, I already had the M818, had gone through it, changed fluids, gone through the PM procedures, done minor repairs, and had driven it and hauled trailers about 1000 miles before something came apart. Engine oil was good, no metal in the oil pan when that was checked, and it looked good with the valve covers off. Evidently something caused the #3 piston to start coming apart, and that will have to be replaced. Piston #4 is damaged, but my diesel mechanic says it can probably still be used. The #3 injector looks like it has been hit with a ball peen hammer, but it can also probably be repaired. All the other cylinders have good compression. I'll post more pictures of the damage if I get a chance to take photos next week. The heads and pistons are being pulled today. Sometimes, **** just happens.

As I said before, it's not too much fun when something breaks, but it can be interesting. I'm learning a lot, and meeting new friends. :-D And life without a little adventure occasionally can get boring. I just hope it's a while before my next adventure, because right now I can't afford another one. :cry:
 
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todds112

Member
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Teton Valley, ID
I was really surprised at the tow bill(s). Back home in Ohio there a large tow company that had a big tow truck like that one. They told me they didn't even start the truck for less than $400.00.:roll: And here where EVERYTHING is ridiculously expensive, I have seen $400.00 tow bills for a simple winch-out and tow back to town for a passenger car.
 

Trailboss

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So, what's the status on the truck ?
It's moving about as fast as your "Duece-in-the Hole" :-D It ain't going anywhere soon.

Wreckerman has the same needs and we're scouring the country for Cummins NHC 250 pistons. It will probably take a few weeks to find a parts engine and tear it down. It would be nice to get Tim's engine, but that would also take a few weeks for me to gather the cash.
 

chgofiveo

New member
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Chicago IL
Hey Trailboss, sent you a PM with am idea I had... I didnt post it because it is related to a GL item...Its a fall back plan for you and Wreckerman

Good Luck Buddy
 

mkcoen

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Spring Branch, TX
Agree on the need for an update.

In regards to WVHillbilly, I can understand your position. Some people like buying new cars versus used ones as well because there's a sense that it is after all new so shouldn't break down. I'm sure the woman who bought the 2010 Camaro and drove 5 miles off the lot had the same feeling right before the electronics locked all the doors/windows, and shut the car down with no way out. These are "tactical" vehicles. If they didn't break down with some frequency the motorpool wouldn't have anything to do.

I bought my first MV from a private seller - biggest piece of *rap I have and the SOB responded less than a GL Rep at closing time. I've recovered over a dozen M35s for either myself or others at Ft Sam and wouldn't buy one any other way unless it was less than dirt cheap. To each his own, but I've had worse luck buying vehicles retail (civ or mvs) than I have buying either wholesale.
 

Trailboss

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Final Update - truck is running again

Final Update – Got her fixed!! :jumpin: Total bill - $2043 parts & labor, around $400 parts & shipping, $397 towing = $2840. :-(

Problem was one of the #3 cylinder valves dropped into the cylinder while at 1800 rpm and 45 mph. Before I could shut down the engine, it hammered the he11 out of the piston, injector and other valves. Also, some debris got into the #4 piston, but not bad. Photos added of the tops of the two cylinders, and the middle head (the rust is just from laying out in the weather for several months).

Picked up the truck about a week ago, finished the last 100 miles of the M871 trailer recovery I started 9 months ago, and then made two 380 mile round trips to recover two more M871 trailers. For the 20 hours on the road and 860 miles, the truck ran like a top and was getting 7.7 mpg ½ bobtail and ½ pulling a 17,000 lb trailer. I still have one more 380 mile round trip to pick up my last trailer. :driver:

After my experience, I think I’ll have to buy another M818 ASAP as both a spare, and to supply spare parts in the event of another engine failure, since the parts are so hard to come by. ;-)
 

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Westech

CPL
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cow farts, Wisconsin
as far as the air hook up goes, the 5ts have air glad hands with on/off valves on the front just for this reason
That was my question on why he did not hook up the brakes. That is what the glad hands are for on the 5 ton to hook up for the brakes. Sounds like to me that someone needs to be more familiar with there truck. Have said that I do not know all. But I would think that towing all that would have been better with all the brakes working.

But Im am glad its all fixed up and no one was hurt while all the towing and on the side of the road action.
 
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