Bleed Man Bleed

Yesterday I got Joyce up and out to help me do a another run at bleeding the brakes.  I had bled the front brakes after changing the calipers, but they still felt a little soft so I wanted to bleed the rear brakes, too.  After crawling around cussing and groaning for a while I decided it just wasn't worth it.  It was time to pay some younger guy to do it.  So, today we took Pumpkin to a local shop.  We had to go to Ozark anyway, so we dropped Pumpkin off and went to town.  When we came back, it was done.  The fella said I had actually done a good job.  He went ahead and vacuum bled the rears and bled the fronts anyway, but did not see a lot of air.  I had to pay him $30 for the compliment, but I'm satisfied there is no air in the lines.

Then on the way home, just as I started down the hill on Cox Road, I let off the gas and was touching the brakes a bit when all of a sudden they quit slowing me down.  They still felt firm, but just weren't slowing Pumpkin down.  So, what the heck???  Then I realized the engine had died - the fire had gone out.  Why?  I do not know.  It started right back up and didn't so much as hiccup again.  So now I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Oh yes, the transmission temperature gauge seems to work okay, although I'm still not sure of it's accuracy.  It only got as high as about 125-130 degrees.  I may have to wait until I'm pulling Coors up and down a few hills in hot weather to give it a good test.

Okay, now I'm getting pissed.  I received the replacement emergency flasher I ordered (the 2nd time) and IT DOES NOT WORK!  I'm too ticked off to investigate further right now.  Maybe tomorrow.

Temper Temper

I put the transmission temperature gauge in today.  I hated cutting the transmission cooler return line since the transmission was just resealed, but cut it, I did.  Didn't lose much fluid and managed to catch most of it.  It was a messy job, though, as fluid kept trickling out and running down my arms to my elbows.  Pretty difficult to use a wrench that is sloppy wet with transmission fluid.  But, I got that part done relatively easily.  All it amounted to was cutting the steel line and putting in a tee with compression fittings.  The temperature sensor screwed into the tee.

Next I had to run the wires.  This involved removing the panel between the door and windshield, the driver's side kick panel and the driver's side step (formed vinyl insert).  Running the wire from the sensor wasn't difficult.  I had to run it along the top of the cross-member which I did not particularly care for, but I couldn't run it up and over the transmission because it would have been too close the the exhaust.  There is several wire bundles running through the step well already so it was easy to just follow them.  In fact, I had ran another wire for the tow bar brake indicator through that same area some time ago.

I was able to snake the sensor wire, a ground wire and the "hot" wire up out of sight at the end of the dash.  I spray painted the back side of the meter (wires and all) with flat black paint then glued the gauge with rubber cement to the top of the dash over near the door post.  The paint was so it didn't looked too yucky from the outside, through the windshield.  I'm not sure how well the glue will hold, though.  Time will tell.

After all that work, and I'm not sure the gauge is working right - I can't tell without taking Pumpkin for a spin and heating up the transmission.  The gage's lowest reading is 100 degrees and just idling didn't seem to bring the temperature up enough to start registering.  So, I don't know if it is working right yet.  I've got to do some more brake bleeding, but when that's done I'll take pumpkin for a shakedown run.

Shot Myself In The Foot

Pumpkin's hazard flasher was too weak.  With Coors in tow, the rear lights were hardly visible.  They flashed so fast the bulbs did not have time to light up.  So, I went shopping for an electronic heavy duty flasher.  Local parts stores did not carry any (that I found) that could handle more than 6 bulbs.  With Coors in tow, I needed at least 8 bulb capacity.  I found what I wanted on-line and ordered it.

First, after several days, I had not received notice of shipment.  So, I emailed them and was told they were on back order.  I waited several more days and finally received notice it were on it's way.

Second, it had a USPS tracking number.  But, after a couple of days, when I checked the shipment progress, it showed it being repeatedly processed through the same facility in Pennsylvania.  Over and over each day it was the same...Processed through blah, blah, blah.  I contacted the postal service and they put a query on it.  I got a call from our local postmistress letting me know they were looking for it.

Eventually, it came, nearly 5 weeks after I ordered it.

Yesterday I stuck it in Pumpkin and immediately blew a fuse.  After all that crap, I had ordered the wrong part.  Now not only do I need a new flasher, but I need a new fuse.

I did a little better research this time (I hope) and ordered another part.  But, I ordered it from a different seller because it was several dollars cheaper (and maybe I was a little embarrassed after giving the first seller a hard time).  Now if it just doesn't go on back order and doesn't get lost in the mail...

I Don't Believe It!

I didn't go back to O'Reilly's yesterday after all.  Joyce and I went today.  Joyce needed some more groceries and it was a much cooler day.  Anyway, I returned the wrong size caliper repair kit (turns out they had ordered one for an F450 pickup, not an E450 van) and I bought a rebuilt right side caliper.  While there, I went ahead and bought a couple of quarts of synthetic transmission fluid to have on hand while on the road.  I got the parts and we came back home.  I jumped right in and installed the new right side caliper.  I was all set to add brake fluid and bleed the system.  I started on the left side, but try as I might, I could not crack open the bleed valve.  Finally it got so buggered up I had to give up.  I checked the right side and it opened right up.  Now I have to go back to town, AGAIN, to return the caliper and get another.  It wouldn't be too big a deal except it's 25 mi. one way.  That means I will have traveled 100 miles because of a mis-order (O'Reilly's fault) and a bad part (O'Reilly's supplier's fault).  So, I called O'Reilly's customer service to vent.  They're sending me a $25 gift card.  That about breaks me even with expenses, but not time.  Oh well, I am retired and wasn't doing anything anyway.

Update: Ditto and I went to town and got the replacement caliper.  It's on and Pumpkin is back down on the ground.  Joyce & I tried bleeding just the front brakes, but it's still pretty soft.  I'll have to move Pumpkin up on the driveway apron along side the garage so I can use my creeper to get under and bleed the rear brakes, too.  I needed it parked there anyway to add the transmission temp gauge sensor, so it's not a wasted effort.

Broken Brakes III

This is getting old.  Nobody carries the caliper piston - at least no place I can find.  So, I had to get the entire caliper.  I went to O'Reilly's yesterday and picked up the replacement caliper and one repair kit for the other side.  Shortly after I got home I made sure the caliper would fit the bracket.  It did.  Then I decided to go ahead and install the repair kit so both sides would be ready to go back together.  Double crap!  The seal and o-ring are the wrong size.  I called O'Reilly's back.  Wouldn't you know it, they can't get the correct part.  Sure wish they had determined that last week before I jumped through all these hoops.

So, today I'll be going back to O'Reilly's to get the caliper for the other side.  That will mean my brake job will have cost about $100 instead of the original estimate of $15 if the seals had been available AND the piston had not been chipped AND rabbits carried shotguns.  Oh well, I may as well spend another $20 or so and replace the brake lines while I'm at it.  Afterall, it's only money and it helps keep the Chinese and Mexicans working.

Broken Brakes II

Well crap.  I bought a Torx set and got the 2nd caliper apart.  But, when I got both the pistons out, I found one of the had a big chunk broken off at the bottom.  So now I need a new piston as well as seals.  Then I called O'Reilly Auto to see if they carried the piston.  Should have known better.  This is Sunday and the duffus that answered the phone couldn't find his butt.  He couldn't even find the order I placed last week for the seal kits.  So now I'm wondering if they are even on order.  Guess I'll just cool my heels until Monday and talk to someone who knows something (although, they're getting more and more difficult to find).

One thing did turn out okay this weekend.  I went to Stephen's to help with his wiring and while doing that we installed a 30 amp RV power outlet outside his workshop.  Now we can park Pumpkin at Stephen's and had air conditioning - something of a necessity right now for sure.  Oh, while doing this we also got his well artesian pump going, at least temporarily, and wiring run for a new well pump.  Stephen has been without water for over a week.  He has his name on the list to a new well drilled, but that may be another couple of weeks - or more.  At least now he can flush the toilet, shower and wash clothes.

Broken Brakes

As I posted earlier, the brakes need work.  I suspected a sticking caliper piston.  Today, after the shade finally moved over Pumpkin (it was over 100 degrees today), I jacked it up and pulled the wheels off.  Then I pulled both front calipers off to check them.  The right side has different bolts holding the thing together (torx head) and I don't have the tool for that - yet.  The left side had regular hex head bolts so I started there and sure enough, a piston was stuck.  These are "super duty" calipers and have two pistons on each side.  One was stuck on the left side.  The seal had split and water got in and rusted things up a bit.  It clean up okay, though.  I'll pick up some new seals and the torx tool Friday, but won't get to put it back together until after the weekend.  I'm going to Stephen's to help with some wiring.  So, I won't know if the right side had a sticking piston until then, but I think it is probably okay.

Thinking back, the guy we bought Pumpkin from told me he had put new pads on the front.  I suspect this caliper was sticking then and he thought it was the pads.  The new pads would have been thicker and re-positioned the piston which may have freed it up for a while.  Oh well.  It will be good now.