Just the short version:

I headed out to the Hammers on Saturday and check out the desert and hills... a fantastic area and I had a lot of fun... that evening I met up with Buck and a group he'd been running with and we all decided to go on a night run so at about 10 we headed into the hills. What a fantastic time!! It was everything I love about wheeling, the puzzle, the machine, the environment... and a great group of guys to run with... I made a few mistakes but mostly I think I did pretty good... right up to one obstacle that was quite hard but I think I went through pretty well...

...except that on the next obstacle I had no power in the front end

Once I lost the front end I think my brain disconnected from my right foot :shaking: because somewhere I got the impression that I should try to go harder so that I could get a little further along before being pulled or winching my way out.... so yea, it just got bad from there... I smashed one of my rear links hard which in turn snapped the rear drive-line (or at least the flange that holds it to the 3rd member) so now I have no drive left at all and we're only about ¾ of the way through the trail...

I'll spare the details of the rest of the trip except to say that it took a good 16 hours to get Nola back to the pavement so I could get her towed home. I do need to add that I'd still be stuck up there if it wasn't for Dave and his friends who were persistent and patient and fantastic in getting my broken down, sorry, idiotic butt out of there. I can't thank them enough for all the help they provided. I owe them all immensely.

Aftermath:
I've re-confirmed that I do truly hate that tru-track in front and I really need to get something different up there... with the tru-track if something happens to one side you lose both since all of the power will just slip to that side. I put her up on jack stands tonight and it looks like I only lost the passenger side so either a CV or an axle in front then it's just the link and the driveline and figuring out what happened to my winch... so not as bad as it might have been given how stupid I was with my right foot.

If it's the CV then I have a spare and can get running again fairly cheaply... but I've broken a CV before so where is that really even going to leave me. (yes I know I need to upgrade but damn that's a pricey proposition... ugh...) does someone want to buy a used tru-track? GBR HD CVs and axles? still won't get me close to paying for a Maraging 300... someone want to buy a kidney in excellent condition? maybe my liver (really don't need that right?)

Oh... and I know it will come up: I didn't pack a camera but I know pictures were taken so if I can get a hold of them I'll post them up for your pleasure and expected mockery at my brainlessness...

once you have 35s tru-tracs dont really work for shit...

Give Keith a call he can hook you up with the rovertracks cvs and axles and you wont have to worry about breaking front ends!!!

PS! This thread is worthless without pics......

Sounds like you had a lot of fun.
Great scenery.
Challenging trail.
You were not alone.
You didn't destroy the D90.
You didn't have to walk 10 miles back to the camp at night leaving the D90 abandoned & broken on the trail.
You didn't kill yourself.

What Lane said ^__^

(PICS OR IT DIDN'T HAPPEN!)
:p

The company states tru-tracs are not to be used with bigger than 31 inchs tires i believe.

You have reached the point most people get to with stock rover axles.

The best thing you can do is a toyota conversion

GBR axles will not cut it with 35's and doing the hammers

Ed

The company states tru-tracs are not to be used with bigger than 31 inchs tires i believe.

You have reached the point most people get to with stock rover axles.

The best thing you can do is a toyota conversion

GBR axles will not cut it with 35's and doing the hammers

Ed
I have to disagree about the GBR axles and 35s because I ran the hammers for three and a half years on GBRs and never broke one . for almost 2 of those years I ran those pos kmcs and 37 tsls and never broke an axle.

http://sterlingrovers.com/gallery/albums/Tin-Benders-2009/Tinbenders_09_072.sized.jpg
Sledge hammer

Way back in the Early days on Aftershock
http://sterlingrovers.com/gallery/albums/album02/indeximageaftershock2k7.jpg
on Boulder dash
http://sterlingrovers.com/gallery/albums/album05/102_0122.sized.jpg
ect.......

I have to disagree about the GBR axles and 35s because I ran the hammers for three and a half years on GBRs and never broke one . for almost 2 of those years I ran those pos kmcs and 37 tsls and never broke an axle.
ect.......

You must be the most cautious driver in the entire world. I have seen way stronger stuff break out there doing pretty tame stuff.

Oh, and do you have a brake master cylinder I can buy? I pooped one.

Oh and:

Hammers: 1
B-Rad: 0


:flipoff2:

That was an experience to say the least. It was the worst extraction I have ever had. Not the worst brake at all, but damn, getting it out sucked!

.If it's the CV then I have a spare and can get running again fairly cheaply

Wait, did you have a spare with you? If you did, I'm going to kill you.

Wait, did you have a spare with you? If you did, I'm going to kill you.

:flipoff2:

no, unfortunately I didn't have a spare with me. I _own_ a spare but it's in Colorado... I'm headed back tomorrow night so I'm hoping to bring it back with me if TSA doesn't have a hemorage when they see it in my carryon :evil:

:flipoff2:

no, unfortunately I didn't have a spare with me. I _own_ a spare but it's in Colorado... I'm headed back tomorrow night so I'm hoping to bring it back with me if TSA doesn't have a hemorage when they see it in my carryon :evil:

Ill be in Denver for a conference all next week, you gonna be around??

I'm in Denver just until Sunday and then NJ next week :(

i am just about ready to sale my both axels if you intrested. front as arb 475 gear set from GBR a set of heavy duty cv and axels from rover track rear as arb 475 gear set and axels from GBR and a spare set of axels from rovertrack run the hammers for the last two year with 37 pitbull rockers and no problems so far. I am going for a full baggy d60 and 39 call me if you intrested i will give you a good deal.

You must be the most cautious driver in the entire world. I have seen way stronger stuff break out there doing pretty tame stuff.

Oh, and do you have a brake master cylinder I can buy? I pooped one.

you running a Disco or defender M/C ?

Just the short version:

I headed out to the Hammers on Saturday and check out the desert and hills... a fantastic area and I had a lot of fun... that evening I met up with Buck and a group he'd been running with and we all decided to go on a night run so at about 10 we headed into the hills. What a fantastic time!! It was everything I love about wheeling, the puzzle, the machine, the environment... and a great group of guys to run with... I made a few mistakes but mostly I think I did pretty good... right up to one obstacle that was quite hard but I think I went through pretty well...

...except that on the next obstacle I had no power in the front end

Once I lost the front end I think my brain disconnected from my right foot :shaking: because somewhere I got the impression that I should try to go harder so that I could get a little further along before being pulled or winching my way out.... so yea, it just got bad from there... I smashed one of my rear links hard which in turn snapped the rear drive-line (or at least the flange that holds it to the 3rd member) so now I have no drive left at all and we're only about ¾ of the way through the trail...

I'll spare the details of the rest of the trip except to say that it took a good 16 hours to get Nola back to the pavement so I could get her towed home. I do need to add that I'd still be stuck up there if it wasn't for Dave and his friends who were persistent and patient and fantastic in getting my broken down, sorry, idiotic butt out of there. I can't thank them enough for all the help they provided. I owe them all immensely.

Aftermath:
I've re-confirmed that I do truly hate that tru-track in front and I really need to get something different up there... with the tru-track if something happens to one side you lose both since all of the power will just slip to that side. I put her up on jack stands tonight and it looks like I only lost the passenger side so either a CV or an axle in front then it's just the link and the driveline and figuring out what happened to my winch... so not as bad as it might have been given how stupid I was with my right foot.

If it's the CV then I have a spare and can get running again fairly cheaply... but I've broken a CV before so where is that really even going to leave me. (yes I know I need to upgrade but damn that's a pricey proposition... ugh...) does someone want to buy a used tru-track? GBR HD CVs and axles? still won't get me close to paying for a Maraging 300... someone want to buy a kidney in excellent condition? maybe my liver (really don't need that right?)

Oh... and I know it will come up: I didn't pack a camera but I know pictures were taken so if I can get a hold of them I'll post them up for your pleasure and expected mockery at my brainlessness...

What trail did you guys end up on. just curios . And was that you with the guy in the black disco truggy ?

What trail did you guys end up on. just curios . And was that you with the guy in the black disco truggy ?

That was my first time out at the Hammers so Buck will have to answer the "what trail" question. It was some time after 10pm and I just followed them across the lake and into the hills... We had atoyota truggy, Buck's modded Defender and my D90

So how much are you looking to get for the TT and the GBR rear axles :D



I know I'm a vulture....

:flipoff2:

damn vultures...

I'd _like_ to get the cost of a toy conversion :grinpimp: but would need to throw in a kidney and my first born I'm sure :shaking:

I'm currently trying to figure out what my different options are going to cost me so I haven't definately decided to sell yet... but if you wanted to throw me an offer it might swing me one direction or another...

Ill be in Denver for a conference all next week, you gonna be around??

Lane - give a call if feel like some beers, i'll be running around

B lost- my 2 cents, i've run almost every rover axle/diff combo, save for the toy stuff. Its not industructible as i found out my last hammers trip, but pretty damn stout.

Brendon

you running a Disco or defender M/C ?

Thanks man and thanks PT, I got one from George for $135. Hope it was a good price.

What trail did you guys end up on. just curios . And was that you with the guy in the black disco truggy ?

SOS.
clawhammer

we did outerlimit at the tin bender. i do have a dark green disco truggy

SOS.
clawhammer

:smokin:

S.O.S.
clawhammer

:laughing: That's awesome on so many levels!

Hey Brad, if my ratchet strap survived can I have it back :D :flipoff2:

I'll spare the details of the rest of the trip except to say that it took a good 16 hours to get Nola back to the pavement so I could get her towed home. I do need to add that I'd still be stuck up there if it wasn't for Dave and his friends who were persistent and patient and fantastic in getting my broken down, sorry, idiotic butt out of there. I can't thank them enough for all the help they provided. I owe them all immensely.


The details of the recovery are the best part.

Brad now has no drive at all and we are winching and stacking with Buck daisy chained to Nugget while Briansc33 and I are stacking rocks. We are giving it all we've got until 4am when we decide to call it for the night due to Nugget losing his brakes and Buck's severely bent panhard bar. Brad sleeps with the rig and his dog.

Sunday morning.
We wake to the hammers pounding as they always do on the lakebed in the morning and get to work on the panhard. With a bit of redneck engineering we get somewhat straight and weld a cruch to it and decide it will do. We head out to see what we can do and find 3 SoCal Big Dawgs daisy chained to Brad and getting it on. As soon as they see us coming they figured they are off the hook and bail.
With clearer minds and a plan we get to work after getting Brad and his dog some food and water. We pulled the bend link and winch the rear axle back into position and secure it front and rear with come-a-longs. We use the front drive shaft to repair the rear shaft and now we have rear drive. Once we had rear drive the winching began and was going well until the rear come-a-long broke. With the rear resecured with a ratchet strap we made it out at 6pm.

Yeah it was a bitch.

Hey Brad, if my ratchet strap survived can I have it back :D :flipoff2:

Was the ratchet strap yours? I thought it was Nugget's... yes of course you can have it back: send me your address and I'll get it out to you as soon as I can, I'm glad you mentioned it before I sent it to the wrong person.

I think the remaining come-along is Nugget's though right?

The details of the recovery are the best part.

Okay... I'm removed from it by a week now so I can actually think about it :flipoff2: so I'll throw in a few extra details for the story...


Brad now has no drive at all no drive and my rear tire shoved so far into my body and slider that it won't budge. We spent a good hour or so with a come-along and a hammer just to get the tire far enough away that it was only rubbing the slider a bit and would actually move under pressure... even so my rig was acting like a giant boat anchor so every rock and obstacle had to be stacked... and since I couldn't back up... To give you an idea of how much pressure it was taking to get me to move: at one point we snapped a 30k strap and we are winching and stacking with Buck daisy chained to Nugget while Briansc33 and I are stacking rocks. We are giving it all we've got until 4am when we decide to call it for the night due to Nugget losing his brakes and Buck's severely bent panhard bar. Buck's panhard was bent all the way up into his bell-housing and my winch died... so two crippled rigs and a boat anchor wasn't promising... and then Buck looks and me and says "I've lost my Buzz" so yea, we were done for the night... Brad sleeps with the rig and his dog.

Sunday morning.
We wake to the hammers pounding as they always do on the lakebed in the morning and get to work on the panhard. With a bit of redneck engineering we get somewhat straight and weld a cruch to it and decide it will do. We head out to see what we can do and find 3 SoCal Big Dawgs daisy chained to Brad and getting it on.
I woke to a beautiful and quiet morning and quickly discovered that we were REALLY close to the top but there was a really nasty section full of big loose boulders between me and freedom. I got to work pulling my front drive shaft and the broken parts of my rear but for the life of me I couldn't get the rear link to budge in any way shape or form... I didn't have a socket big enough to fit and use my impact wrench and just couldn't get enough leverage with my crescent wrench. The Big-Dawg's showed up around 12 and after getting around me decided to give me a hand and try to pull me out by daisy chaining their three rigs to mine... they got me forward about 100 yards right to where they were in the middle of the worst of it and decided they could do nothing more for me. They unhooked and started to get themselves out right when Buck and crew showed up
As soon as they see us coming they figured they are off the hook and bail. Or their guilt was relieved at least... (not that they needed to feel bad, but I think they did so the timing was good for that)
With clearer minds and a plan we get to work after getting Brad and his dog some food and water. We pulled the bend link and winch the rear axle back into position and secure it front and rear with come-a-longs. Someone had a socket big enough to fit the bent link but we promptly broke a breaker-bar and the switch on another wrench... but with the handle from a high-lift extending on another wrench some fatty had enough weight to get the thing to move...er... someone had worked out enough that they were buff enough to get the bolt to move :grinpimp: we unhooked the front of the bent link... then with Nugget hooked to the front and Buck's winch wrapped around the axel we pulled it back enough that we could attach our newly pieced together driveshaft and secure it without a link but with a come-along in front and in back to hopefully hold it all in placeWe use the front drive shaft to repair the rear shaft and now we have rear drive. Once we had rear drive the winching began and was going well until the rear come-a-long broke. literally 10 yards from where the big dawgs had left me, but within maybe 200 yards of the top With the rear resecured with a ratchet strap we made it out at 6pm.

Yeah it was a bitch. amen brother... amen...:skull:

Was the ratchet strap yours? I thought it was Nugget's... yes of course you can have it back: send me your address and I'll get it out to you as soon as I can, I'm glad you mentioned it before I sent it to the wrong person.

I think the remaining come-along is Nugget's though right?


Yeah, the orange ratchet stap is Buck's, the yellow one is mine, all of the come-a-longs are Nuggets (or what's left of them) PM sent.

Shenanigan Pictures
http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww57/Degenerate_Wheelers/Hammers-Jambo%20April%2022-25%202010/IMG_0277.jpg
http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww57/Degenerate_Wheelers/Hammers-Jambo%20April%2022-25%202010/IMG_0272.jpg
http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww57/Degenerate_Wheelers/Hammers-Jambo%20April%2022-25%202010/IMG_0270.jpg
http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww57/Degenerate_Wheelers/Hammers-Jambo%20April%2022-25%202010/IMG_0265.jpg
At the top
http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww57/Degenerate_Wheelers/Hammers-Jambo%20April%2022-25%202010/IMG_0279.jpg

:flipoff2:

no, unfortunately I didn't have a spare with me. I _own_ a spare but it's in Colorado...


:laughing:It's a Rover ! You're not supposed to leave home without driveline spares and a full set of odd tools:homer:

But great story and kudos to the guys who got you out of there:grinpimp:

Hey thanks for posting pics Nugget!!

I'll send you your stuff as soon as I'm back in town on Saturday... and thanks again for your help...

No problem man

I htink you owe all of those guys 2 cases of beer, and maybe some late night spooning next time the sun goes down in the desert...


Small price to pay...:flipoff2:


Ohh and we have all been there, heres my rear end after my link mount folded up a few years ago... thats why i went heims...

I htink you owe all of those guys 2 cases of beer, and maybe some late night spooning next time the sun goes down in the desert...


Small price to pay...:flipoff2:


Ohh and we have all been there, heres my rear end after my link mount folded up a few years ago... thats why i went heims...

I would have just driven out of that. :flipoff2:

I would have just driven out of that. :flipoff2:

It buffed out...

no drive and my rear tire shoved so far into my body and slider that it won't budge. Sounds vaguely familiar:
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh234/Roxtarfab/LRNR%2008/DSC_0478.jpg

I would have just driven out of that. :flipoff2:

And then monkeys would fly out of your ass:D

Follow up: forgot to post this...

The little break that cascaded into everything else that went wrong on this trip...

for your mocking enjoyment: one GBR HD half shaft...

Thanks for returning my strap with a bonus Brad! Way to make it right!! Although the beer money was not necessary I'll take it!
Now, go get yourself some Toyota shit so you can beat on that bitch! This guy is a buddy of mine and is selling (http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=835230&highlight=shefron)a good set-up. If you don't want the Diamond try to make a deal with him on the third, I'm sure he'll take any reasonable offer right now. I've got a Taco "8.4" housing I'll give you for next to nothing. Ditch that gay ass set-up you've got and come over the Toy side where you won't destroy shit on Claw with 35's... Just sayin' :flipoff2:

Edit: I'm a dumbass.. The housing I have would be for the rear. You would still need a Toy housing, or the Diamond that is in the link for the front :homer:

i know all this sucks, but these are the trips i thrive on.:mad3:

Thanks for returning my strap with a bonus Brad! Way to make it right!! Although the beer money was not necessary I'll take it!
Now, go get yourself some Toyota shit so you can beat on that bitch! This guy is a buddy of mine and is selling (http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=835230&highlight=shefron)a good set-up. If you don't want the Diamond try to make a deal with him on the third, I'm sure he'll take any reasonable offer right now. I've got a Taco "8.4" housing I'll give you for next to nothing. Ditch that gay ass set-up you've got and come over the Toy side where you won't destroy shit on Claw with 35's... Just sayin' :flipoff2:

Edit: I'm a dumbass.. The housing I have would be for the rear. You would still need a Toy housing, or the Diamond that is in the link for the front :homer:

I seem to vaguely remember a toyota guy I know breaking his front end the day before this all happened while doing some mild stuff. I can't remember his name. Truck was black though. I think it rhymed with trian, but not sure. :laughing::flipoff2:


All joking aside, the Toy stuff is a huge upgrade and I know B-rad is going the right way. I'm just glad the Hammers didn't destroy his hobby. They sometimes do that.

Still half living in Colorado makes it hard to actually get anything done :mad3: (plus I'm slow and I suck)

but I AM in the midst of tearing my stuff apart to do a full toy conversion and I did finally find a pair of thirds with e-lockers so even though I know stuff like this may happen again hopefully it'll take a bit more to do me in :grinpimp: (sorry to the purists that think it should remain fully LR... I can't afford fairy dust stilletoed Maraging 300 shafts :flipoff2:)

I seem to vaguely remember a toyota guy I know breaking his front end the day before this all happened while doing some mild stuff. I can't remember his name. Truck was black though. I think it rhymed with trian, but not sure. :flipoff2:


All joking aside, the Toy stuff is a huge upgrade and I know B-rad is going the right way. I'm just glad the Hammers didn't destroy his hobby. They sometimes do that.

Yes it is. So am I. Yes they do. :homer:

Mild :laughing: I seem to recall a conversation with some tall lanky fucker that went something like this..
"I feel like I'm all bound up, I'm going to break something."
'No, you're fine."
"Are you sure?"
"You're fine, go!"
POP, GRIND

I can't be certain, but I think his name rhymed with rage :laughing: :flipoff2:
By the way, this is what is was.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-1/1139857/birf%20004.JPG

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-1/1139857/birf%20008.JPG

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-1/1139857/yeah%20001.JPG
Still half living in Colorado makes it hard to actually get anything done :mad3: (plus I'm slow and I suck)

but I AM in the midst of tearing my stuff apart to do a full toy conversion and I did finally find a pair of thirds with e-lockers so even though I know stuff like this may happen again hopefully it'll take a bit more to do me in

Good on 'ya! FYI, e-locker thirds are weaker than the "8.4" Tacoma/T-100 thirds, but you should be fine. Don't skimp on the Toy stuff either though. go cromo's, Longs, ARP's the whole deal right off the bat and you'll be glad you did. If you have any questions about the Toy stuff ask me.

Good on 'ya! FYI, e-locker thirds are weaker than the "8.4" Tacoma/T-100 thirds, but you should be fine. Don't skimp on the Toy stuff either though. go cromo's, Longs, ARP's the whole deal right off the bat and you'll be glad you did. If you have any questions about the Toy stuff ask me.


LC 9.5" is also an option. I believe I have seen a housing that holds it up front (maybe an FJ60 or FJ62 front housing? it had mini hubs i believe, making high steer easy)

well... let me just say that although I'm okay at wrenching and I'm willing to hammer, cut, drill, sand and grind I have no welding ability at all and thus my fabrication ability is essentially non-existant. Consequently I'm going to run with a kit from Rovertracks that fits the toy stuff into the rover housing so ball joints and such will be rover while the shaft, CVs and thirds are Toyota this way it'll mostly be a bolt on proposition for me with mostly minimal needs for welding... thus only an 8" will fit anyway so even if the 8.4 or the 9.5 is stronger it won't fit with what I'm doing. From the research I was able to do I think the e-lockers are probably the strongest option I have without some heavy duty fab work which would be well beyond my abilities...

If the longfields don't hold and/or I start breaking thirds I'll have to re-evaluate but for now I'm not planning on going bigger than the 35s so I think this will be a good setup for me...

you know unless I get stupid again...

....Consequently I'm going to run with a kit from Rovertracks that fits the toy stuff into the rover housing....

Welding is required. You need to replace the diff covers.

I ran into Keith the other day and he said you were going for it. Let me know if you need any help with the conversion, welding, etc I've done 2 so far, don't forget to notch for the elocker, right keith:). Seriously, i drive through Golden almost everyday(conifer) and always willing to help someone who's mental enough to take their 90 to the hammers

Brendon

Welding is required. You need to replace the diff covers.

yes I know... but I'd call that pretty minimal compared to other methodologies...

I ran into Keith the other day and he said you were going for it. Let me know if you need any help with the conversion, welding, etc I've done 2 so far, don't forget to notch for the elocker, right keith:). Seriously, i drive through Golden almost everyday(conifer) and always willing to help someone who's mental enough to take their 90 to the hammers

Brendon

Unfortunately I'm living near LA now so I REALLY appreciate the offer but I'm afraid unless you're coming out to do the Hammers yourself...

[QUOTE=BLost;11492203 I have no welding ability at all [/QUOTE]

Learn!! It's one of the best things you can do for youself as a 'wheeler IMO. Purchase a decent machine and gear. Read, practice practice practice practice. Read, practice, post up pics for constructive criticism. Practice practice practice, read, post etc etc.

Unfortunately I'm living near LA now so I REALLY appreciate the offer but I'm afraid unless you're coming out to do the Hammers yourself...[/QUOTE]

Sounds good, get you junk fixed and I'll show you how to drive a 90:grinpimp: I always make it out at least once a year, but generally I try to avoid welding or other repairs while I'm out there...but hey, sometimes its unavoidable, thanks again for the ring gear bolts Brian! I re-built the rear diff again and it should be better than ever!

Brendon

Yes it is. So am I. Yes they do. :homer:

Mild :laughing: I seem to recall a conversation with some super awesome dude I hope to be like someday, that went something like this..
"I feel like I'm all bound up, I'm going to break something."
'No, you're fine."
"Are you sure?"
"You're fine, go!"
POP, GRIND

I can't be certain, but I think his name rhymed with rage :laughing: :flipoff2:
By the way, this is what is was.

Fixed for accuracy. You were fine. I don't know how you managed to brake there. :flipoff2:

Unfortunately I'm living near LA now so I REALLY appreciate the offer but I'm afraid unless you're coming out to do the Hammers yourself...

Sounds good, get you junk fixed and I'll show you how to drive a 90:grinpimp:[/QUOTE]

Thats a great offer actually. Brandon is a great driver and very cognisant of his equipment. He would be a good one to wheel with.

Learn!! It's one of the best things you can do for youself as a 'wheeler IMO. Purchase a decent machine and gear. Read, practice practice practice practice. Read, practice, post up pics for constructive criticism. Practice practice practice, read, post etc etc.

This is on my long term plan... I am currently trying to do some research regarding equipment... the toy conversion has delayed the plan somewhat as funds are a limitted resource but still in the plans...