Nashville TJ's Build - Continued

Great work there Jeff.

Morgan Freeman Reaction GIF by MOODMAN
 
The drawer units I ordered for the new bench project were delivered today. These are Rousseau units I purchased through Innovo Storage Systems up in Rhode Island, custom built to my specs.

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You may recall I'm building a new rolling assembly bench to match my fab table. These drawer units will drop down into the frame assembly. This is the plan:

Garage Bench Cabinet.jpg


The new bench will be a companion assembly table to my current unit. Unlike the current bench, the new one will have only a 2" hard maple top. The current bench has a removable 2" maple top sitting over a 1/2" steel top, so it works as a woodworking bench as well as a fab table. This thing is heavy. It weighs 1,000 pounds (I've actually weighed it). The new bench will use much lighter steel, and of course not have the 1/2" steel top, so it should weigh much less (empty, anyway).

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I've used these drawer units before, and the new bench will be a similar design approach to my stationary workbench. This thing is also very sturdy.

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I'm not planning to get into this project until after the holidays, so I threw together this temporary rack which will allow me to use the drawers, and then take my time on fabbing up the new bench.

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And here they are in position.

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The drawer units are crazy strong. Full extension drawers which are rated at 400 pounds each.

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Should be a very fun project.
 
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Jeff,
Here's a shifter I'd never heard of before that allows you to go to reverse from any forward gear but also has a reverse lock out for when you don't want that feature like driving on the road. Unfortunately they don't offer a 545RFE specific kit.

https://sandhollowoffroad.com/product/speed-shifter/
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Well, after a relaxing weekend of snow here in Nashville, the news turned not so good. I've been hearing some whirring from what I thought may be the rear end for a while now, and lately it has been getting worse. So today I pulled the cover off the 14 bolt to take a look at the gears...

IMG_5200.webp


...and the first thing I see is this (keys for perspective):

IMG_5201.webp


Took a close look at the ring gear and all looked fine. But then I peered in at the pinion and I can see it is chipped. So much for the 14 bolt being indestructible...

So the rig is going to look like this for a bit.

IMG_5204.webp


I just ordered a shaved ring and pinion set with a master in stall kit from ECGS.

Well, at least I get to practice my gear setup skills.

:unsure:

'Course, I did do this set up, so....:rolleyes:
 
Well, after a relaxing weekend of snow here in Nashville, the news turned not so good. I've been hearing some whirring from what I thought may be the rear end for a while now, and lately it has been getting worse. So today I pulled the cover off the 14 bolt to take a look at the gears...

View attachment 585765

...and the first thing I see is this (keys for perspective):

View attachment 585766

Took a close look at the ring gear and all looked fine. But then I peered in at the pinion and I can see it is chipped. So much for the 14 bolt being indestructible...

So the rig is going to look like this for a bit.

View attachment 585767

I just ordered a shaved ring and pinion set with a master in stall kit from ECGS.

Well, at least I get to practice my gear setup skills.

:unsure:

'Course, I did do this set up, so....:rolleyes:

Man, that sucks. I'm sorry. At least you caught it before Moab 🙂 are you going to leave the axle on the Jeep for the rebuild? I would've figured you had some beautiful hand crafted wood stand with jeep emblems and all for that.
 
My last R&P in the CRD60 wasn't making any noises that I remembered but when I'd pulled the diff cover to change the gear oil I found this.

20211015_171311.webp


None of my ring gear teeth were chipped or damaged.

20211015_171328.webp


No one could explain how or why this happened. But this is what pushed me to do the Super 60 R&P gear set.

20211015_171454.webp


And I added the load bolt to my housing. We'll have to see how it holds up. If I break another R&P in this CRD60 I'll be following you with a 14 bolt.

Sorry to hear about the damaged R&P. Didn't figure you'd have issues with that axle. But glad you caught it now & not out on the trail somewhere.
 
Man, that sucks. I'm sorry. At least you caught it before Moab 🙂 are you going to leave the axle on the Jeep for the rebuild? I would've figured you had some beautiful hand crafted wood stand with jeep emblems and all for that.

I'll pull the axle to do the regear. Much easier that way - especially with the heavy 14 bolt carrier.

I do have a hand crafted wood, rolling axle stand - but no emblem, and beautiful it is not...:)
 
My last R&P in the CRD60 wasn't making any noises that I remembered but when I'd pulled the diff cover to change the gear oil I found this.

View attachment 585785

None of my ring gear teeth were chipped or damaged.

View attachment 585786

No one could explain how or why this happened. But this is what pushed me to do the Super 60 R&P gear set.

View attachment 585787

And I added the load bolt to my housing. We'll have to see how it holds up. If I break another R&P in this CRD60 I'll be following you with a 14 bolt.

Sorry to hear about the damaged R&P. Didn't figure you'd have issues with that axle. But glad you caught it now & not out on the trail somewhere.

Coincidentally, a few weeks ago Rory / Trailmater did a little rant about hating 5.anything gears. He said he does not run anything in the 5's because he has seen more of those fail in his area than lower numerical ratios. Axle did not matter, whether 60's or 14 bolts - he has seen them all fail...

...so now he tells me.
 
Coincidentally, a few weeks ago Rory / Trailmater did a little rant about hating 5.anything gears. He said he does not run anything in the 5's because he has seen more of those fail in his area than lower numerical ratios. Axle did not matter, whether 60's or 14 bolts - he has seen them all fail...

...so now he tells me.

I saw that. Was a take I’d not heard before, especially here.
 
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Coincidentally, a few weeks ago Rory / Trailmater did a little rant about hating 5.anything gears. He said he does not run anything in the 5's because he has seen more of those fail in his area than lower numerical ratios. Axle did not matter, whether 60's or 14 bolts - he has seen them all fail...

...so now he tells me.

I'm sure not wanting to regear both axles to a 4. something ratio but that 8HP with the 4.7:1 first gear ratio would make that an easier ratio to take.
 
That sucks to hear Jeff! At just you have time before Moab to get it done. Your 14 bolt was the first time I experienced 2 cut gears and their different patterns. That was a learning experience for me.

The 2 cuts were the Dynatrac pro-roc 60 I did before the 14 bolt. The 14 bolt were normal 5 cuts I believe.

But yeah, I'll be leaning on you again when I get into this, Mike. Thanks in advance..:)
 
Well, it's out. This picture is just for you, Trevor!

IMG_5211.webp


Rolling: Check.
Wood: Check.
Beautiful: Well, eye of the beholder...

So now waiting on the gearset. Hopefully ECGS gets them out quickly.

I did come across two issues. First, you all may know I have a cutting brake setup on the e-brakes. I could not for the life of me get the passenger side e-brake to loosen enough to pull the connector at the wheel. I had to cut the cable to get it off - the cable was completely seized inside the wheel side connector bolt:

IMG_5205.webp


That was a bit of a surprise. I'll order a new cable set from Summit.

I also had a bit of trouble pulling the lower axle side control arm bolt on the passenger side. Here is why:

IMG_5207.webp


Of course, that never occurs independently, and sure enough - a busted Johhny Joint:

IMG_5208.webp


This is not the first time this has happened. A spare joint and a new bolt will be an easy fix.
 
Well, it's out. This picture is just for you, Trevor!

View attachment 585919

Rolling: Check.
Wood: Check.
Beautiful: Well, eye of the beholder...
1736881012774.gif

Looks better than what I'm gonna end up with I bet!!
So now waiting on the gearset. Hopefully ECGS gets them out quickly.

I did come across two issues. First, you all may know I have a cutting brake setup on the e-brakes. I could not for the life of me get the passenger side e-brake to loosen enough to pull the connector at the wheel. I had to cut the cable to get it off - the cable was completely seized inside the wheel side connector bolt:

View attachment 585920

That was a bit of a surprise. I'll order a new cable set from Summit.

I also had a bit of trouble pulling the lower axle side control arm bolt on the passenger side. Here is why:

View attachment 585921

Of course, that never occurs independently, and sure enough - a busted Johhny Joint:

View attachment 585922

This is not the first time this has happened. A spare joint and a new bolt will be an easy fix.
Wow, turned into even more stuff wrong. Is this from keeping up with Victor?
 
Well, it's out. This picture is just for you, Trevor!

View attachment 585919

Rolling: Check.
Wood: Check.
Beautiful: Well, eye of the beholder...

So now waiting on the gearset. Hopefully ECGS gets them out quickly.

I did come across two issues. First, you all may know I have a cutting brake setup on the e-brakes. I could not for the life of me get the passenger side e-brake to loosen enough to pull the connector at the wheel. I had to cut the cable to get it off - the cable was completely seized inside the wheel side connector bolt:

View attachment 585920

That was a bit of a surprise. I'll order a new cable set from Summit.

I also had a bit of trouble pulling the lower axle side control arm bolt on the passenger side. Here is why:

View attachment 585921

Of course, that never occurs independently, and sure enough - a busted Johhny Joint:

View attachment 585922

This is not the first time this has happened. A spare joint and a new bolt will be an easy fix.

Make sure you check all the welds on that truss while it's out. ;)