ElectricWizards 2000 TJ Sport Build

Oh damn! That’s considerably more expensive than the Uniden PRO 520XL I was planning to buy. I’m going to go a step further and get a HAM radio as well. I want to be able to get that extra range if I need it.
It is certainly a spendy CB! I was able to pick one up last year for about $80, so I'm really hoping to not have to buy another haha.

I too plan to plan to get my license and install a ham radio. Considering most of my trips are in remote areas I'd certainly like to have the power and range to call for help if necessary.
 
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It is certainly a spendy CB! I was able to pick one up last year for about $80, so I'm really hoping to not have to buy another haha.

I too plan to plan to get my license and install a ham radio. Considering most of my trips are in remote areas I'd certainly like to have the power and range to call for help if necessary.

I hope they do warranty it! That ain’t cheap.

My thoughts exactly. All of the places I plan on taking my TJ are pretty remote, and having that HAM radio would give me some piece of mind. I’m also going to get one of those satellite phone / text devices as well, just Incase.
 
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If you missed it, my Cobra 75WXST CB radio broke/died while out on Christmas day (post #154). I contacted Cobra regarding warranty considering the CB was only a year old, but I haven't got any sort of response back. I know it hasn't been long and we've just got through the holidays, but not having the CB while out with my buddies is getting frustrating.

Being the ElectricWizard, I had to crack open the CB and at least see what I could do ;)


firstsplit.jpg


Opening the CB was easy and only requires removing 1 screw from the back. There are 3 more screws holding one of the circuit boards to the frame as well once it's split.

Since the radio still turned on, made (horrible) noise, and I could cycle through channels, I figured it was likely to be something fairly simple and not a major part, like an IC, so I started looking around.

The first thing I noticed on both of the circuit boards was what appeared to be a salt-crust type substance, likely being leftover flux from soldering, but who knows. In the end this wasn't causing any problems but I still cleaned it up.

crust1.jpg

crust2.jpg



I first decided to check continuity through the CB units cord, between the wires soldered to the circuit board and the pins on the very end of the plug. Eventually I came across what I believed to be the issue, and it was indeed quite simple!

problem.jpg


That is the antenna coax and the center conductor broke at the solder joint. There was some hot glue attached to it that was also broken free of the circuit board. The picture isn't the best as I was working indoors at my desk under poor lighting.

I was able to strip back some more wire and re-solder it to the board, I then applied a generous amount of hot-glue down, more than factory, to hopefully limit this from happening again. I also removed and applied fresh hot-glue to all the other wire connections, seeing as how this failed and the factory glue came off so easily.

fixed.jpg

hot glue.jpg



I then put it back together and went out to the Jeep give it a test. I plugged it in, turned it on, and sure enough it was working again! No horrible screech, the power meter not being maxed out, I can transmit/receive to my hand-held CB, definitely a success! Hopefully it'll work good out on my next trip and I won't have the same failure in the future.

working.jpg
 
Wow, congrats on fixing that! I give you an A+ for initiative. That was indeed pretty easy to fix. Good thing it was something simple.

But hey... if they want to send you a new radio for free, I'll take it off your hands ;)

This reminds me, I need to buy a CB. It's the one thing I'm missing on this new build... well, there's a few other things I can think of too.
 
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Wow, congrats on fixing that! I give you an A+ for initiative. That was indeed pretty easy to fix. Good thing it was something simple.

But hey... if they want to send you a new radio for free, I'll take it off your hands ;)

This reminds me, I need to buy a CB. It's the one thing I'm missing on this new build... well, there's a few other things I can think of too.
I know, I'm actually quite surprised just how simple it ended up being!

That could be a possibility, I suppose we'll see what Cobra wants to do when they get back to me ;)
 
So far this winter I've been busy driving and camping in the snow up in the northern Oregon Cascades, meanwhile parts have been piling up at home for some upcoming upgrades for the TJ...

View attachment 73516

Ooh, those are some nice goodies. Did you get the new gears with the new REM finish our whatever it's called?
 
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Ooh, those are some nice goodies. Did you get the new gears with the new REM finish our whatever it's called?
I wanted to get the REM finish gears, but when I decided to pull the trigger it was a slightly hasty decision and I forgot about it ;). Oh well, I'll just make sure they're broken in properly!
 
I wanted to get the REM finish gears, but when I decided to pull the trigger it was a slightly hasty decision and I forgot about it ;). Oh well, I'll just make sure they're broken in properly!

I hope you have no vibe issue with the gears like @Chris and I did. Have you decided which shop you are going to for the gear install? Or planning to tackle it yourself?
 
I hope you have no vibe issue with the gears like @Chris and I did. Have you decided which shop you are going to for the gear install? Or planning to tackle it yourself?
I'm hoping all will be good too! Only 4.10 so hopefully no surprises will show up.

I'm actually gonna tackle it myself. I've been doing tons of research for the last few months, got all the tools I'd need, and most importantly I'm stubborn enough to keep going until the gears are perfect ;).

I plan to pull the axles out from under the Jeep (one at a time) and do the setup in my garage.
 
I'm hoping all will be good too! Only 4.10 so hopefully no surprises will show up.

I'm actually gonna tackle it myself. I've been doing tons of research for the last few months, got all the tools I'd need, and most importantly I'm stubborn enough to keep going until the gears are perfect ;).

I plan to pull the axles out from under the Jeep (one at a time) and do the setup in my garage.

Good luck! It's pretty darn tricky and I am sure you know that already. Hopefully it goes smoothly. Keep us posted!
 
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Tackle the gear job yourself? Wow... you're a brave man, that's for sure!

Let us know how it goes! Hopefully you don't have an experience like @AndyG did when he did his gears.
 
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Good luck! It's pretty darn tricky and I am sure you know that already. Hopefully it goes smoothly. Keep us posted!

Tackle the gear job yourself? Wow... you're a brave man, that's for sure!

Let us know how it goes! Hopefully you don't have an experience like @AndyG did when he did his gears.

Ohhh yeah, I certainly know what can of worms I'm opening up! I've thoroughly done my research and feel comfortable about tackling the job. I've done a lot of crazy projects in my life so this would just be another to add to the list ;). Besides, if nobody ever attempts to learn these skills than nobody will be able to do it in the future!

There will definitely be updates, I plan on posting the whole saga here.
 
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Besides, if nobody ever attempts to learn these skills than nobody will be able to do it in the future!

Very good point! As long as you are okay with screwing up potentially along the way, then I don't blame you for wanting to do it yourself.

If I had more time, I certainly would attempt it too!
 
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Very good point! As long as you are okay with screwing up potentially along the way, then I don't blame you for wanting to do it yourself.

If I had more time, I certainly would attempt it too!
Yep, there are certainly a lot of ways it can go wrong! But I'm alright with that. I plan to spend as much time as necessary to get the optimal gear pattern, backlash, bearing preloads, etc. to avoid any major mistakes.
 
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Nice set of goodies!

For ham radios: I just got a handheld ham for now, eventually I'll get a ham in the jeep (it's somewhere on my long list) but figured the handheld is better than nothing and I can take it with me hiking.
 
For ham radios: I just got a handheld ham for now, eventually I'll get a ham in the jeep (it's somewhere on my long list) but figured the handheld is better than nothing and I can take it with me hiking.
That's a good idea, I'll probably start with a handheld too and the ham in the TJ will come later. I'll likely work on getting my license sometime this year.
 
Nice set of goodies!

For ham radios: I just got a handheld ham for now, eventually I'll get a ham in the jeep (it's somewhere on my long list) but figured the handheld is better than nothing and I can take it with me hiking.

I have been thinking about getting a handheld ham as well. Which one did you get? I really need to get my ham license as well.
 
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