Nashville TJ's Build - Continued
- Thread starter NashvilleTJ
- Start date
Quick trailer project this week: I installed the weight distributing hitch...
...and took it for a highway test drive. Between the new, balanced tires, the hitch, and the big brakes, this thing really tows sweet. Dead solid tracking - I can't make this thing sway if I try. The bigger brakes on the 7k axles make a very noticeable difference.
The only project I have left to get the trailer where I want it is to add a receiver to accept my mobile vice. On the last trailer it was mounted on the tube fenders - which you may recall were crazy heavy duty and worked very well as a workbench. Although these fenders are certainly sturdy drive-overs, they are nowhere as beefy as the last fenders (Hopefully Colt is putting them to the test).
I'll figure out something - just haven't done so yet.
...and took it for a highway test drive. Between the new, balanced tires, the hitch, and the big brakes, this thing really tows sweet. Dead solid tracking - I can't make this thing sway if I try. The bigger brakes on the 7k axles make a very noticeable difference.
The only project I have left to get the trailer where I want it is to add a receiver to accept my mobile vice. On the last trailer it was mounted on the tube fenders - which you may recall were crazy heavy duty and worked very well as a workbench. Although these fenders are certainly sturdy drive-overs, they are nowhere as beefy as the last fenders (Hopefully Colt is putting them to the test).
I'll figure out something - just haven't done so yet.
Quick trailer project this week: I installed the weight distributing hitch...
View attachment 671984
...and took it for a highway test drive. Between the new, balanced tires, the hitch, and the big brakes, this thing really tows sweet. Dead solid tracking - I can't make this thing sway if I try. The bigger brakes on the 7k axles make a very noticeable difference.
The only project I have left to get the trailer where I want it is to add a receiver to accept my mobile vice. On the last trailer it was mounted on the tube fenders - which you may recall were crazy heavy duty and worked very well as a workbench. Although these fenders are certainly sturdy drive-overs, they are nowhere as beefy as the last fenders (Hopefully Colt is putting them to the test).
I'll figure out something - just haven't done so yet.
Box off the end of this I-beam and weld receiver on top? Looks stable, seems about high enough to be comfortable, unused space.
Just a random thought without knowing all your requirements.
I’d put it on the non-traffic side for safety.
That's a great idea, FF. I had not thought of that location.
OK - I have parts and a plan. Should be a fun little project.
Far from needed for this little project, but since it is a rainy day here in Nashville I modeled the vice mount in Fusion.
It will replace the center fender support, tuck up tight to the top of the fender, and weld directly to the trailer frame.
Spacemouse for the win.
It will replace the center fender support, tuck up tight to the top of the fender, and weld directly to the trailer frame.
Spacemouse for the win.
Knocked out the vice mount today. It should be a fairly quick project to get it welded to the trailer.
And here is where it is going. The drive over fenders are 3/16" diamond plate, supported by three 3/8" steel bars. The vice receiver mount will replace the center support:
After removing the support, I notched the outer lip of the fender and test fit the mount. It fit just as planned - and helped a bunch that the trailer is square, plumb, and true.
Then it was just a little quality time under the helmet. I welded it completely to keep any moisture out.
And after a bit of paint, I've now completed all the mods I had planned for the new trailer. Well, at least for now...
After removing the support, I notched the outer lip of the fender and test fit the mount. It fit just as planned - and helped a bunch that the trailer is square, plumb, and true.
Then it was just a little quality time under the helmet. I welded it completely to keep any moisture out.
And after a bit of paint, I've now completed all the mods I had planned for the new trailer. Well, at least for now...
My fenders look cooler and stronger.
Oh yeah....
I'm heading out to Sand Hollow with the boys in May. And what can't you do without at Sand Hollow in May?
Tons?
No.
Fodeez?
No.
Hemi?
No.
A/C?
'Xactly.
I figured I'd better test it out after the long winter, so after polishing off the trailer mod yesterday I took it out for a spin, and sure enough - no A/C.
Quick check, and I had not just low pressure in the system, but no pressure in the system. I run die in the system so finding leaks is usually easy under ultraviolet light. The only place I saw a bunch of die was the Low Pressure Shrader valve. Great. Easy fix. Swapped out the valve and hooked up my gauges and vacuum pump.
No joy. After pulling 30 Hq on the pump and shutting it down - it dropped to 0 in about 5 minutes. So, big leak somewhere.
So, off to find a big leak. To do this on a discharged A/C system, what I do is attach the compressor, put in 50 psi of air, go to town with a spray bottle of soapy water, and look for bubbles. And, I found them...
The first was right in my face - the Low Pressure switch on the accumulator. Easy fix with two new o-rings.
The next was less obvious, and I had to remove the accumulator to see it. I didn't get a bubble shot, but the connection at the condenser basically filled that entire space with bubbles. Definitely the big leak.
Two more o-rings, and I double checked everything else. Those were the only two leaks I could identify.
So I pulled vacuum again last night, evacuated it for about an hour, shut things down and let it sit.
And this morning - still 28 Hg after 12 hours. Hopefully, that nailed it.
20 oz of R143a later, and we're back in business.
Tons?
No.
Fodeez?
No.
Hemi?
No.
A/C?
'Xactly.
I figured I'd better test it out after the long winter, so after polishing off the trailer mod yesterday I took it out for a spin, and sure enough - no A/C.
Quick check, and I had not just low pressure in the system, but no pressure in the system. I run die in the system so finding leaks is usually easy under ultraviolet light. The only place I saw a bunch of die was the Low Pressure Shrader valve. Great. Easy fix. Swapped out the valve and hooked up my gauges and vacuum pump.
No joy. After pulling 30 Hq on the pump and shutting it down - it dropped to 0 in about 5 minutes. So, big leak somewhere.
So, off to find a big leak. To do this on a discharged A/C system, what I do is attach the compressor, put in 50 psi of air, go to town with a spray bottle of soapy water, and look for bubbles. And, I found them...
The first was right in my face - the Low Pressure switch on the accumulator. Easy fix with two new o-rings.
The next was less obvious, and I had to remove the accumulator to see it. I didn't get a bubble shot, but the connection at the condenser basically filled that entire space with bubbles. Definitely the big leak.
Two more o-rings, and I double checked everything else. Those were the only two leaks I could identify.
So I pulled vacuum again last night, evacuated it for about an hour, shut things down and let it sit.
And this morning - still 28 Hg after 12 hours. Hopefully, that nailed it.
20 oz of R143a later, and we're back in business.
Last edited:
I'm heading out to Sand Hollow with the boys in May. And what can't you do without at Sand Hollow in May?
Tons?
No.
Fodeez?
No.
Hemi?
No.
A/C?
'Xactly.
I figured I'd better test it out after the long winter, so after polishing off the trailer mod yesterday I took it out for a spin, and sure enough - no A/C.
Quick check, and I had not just low pressure in the system, but no pressure in the system. I run die in the system so finding leaks is usually easy under ultraviolet light. The only place I saw a bunch of die was the Low Pressure Shrader valve. Great. Easy fix. Swapped out the valve and hooked up my gauges and vacuum pump.
No joy. After pulling 30 Hq on the pump and shutting it down - it dropped to 0 in about 5 minutes. So, bit leak somewhere.
So, off to find a big leak. To do this on a discharged A/C system, what I do is attached the compressor, put in 50 psi of air, go to town with a spray bottle of soapy water, and look for bubbles. And, I found them...
The first was right in my face - the Low Pressure switch on the accumulator. Easy fix with two new o-rings.
View attachment 672863
The next was less obvious, and I had to remove the accumulator to see it. I didn't get a bubble shot, but the connection at the condenser basically filled that entire space with bubbles. Definitely the big leak.
View attachment 672865
Two more o-rings, and I double checked everything else. Those were the only two leaks I could identify.
So I pulled vacuum again last night, evacuated it for about an hour, shut things down and let it sit.
And this morning - still 28 Hg after 12 hours. Hopefully, that nailed it.
View attachment 672866
20 oz of R143a later, and we're back in business.
View attachment 672868
I know where I'm going when I get too hot out there!!
I'm heading out to Sand Hollow with the boys in May. And what can't you do without at Sand Hollow in May?
Tons?
No.
Fodeez?
No.
Hemi?
No.
A/C?
'Xactly.
I figured I'd better test it out after the long winter, so after polishing off the trailer mod yesterday I took it out for a spin, and sure enough - no A/C.
Quick check, and I had not just low pressure in the system, but no pressure in the system. I run die in the system so finding leaks is usually easy under ultraviolet light. The only place I saw a bunch of die was the Low Pressure Shrader valve. Great. Easy fix. Swapped out the valve and hooked up my gauges and vacuum pump.
No joy. After pulling 30 Hq on the pump and shutting it down - it dropped to 0 in about 5 minutes. So, big leak somewhere.
So, off to find a big leak. To do this on a discharged A/C system, what I do is attach the compressor, put in 50 psi of air, go to town with a spray bottle of soapy water, and look for bubbles. And, I found them...
The first was right in my face - the Low Pressure switch on the accumulator. Easy fix with two new o-rings.
View attachment 672863
The next was less obvious, and I had to remove the accumulator to see it. I didn't get a bubble shot, but the connection at the condenser basically filled that entire space with bubbles. Definitely the big leak.
View attachment 672865
Two more o-rings, and I double checked everything else. Those were the only two leaks I could identify.
So I pulled vacuum again last night, evacuated it for about an hour, shut things down and let it sit.
And this morning - still 28 Hg after 12 hours. Hopefully, that nailed it.
View attachment 672866
20 oz of R143a later, and we're back in business.
View attachment 672868
Way to go Jeff!!!!!! I hate working on AC.