Muddin_dude06

Well guys I have had one of the worst days of my life I think. Let me explain...

When I woke up I printed off the criteria for exhaust system inspections for Texas off the DPS website (Big thanks to TheBigNasty for giving me the link). As some might have read my post a while back I failed my inspection for no muffler, so I was taking this documentation back to the craphole I went to to prove my truck indeed is equipped with a legal exhaust system. After waiting for 30 minutes while he messed with some old caddy's that needed inspection it was my turn, I politely told him "I'm comming back for inspection because you told me I failed for no muffler about a week ago, I have a piece of documentation from the Texas DPS website that shows my truck to actually have a technical and legal muffler." He read what I had highlighted and told me "I don't care you still need to have a ACTUAL muffler, I'm not going to pass it..." After he said that I thought my battle was not going to be won easily so I tried to convince him not to be stubborn and that I was right A few seconds and choice words later I got a refund of my money so that I could go down the road and get passed, safe to say the next place was very nice and it took a whopping 5 minutes.

Next I went to my old job to pick up a paycheck and my old manager tried to convince me to come back for the same pay because I could have a "future" there and that my new job (cutting and baling hay) was a dead-end job. I told him he was rediculous to think I would do that because I love my job now and even if I came back there was never any FAIR oppurtunity for advancement, you had to be the kiss-butt of the store to get anywhere.

And last and deffinately not least I went and picked up the 4x4 John Deere 5525 with a John Deere 275 cutter I use at work on my boss's 28' GN. Well my friend got off work early because he was through with his automated machine welding for the day, but since he carpools with his brother in law he had no ride for a few more hours. Well me wanting to chill later I offered to come pick him up, after doing 2 circles on the same roads I finally figured out where I was and picked him up. So off we go to make a U-turn to get back on 290 and head to Magnolia, well the Joe Myers dealership had their sprinklers on and the road had little stips of water going across it right after the light for the U-turn. WELLL, I was accerating in 2nd gear at about 30psi and 2700rpm (I think) and all of a sudden "BOOOM"!!!! Me and my buddy were like dang!!! We thought the gooseneck came uncoupled or something, but we turn around all is well.... So I give just a little bit of throttle as I let the clutch out (after slowing down quite a bit) and we hear "clink, clink, clack clank!!" I EXPLODED the rear yoke that attaches to the rear axle and twisted the actual U-joint piece. What happened (Igeuss) is the tires spun over just a little bit in the water at a higher rate of speed as the total vehicle was traveling and then once it suddenly caught traction it took out the weak link in my driveline. So to get it off the feeder I drove in 4x4 and pulled off. We called my boss to come pick up the GN and my dad to come tow my truck home if is wasn't able to be limped. This is the second time my boss has gone out of his way to pick me up or bail me out of motorvehicle problems. Well after about an hour of waiting they arrived, thank goodness! Me and my buddy counted atleast 10 police officers that never even slowed down to see what the problem was or see if we were ok while we had been waiting (all while the emergencies on truck AND tractor were on)! Well to sum it up I drove it home with the driveshaft ratchet strapped up at 40-45mph for around 40 miles atleast, I just got home about 1:45AM and I need to be at my bosses house at 7AM, talk about a bad day!!

P.S. Sorry if there are alot of grammar issues, I am exhausted! And also sorry to rant but I am just completely bummed and have had a horrible day

*EDIT* All today I was driving in valet mode to help EGT's while towing but could still get 1300* easily up an incline while maintaining speed, how much do you guys think I was grossing at with the above mentioned load?

BigDiesel396

assuming its a cab tractor and a trailer weight of about approx 4700-5000lbs, and approx 7000lbs of truck, your GCVW about 20,300-20,600 lbs, hope things work out for the best, bad days-weeks and sometimes months just suck, happens to everyone man, take er easy.

Totallyrad

Sorry to hear about your day, that's definitely a knee jerk. You need to get those egt's down or you're going to have another bad day though.

Muddin_dude06

Yeah I know! I couldn't believe I was able to get them that high! While I was pulling the New Holland 4x6 round baler no matter what I did the egt's couldn't get over 950* driving up and down hills! I hopefully will be getting a 1 & 3/8" Billet input with a dual disk clutch here very soon, and if thats the case I think I will put on the set of twins I started building, I'm afraid if I did right now once the timing and spool all hit I would shear off my stock input. I am also deeply thinking about even getting a down payment saved up and buying a single cab dually 5sp to just use for a hauler...?

TheMighty'67

Yah, i was there it was scary when we heard the boom, then we realized it was a broken drive shaft. When we stopped we finally figured it was an EXPLODED rear yoke. and those dang cop (all ten of them that passed by) didn't even slow down. but we "got er done" and now are gonna fix the girl all up so she can start pullin again. (Sorry Chris)

96_12V

I read this just after completing the OSHA 10 safety training course - and I have a bit different concern. You're a statistic waiting to happen.

S L O W D O W N.

Nothing is worth getting injured, injuring someone else, just to get some job finished. That little boom your guys heard could well be a good warning. Count your blessings...

Muddin_dude06

I was starting out after a stoplight turned green, I was only in 2nd gear while accelerating up to speed. When pulling ANY load on ANY trailer more than an ATV I never go over 55mph. I just cruise along in the slow lane, I have been in an accident with a trailer because of being in a rush, I wasnt the driver... I am one of the most cautious people when trailer toting or working in general, because I KNOW that I couldn't live with myself if I hurt another due to my stupidity.

Now the bad, apparently the yoke is a discontinued item from my local parts place. Does anyone know where I could pick one up or the part number?

TheBigNasty

If you go to the dealer they should be able to order it and it shouldn't be too much. I had to order one for my Z71 I used to have and it wasn't nearly as expensive as I thought it would be. Sorry about the luck though.
As for the waiting for the DD and shaft, I wouldn't worry about it. The twins will keep the EGT's down for towing and the only thing you're gonna do is slip the clutch. I highly doubt you will break the input shaft.

96_12V

Good to hear - I had hope this was more the case!

Guess it's just a good thing to remind each other of the important things sometimes - I know I need it from time to time.

GAmes

If you haven't found the parts yet try Blumenthals 888-236-4800. They replaced all my u-joints, carrier bearing, yoke, pinnion and pinnion seal including labor for the price of a dealers yoke from the parts counter.