Front Range 4x4 Upcoming Trail Runs - Add a New Trail Run

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Thread: Ghetto-Fixes!

  1. #1
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    Default Ghetto-Fixes!



    I know we've all been in a pinch either on the trail or stuck in a parking lot with a broken part, minor or major we've all ghetto-rigged something to fix it, let's seem some of em!

    Here's mine from last year, all packed up to drive 1,000 miles home and my soft-top ripped, out came the duct-tape, go buffs!
         

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    Default Re: Ghetto-Fixes!



    Back in the 80s I blew a rear U joint, fixed it with a leather belt. got off the mountain.

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    Default Re: Ghetto-Fixes!



    Iv used Muffler clamps to fix leaf springs !

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    Default Re: Ghetto-Fixes!



    I got some on the soft top of the miata and that is the last thing my mind with that thing. It goes 90 with no problems so I'm not worried. I want a hard top but need to same the near $2000 for one. That's more then I paid for the car, granted the one I am looking at is carbon fiber lol.

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    Default Re: Ghetto-Fixes!



    I fixed my u-bolts with straps lol, u-bolts loosened and stripped out so I strapped the crap out of that axle and drove 15 MPH down the mountain and all the way home

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    Default Re: Ghetto-Fixes!



    Iv done and seen some real trail fixes in my lifetime
    Iv used bubblegum on a gas tank to straping a broomstick from the slider to the rear bumper to hold the tire/axle from walking out !!

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    Default Re: Ghetto-Fixes!



    Here is the one that we came up with, when Jim's fuel pump messed up on the trail.

    [IMG][/IMG]

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    Default Re: Ghetto-Fixes!



    Mine doesn't look like a ghetto fix.



    I broke the bottom mounting screw off the light. I just wrapped the plastic post with enough electrical tape that it fits snugly in the hole. I'm expecting it to fall out when the tape fails. Guess I've got more tape in the back of the Jeep.

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    Default Re: Ghetto-Fixes!



    carpenle previously posted:
    "Here is the one that we came up with, when Jim's fuel pump messed up on the trail.

    [IMG][/IMG]"


    I think this is still my favorite I've seen.

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    Default Re: Ghetto-Fixes!



    Aargh! Can't find my photo! It was on my old Land Cruiser and involved bypass wires from the fuel pump through the dashboard, vise grips on the hand throttle and more to get back from Utah, very ghetto!
    ___________
    Chris in Florida

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    Default Re: Ghetto-Fixes!



    I've done a few sketchy fixes. I was driving one of my old VW rabbits down a dirt road in the dark on my way back from a fishing trip. Hit a big bump and the battery bucked and the old corroded ground cable just disintegrated. I had no flashlight, or tools with me, just my fishing stuff.

    I opened the rear hatch, felt around for the speaker, and pulled the leads off, then pulled on it until I had about 4 feet of speaker wire and cut it off by the back seat with my fishing knife. I cut it into 4 pieces, and made it into a mini groundstrap to get home.

    Another fun one was a Chevy pickup my buddy had. the mechanical fuel pump went out and we were out in the sticks in western oregon. We ended up disconnecting the feed line from the tank to fill up the gas can we had in the back. After that we emptied the windshield washer tank and filled it with gas. We used the cone shaped tip from a tube of RTV to adapt the skinny washer hose to the rubber part of the fuel inlet hose on the carb. Then we were able to limp into the next town by using the washer pump to fill the carb bowl.

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    Default Re: Ghetto-Fixes!



    A couple of winters ago the wiper motor went out so I had to take part of a ratchet strap and loop it around each wiper arm run it through the door windows while I had my buddy pulling it back and forth so we had wipers. Once you got the system down it did not work to bad but definitely wears out the arms and shoulders after a while.

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    Default Re: Ghetto-Fixes!



    See !!!This is what wheeling is all about..
    You do what you can do with what ya got !!!

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    Default Re: Ghetto-Fixes!



    When my husband broke off a rear leaf halfway through Patriot (on his old built YJ "Kermit"), he and buddy John used a chain wrapped around the axle and come-along and attached it to the spring mount - finished the trail and crawled out. I couldn't believe it.

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    Default Re: Ghetto-Fixes!



    Heather previously posted:
    "When my husband broke off a rear leaf halfway through Patriot (on his old built YJ "Kermit"), he and buddy John used a chain wrapped around the axle and come-along and attached it to the spring mount - finished the trail and crawled out. I couldn't believe it."

    Wish I coulda see that one.

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    Default Re: Ghetto-Fixes!



    I don't know if its a ghetto-fix, or redneck repair...

    The wires broke off the motor for my electric window. You can't really re-do the connection, because the conductors are set in epoxy. You can't replace the motor, because it is unitized with the window regulator. I have RR & Rd the regulator assembly on the passenger side, it sucked. Not to mention, a new replacement was kinda expensive.

    When the driver side window stopped working, I found a wire had broken where it goes into the case. As I mentioned, it is filled with epoxy, so I crimped an eye on the wire and ran a small screw into the epoxy where the wire came out. When the other wire broke, it was time...OK, it was an excuse to go to the junkyard.

    What I decided to try, was replacing the brush holder, instead of the entire regulator with motor. The process is simple, just bend the tabs that secure the brush holder to the back of the motor. Try to not break the tabs off the regulator motor in your vehicle.



    With the brush holder removed, everything else stays put.



    The next trick is to install the brush holder in your Jeep. The brushes have to be pinned back to slip over the armature.



    I don't know how this was done at the factory, they did not leave me with any means to pin the brushes. I made my own holes; "X" marks the spot!



    A couple things I want to point out:
    Use the smallest drill bit practicable. I sized the hole to the smallest steel wire I had in the shop.
    If you drill where I marked, the hole will be a little ways into the brush holder. My first go-round, I drilled into the brush, causing chunks to break off. My second go-round, I had the brush pushed far enough back to prevent damage.

    After drilling the holes, I installed the pins.





    Reassembly is straightforward, leave the pins installed until the tabs are bent into place. Bending the tabs was a little nerve racking, I worried about breaking them off where they were bent before. Also, it was difficult to get them bent all the way in.



    With the tabs bent in, remove the pins, plug in the harness, and give it a test run. The first thing I noticed was that the motor ran backwards to the switch. I swapped the polarity of the wires, I think I cut and crimped the harness between the motor and the plug. The second thing I noticed, was how much the motor jumped around when it was under load. The brush holder wanted to jump off the end of the motor when the window was going up. I'm guessing the armature moves on its axis, while under load. This is why you need to be careful with the tabs that secure the brush holder.



    I'll finish by saying that the yellow wire did break after some time. These pictures were taken during my first attempt. If you look at the second picture of the pins, you can see the brush I damaged. The second brush holder has worked for some time now. Ironically, both motors ran backwards to the switch, but were from opposite side of the vehicle.
    ___________
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    Default Re: Ghetto-Fixes!



    No pics, but Larry (Warrlord) and I were wheeling up on Eagle Rock one time, and he came off a rock pretty hard (backwards). It bowed the tie rod out, which toed his front tires in really bad. We took a come-a-long and hooked it at the bend, and the other end to a crossmember on his truck (underneath). He cranked on it till I told him the tires looked good, and we finished the day. He took it to work and put it on the alignment rack and it was only out around 1/4 of an inch (if I remember correctly.

    Another time up on Chinamans Dan slipped of a rock and twisted his rear driveline (I actually didnt see it, Larry's steering box broke, so we were running back to Bueanie to get another and fix it). Anyways when we got there they had the D-Shaft off. Jesse had a premier welder, so we straightened the shaft, cut the old jack crank out of my Explorer into about 6" pieces, welded them all around the twist. We didnt finish the trail that day (to many break downs and it was getting late). But Dan said he drove it home to Denver with no vibrations.

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    Default Re: Ghetto-Fixes!



    Well I was at driving around some grad parties yesterday and my dashlights went out so..


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    Default Re: Ghetto-Fixes!



    A few years ago while running from Moab to the Henry Mtns across Beef Basin I had fuel supply issues caused by a combination of problems.

    Kept the truck running by running new wiring and using the hand throttle to maintain an idle and keep it running above idle.
         
    ___________
    Chris in Florida

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    Default Re: Ghetto-Fixes!



    I just "fixed" my header issue by rolling up some tin foil to use as a gasket until I get one ordered in.

    J.

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