Broke down in Fort Stockton

robert mueller

New member
Jul 4, 2007
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G'day,

John Sharpe and I broke down in Fort Stockton, Texas on Monday night. The outer CV joint on the passenger side gave up the ghost
(sounds like someone is hitting it with a hammer when the GMC is turned left or right).

Met a local good old boy at the Clockwork Coffee shop Tuesday mornin' and he gave us the name of a local mechanic who might help us
out. Called in at his shop and he said he'd never worked on a GMC (earned him some points) and John and I responded in unison; "WE
HAVE!" He said OK and to call in at 9:00 am today.

Now that we had a place to fix it John called Nick of Applied GMC out in Frisco and he organized getting one sent by UPS overnight
to the Best Western Motel (All the RV campgrounds in the area were full and one night at club Wal-Mart was enough). With this John
and I figger'd that all our ducks were in a row.

Ken Henderson and John Nicholls were kind enough to stop by to see if we needed any help but it was a quick hi and goodbye since we
had everything organized (or so we thought).

We went to bed confident that we'd be back on the road after lunch today (Wednesday). Unfortunately Murphy got involved and that was
not to be. Turns out that UPS routed the axle from San Francisco, CA to Louisville, KY (HUH?). Turned out that Tuesday night there
was extreme winds and thunderstorms in Louisville and the tracking info notes:

Louisville, KY, United States, 04/04/2018, 3:20 A.M. Severe weather conditions have delayed delivery. Your delivery has been
rescheduled for the next business day.

Now to figger out what to do in the bustling metropolis / tourist Mecca of Fort Stockton, TX for the day!

BTW we're not complaining; just reporting a typical "adventure" you have when you have a GMC!

Regards,
Rob M.
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
USA '77 Kingsley - TZE 267V100808
 
When you ship something by FEDEX or USPS, it "usually" goes from where it is picked up to a HUB and then to the
placw where it is to actually be delivered. If you were to follow the package sometimes the routing doesn't make sense
but when many THOUSAND of packages are being moved, that's the way these companies do it.
I think Louisville is one of the BIG UPS HUBS

--
DAVE KING
lurker, wannabe
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
 
Dave,

Like I said; "Louisville, KY (HUH?)"

From the UPS link you provided:

Air Hubs:

United States: Louisville, Ky. (main Global Air Hub) Philadelphia, Pa.; Dallas, Texas; Ontario, Calif.; Rockford, Ill.; Columbia,
S.C.

Seems to me Dallas, Texas would have made more sense!

As of today, I'm pissed, if the axle doesn't show up tomorrow I'll join the ranks of GMCer's that hate UPS.

Regards,
Rob M.
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
USA '77 Kingsley - TZE 267V100808


-----Original Message-----
From: Gmclist [mailto:gmclist-bounces] On Behalf Of Dave King
Sent: Wednesday, April 4, 2018 8:22 AM
To: gmclist
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Broke down in Fort Stockton

Some UPS trivia
https://www.ups.com/ca/en/about/facts/worldwide.page

I know there are some GMCers that HATE UPS
--
DAVE KING
 
I guess we need to find out about the weather in those hubs befor selecting
UPS or FedEx.
Only consolation , if you want to consider, is that they will not charge
you for the Overnight charge.

> Some UPS trivia
> https://www.ups.com/ca/en/about/facts/worldwide.page
>
> I know there are some GMCers that HATE UPS
> --
> DAVE KING
> lurker, wannabe
> Toronto, Ontario, Canada
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
 
Be well
You turkeys 😀

> I guess we need to find out about the weather in those hubs befor selecting
> UPS or FedEx.
> Only consolation , if you want to consider, is that they will not charge
> you for the Overnight charge.
>

>
> > Some UPS trivia
> > https://www.ups.com/ca/en/about/facts/worldwide.page
> >
> > I know there are some GMCers that HATE UPS
> > --
> > DAVE KING
> > lurker, wannabe
> > Toronto, Ontario, Canada
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Jim Kanomata
> Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
> jimk
> http://www.appliedgmc.com
> 1-800-752-7502
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
--
Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
-------
http://bdub.net/gmcmotorhome.info/
Alternator Protection Cable
http://bdub.net/gmcmotorhome.info/APC.html
 
Hey Rob,
How old is the half shaft that went inop? Have fun in the metropolis of Ft. Stockton!!!
Scott.
--
Scott Nutter
1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final drive, Quad bags, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi.
Houston, Texas
 
Scott,

John noted that he had both of the axles serviced twice; the second servicing was done because they both "clicked" right after he
installed them.

To answer the next question; that servicing was done in 2006, however, he doesn't remember how many miles were on them at that point
in time.

Being an anally retentive perfectionist - I serviced the two on Double Trouble back in 2008 with Valvoline Synpower and to date
they're fine. I got lucky and found a couple of used Blue Boots at JimB's when I serviced them.

Last year when John and I rebuilt the entire front suspension / steering / axles on the Kingsley we dug up all the spare inner and
outer CV joints John and I had and put together the best parts; hopefully they'll be as good as Double Trouble's.

Jim,

Please advise UPS that it cost your customer an additional $270.00 for second night's stay in the motel! Having noted that the delay
was an "act of God" UPS might not be willing to refund the overnight cost. Also as far as checking the weather when you ship parts I
direct your attention to Mark Twain's quote; ""Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it" looks like
you're going to do something about it!

Update: we're not going to wait until tomorrow to do the job at the shop, we're going to take the bad one out in the motel parking
lot now so when the new one arrives tomorrow we just have to install it.

Regards,
Rob M.
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
USA '77 Kingsley - TZE 267V100808
.
 
I wish there was a option to have the rebuilders use valvoline synpower when packing the bearings. I tried last year, but they wouldn't do it..
--
Scott Nutter
1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final drive, Quad bags, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi.
Houston, Texas
 
Who were the rebuilders so others can avoid them!

Regards,
Rob M.
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
USA '77 Kingsley - TZE 267V100808


-----Original Message-----
From: Gmclist [mailto:gmclist-bounces] On Behalf Of Scott Nutter
Sent: Wednesday, April 4, 2018 10:30 AM
To: gmclist
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Broke down in Fort Stockton

I wish there was a option to have the rebuilders use valvoline synpower when packing the bearings. I tried last year, but they
wouldn't do it..
--
Scott Nutter
 
Rob,
As far as I can tell, there is only one company rebuilding them. The are out of Florida. But I don't know where.
I bought them through Applied. Jim did call the rebuilders to ask about using valvoline syntech and was told that they were built in batches at the
same time, so they weren't able to do special orders. But to me, that is A lame answer from the rebuilders. And what would it add to the cost? Maybe
another three dollars.......that would be a wise spent $3.....
Scott.
--
Scott Nutter
1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final drive, Quad bags, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi.
Houston, Texas
 
Scott,

The company is Ocala CV.

Good news, Carroll Shelly was coming through Fort Stockton and he had a couple of axles he had taken out of Ken Rose's Buskirk when
he installed a 1 ton front end. John bought them and we've (I handed him tools) just finished installing one of them.

We'll head for Las Cruces early thirty tomorrow morning. Since John is doing all the driving (I don't feel confident driving HIS GMC
towing HIS 1940 Ford) we'll drive as far as he feels like.

Regards,
Rob M.
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
USA '77 Kingsley - TZE 267V100808


-----Original Message-----
From: Gmclist [mailto:gmclist-bounces] On Behalf Of Scott Nutter
Sent: Wednesday, April 4, 2018 4:36 PM
To: gmclist
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Broke down in Fort Stockton

Rob,
As far as I can tell, there is only one company rebuilding them. The are out of Florida. But I don't know where.
I bought them through Applied. Jim did call the rebuilders to ask about using valvoline syntech and was told that they were built in
batches at the same time, so they weren't able to do special orders. But to me, that is A lame answer from the rebuilders. And what
would it add to the cost? Maybe another three dollars.......that would be a wise spent $3.....
Scott.
 
Rob
You'll be in Las Cruces in 5-6 hours. El Paso seems to go on forever, but
nothing like Houston.
Remember my adventure with Kerry Tandy ?...he was towing and doing 80 in
the outside lane. The man has style!!

If you're going to Hals, stay on the 10 and if you're looking for a
campground, Highly recommended is Sunny Acres on North Valley Drive .

Happy Motoring..

Mike in NS

https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail
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> Scott,
>
> The company is Ocala CV.
>
> Good news, Carroll Shelly was coming through Fort Stockton and he had a
> couple of axles he had taken out of Ken Rose's Buskirk when
> he installed a 1 ton front end. John bought them and we've (I handed him
> tools) just finished installing one of them.
>
> We'll head for Las Cruces early thirty tomorrow morning. Since John is
> doing all the driving (I don't feel confident driving HIS GMC
> towing HIS 1940 Ford) we'll drive as far as he feels like.
>
> Regards,
> Rob M.
> The Pedantic Mechanic
> Sydney, Australia
> AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
> USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
> USA '77 Kingsley - TZE 267V100808
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Gmclist [mailto:gmclist-bounces] On Behalf Of Scott
> Nutter
> Sent: Wednesday, April 4, 2018 4:36 PM
> To: gmclist
> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Broke down in Fort Stockton
>
> Rob,
> As far as I can tell, there is only one company rebuilding them. The are
> out of Florida. But I don't know where.
> I bought them through Applied. Jim did call the rebuilders to ask about
> using valvoline syntech and was told that they were built in
> batches at the same time, so they weren't able to do special orders. But
> to me, that is A lame answer from the rebuilders. And what
> would it add to the cost? Maybe another three dollars.......that would be
> a wise spent $3.....
> Scott.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
Michael Beaton
1977 Kingsley 26-11
1977 Eleganza II 26-3
Antigonish, NS

Life is too short to hold a grudge; slash some tires and call it even !
 
Carroll Shelly is a 1000% great guy...just another fine example of the great people in this outstanding GMC community..
But Carroll always goes the extra mile..
--
Scott Nutter
1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final drive, Quad bags, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi.
Houston, Texas
 
Did you notice that they forgot to include some of the more important things in their trivia list.

1. Number of packages lost per day.
2. Number of packages missing their estimated delivery date or delivery time.
3. Number of packages sent to the wrong city or terminal per day.
4. Number of temporary and part time workers.
5. Number of packages given to the local post offices for delivery.
6. Number of packages put on the truck out for delivery that come back to the terminal in the evening undelivered.

Their business model says that the shipper comes first. Delivering the stuff is a secondary inconvenience to them. When 3:30 comes he stops all
deliveries no matter what is left on the truck and makes his rounds to the pickup sites and businesses. He can't miss a pick up but it is all right
to miss a delivery and put it off until tomorrow. Pick ups are money. Deliveries are not.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana