Spares, and what to carry.

Bob Dunahugh

New member
Sep 17, 2012
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Some owners carry about every replaceable part. Maybe they just don't want to be sociable to have to meet others. ( GRIN) Maybe I'm that way. As I also carry about every replaceable part. The thing is. During the rebuilding of our 78 Royale. I replace about everything with new. So in reality. I too am carrying all those parts with me. Thus those parts are already installed. So am I not looking to be sociable? Interesting thought. YES Dean. We've met some terrific people that way. When things happen in life. For me. As long as no one got hurt, or someone died. I just don't get upset. Bob Dunahugh
 
If you carry a spare other than belts and ignition module / coil you will never need it. So it is good insurance to carry them. Dan Gregg use to
carry lots of junk that he never used. After he blew the second engine in a year or so I suggested that he needed to carry one of those with his
spares. He did not appreciate my humor or suggestion on this issue.

I use to carry a lot of that junk (spares). One day I took most of it out and moved it to my basement. I think the only thing I ever used was one
module and coil, and one belt. A starter could put you at the side of the road but they seldom fail and they usually go intermittent before
completely failing.

I can not remember the last time that I put a starter on any vehicle of ours. All of my vehicles have over 140,000 miles on them with one near
250,000 miles. The newest one I own is 13 years old. I remember having a starter problem in the 70's on a Toyota PU truck. It turned out to be a
bunch of frozen slush inside the starter.

Ken B.

I should not have made this posting. Now I'll have to go build up a spare for my impending GMC starter failure.


--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
 
> If you carry a spare other than belts and ignition module / coil you will never need it. So it is good insurance to carry them. Dan Gregg use to
> carry lots of junk that he never used. After he blew the second engine in a year or so I suggested that he needed to carry one of those with his
> spares. He did not appreciate my humor or suggestion on this issue.
>
> I use to carry a lot of that junk (spares). One day I took most of it out and moved it to my basement. I think the only thing I ever used was
> one module and coil, and one belt. A starter could put you at the side of the road but they seldom fail and they usually go intermittent before
> completely failing.
>
> I can not remember the last time that I put a starter on any vehicle of ours. All of my vehicles have over 140,000 miles on them with one near
> 250,000 miles. The newest one I own is 13 years old. I remember having a starter problem in the 70's on a Toyota PU truck. It turned out to be a
> bunch of frozen slush inside the starter.
>
> Ken B.
>
> I should not have made this posting. Now I'll have to go build up a spare for my impending GMC starter failure.
>
> I just remembered that I have put bushings in two Onan starters (not mine) and bushing and brushes in my airplane starter.
>
> Alternators and generators fail more often.

I had a starter fail in my GMC about 15 years ago. It was in my driveway so wasn't a real problem. This year I had to replace a starter in my
youngest son's Mercury Mountaineer. It also failed in my driveway. Maybe I should keep my vehicles out of my driveway.

A few years ago I had an intermittent wouldn't crank in my GMC. I was in Florida and it happened a few times (once at a gas station which was
annoying). Traced it to a flaky starter switch (the one that lives on the lower steering column). I was able to make it to a NAPA in my GMC that had
one in stock. Replaced it in the campground where we were staying. Before that I was able to keep starting it because I put a jumper in the circuit.
I don't think it is real easy to use a jumper to make a bad starter spin. In the old days we could start stuff by getting the vehicle rolling by
pushing and then popping the clutch. That's not something I think I can do with my GMC. Therefore, I will keep carrying a spare starter.

--
Richard
76 Palm Beach
SE Michigan
www.PalmBeachGMC.com


Coop Roller Cam 455, Howell TBI + EBL, 3.42 FD, Quadra Bag, Macerator, Manny Tranny etc.
 
"Be prepared" (and not a burden on others)

I'd carry everything I could think of (within reason) and probably build a twin engined GMC if I had the resources. LOL