Strike of Dumbass

J

johnny

New member
May 10, 2011
8,287
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3
As a part of the new engine/trans/ fun and games, I decided to swap the differential lube. It's been in there since I've owned the coach, and
probably since the 3.7 gears and Ragusa cover went on. So I picked up a couple of quarts of synthetic lube, drained what was in it (not overheated,
no particles) and set about to refill it. It seems simple, except you have to invert the lube bottle to get the lube into the opening in the case.
So, snip the tip, return the red plastic cap. Work the bottle into place, pop the cap, stuff the spout in the fill hole and squeeze away. First
bottle's empty, drop it, pick up the red plastic cap and snap it back on the empty bottle, toss it aside for the trash when you're done, repeat. Just
under two quarts, she's full to the fill hole. Pop the cap back on the bottle and drop it. Cap, where's the cap? There's one on the empty, where's
the one for this bottle. Put a finger on the spout, turned it right side up, and set it on the slab while I replaced the fill plug. Searched high and
wide for the red cap, it's nowhere to be seen. The slab is clean, just swept, the dam' cap is nowhere. Well, it gots to be SOMEwhere, where's left?
Ain't but one possibility. Surely that soft plastic would simply squeeze out of the gears and shred to the bottom of the differential case? I'm
gonna bet a thousand bucks it will do so without damage? Not gonna happen. Gasket ordered from Jimmy the K, ought to be here by Saturday. I'll
drain into a clean container, pop the cover, and remove the frickin' cap. Reassemble, refill, and have some peace of mind. Murphy lives here? You
betcha.

--johnny
--
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
 
You sure both bottles had caps?

I’d run it and not sweat it.

Sully
Bellevue wa

On Wed, Jul 15, 2020 at 12:33 PM Johnny Bridges via Gmclist <

> As a part of the new engine/trans/ fun and games, I decided to swap the
> differential lube. It's been in there since I've owned the coach, and
> probably since the 3.7 gears and Ragusa cover went on. So I picked up a
> couple of quarts of synthetic lube, drained what was in it (not overheated,
> no particles) and set about to refill it. It seems simple, except you
> have to invert the lube bottle to get the lube into the opening in the
> case.
> So, snip the tip, return the red plastic cap. Work the bottle into place,
> pop the cap, stuff the spout in the fill hole and squeeze away. First
> bottle's empty, drop it, pick up the red plastic cap and snap it back on
> the empty bottle, toss it aside for the trash when you're done, repeat.
> Just
> under two quarts, she's full to the fill hole. Pop the cap back on the
> bottle and drop it. Cap, where's the cap? There's one on the empty,
> where's
> the one for this bottle. Put a finger on the spout, turned it right side
> up, and set it on the slab while I replaced the fill plug. Searched high and
> wide for the red cap, it's nowhere to be seen. The slab is clean, just
> swept, the dam' cap is nowhere. Well, it gots to be SOMEwhere, where's
> left?
> Ain't but one possibility. Surely that soft plastic would simply squeeze
> out of the gears and shred to the bottom of the differential case? I'm
> gonna bet a thousand bucks it will do so without damage? Not gonna
> happen. Gasket ordered from Jimmy the K, ought to be here by Saturday.
> I'll
> drain into a clean container, pop the cover, and remove the frickin' cap.
> Reassemble, refill, and have some peace of mind. Murphy lives here? You
> betcha.
>
> --johnny
> --
> Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
> Braselton, Ga.
> I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me
> in hell
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
Hey, we all have stupid attacks from time to time. You can get a pump for that gear lube. It screws on the top of the bottle. Makes it easy to not
make that kind of mistake.
--
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles,
Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
 
Fish the one out of the trash and put in the wife’s blender and see what happens. Might add a little molasses. I know when she finds out, y’all be sleeping in the MH 😊

Sent from my iPad

>
> As a part of the new engine/trans/ fun and games, I decided to swap the differential lube. It's been in there since I've owned the coach, and
> probably since the 3.7 gears and Ragusa cover went on. So I picked up a couple of quarts of synthetic lube, drained what was in it (not overheated,
> no particles) and set about to refill it. It seems simple, except you have to invert the lube bottle to get the lube into the opening in the case.
> So, snip the tip, return the red plastic cap. Work the bottle into place, pop the cap, stuff the spout in the fill hole and squeeze away. First
> bottle's empty, drop it, pick up the red plastic cap and snap it back on the empty bottle, toss it aside for the trash when you're done, repeat. Just
> under two quarts, she's full to the fill hole. Pop the cap back on the bottle and drop it. Cap, where's the cap? There's one on the empty, where's
> the one for this bottle. Put a finger on the spout, turned it right side up, and set it on the slab while I replaced the fill plug. Searched high and
> wide for the red cap, it's nowhere to be seen. The slab is clean, just swept, the dam' cap is nowhere. Well, it gots to be SOMEwhere, where's left?
> Ain't but one possibility. Surely that soft plastic would simply squeeze out of the gears and shred to the bottom of the differential case? I'm
> gonna bet a thousand bucks it will do so without damage? Not gonna happen. Gasket ordered from Jimmy the K, ought to be here by Saturday. I'll
> drain into a clean container, pop the cover, and remove the frickin' cap. Reassemble, refill, and have some peace of mind. Murphy lives here? You
> betcha.
>
> --johnny
> --
> Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
> Braselton, Ga.
> I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
Dont feel to bad.....after struggling to put the timing cover back on (it just didnt want to go back on) having changed the gear/chain set and making
it all the way to the front engine mount install....i realized that the oil slinger was sitting next to me on the ground instead of were it should
be....so it all came appart again.

To make matters worse i know better than to not double check my install......
--
Rich Mondor,

Brockville, ON

77 Hughes 2600
 
Johnny,

I don't think that will let you displace me from my place at the head of
the queue for the Rubber Hammer award!

While you've got the cover off, why don't you get a bung brazed into the
bottom of it so the next time you can just unscrew the cap -- like I've
done for the past several years.

Ken H.

On Wed, Jul 15, 2020 at 4:21 PM Nelson Wright via Gmclist <

> Fish the one out of the trash and put in the wife’s blender and see what
> happens. Might add a little molasses. I know when she finds out, y’all be
> sleeping in the MH 😊
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> > On Jul 15, 2020, at 3:33 PM, Johnny Bridges via Gmclist <

> >
> > As a part of the new engine/trans/ fun and games, I decided to swap the
> differential lube. It's been in there since I've owned the coach, and
> > probably since the 3.7 gears and Ragusa cover went on. So I picked up a
> couple of quarts of synthetic lube, drained what was in it (not overheated,
> > no particles) and set about to refill it. It seems simple, except you
> have to invert the lube bottle to get the lube into the opening in the
> case.
> > So, snip the tip, return the red plastic cap. Work the bottle into
> place, pop the cap, stuff the spout in the fill hole and squeeze away.
> First
> > bottle's empty, drop it, pick up the red plastic cap and snap it back on
> the empty bottle, toss it aside for the trash when you're done, repeat.
> Just
> > under two quarts, she's full to the fill hole. Pop the cap back on the
> bottle and drop it. Cap, where's the cap? There's one on the empty,
> where's
> > the one for this bottle. Put a finger on the spout, turned it right
> side up, and set it on the slab while I replaced the fill plug. Searched
> high and
> > wide for the red cap, it's nowhere to be seen. The slab is clean, just
> swept, the dam' cap is nowhere. Well, it gots to be SOMEwhere, where's
> left?
> > Ain't but one possibility. Surely that soft plastic would simply
> squeeze out of the gears and shred to the bottom of the differential case?
> I'm
> > gonna bet a thousand bucks it will do so without damage? Not gonna
> happen. Gasket ordered from Jimmy the K, ought to be here by Saturday.
> I'll
> > drain into a clean container, pop the cover, and remove the frickin'
> cap. Reassemble, refill, and have some peace of mind. Murphy lives here?
> You
> > betcha.
> >
> > --johnny
> > --
> > Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
> > Braselton, Ga.
> > I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to
> me in hell
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
IIRC, that's not really needed except to lubricate the fuel pump drive cam
-- I'd have just permanently removed the mechanical pump. But maybe I'm
thinking of the cam itself?

Ken H.

On Wed, Jul 15, 2020 at 4:26 PM 6cuda6--- via Gmclist <

> Dont feel to bad.....after struggling to put the timing cover back on (it
> just didnt want to go back on) having changed the gear/chain set and making
> it all the way to the front engine mount install....i realized that the
> oil slinger was sitting next to me on the ground instead of were it should
> be....so it all came appart again.
>
> To make matters worse i know better than to not double check my
> install......
> --
> Rich Mondor,
>
> Brockville, ON
>
> 77 Hughes 2600
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
Two sayings related to my construction/mechanical life. 1. Three steps forward. Two steps back. 2. I have to fix something in order to use it to
fix the thing I then use to fix the broken thing.
--
M Beam
75’ Avion
TBI EBL , 3.70 LSD and other stuff
Zuki Sidekick,
Dozier Al
 
Johnny,

We could make a bet that we could get a group together at the next international and tell such stories one at a time under it was time to go home.

I also hope you understand that the real issue here is that if you had paid someone to do this "simple" job, you would never have know why the lube
was full of red flakes and the pinion bearing seized up.

This is a club that I am too young to be a charter member.

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
 
Hi Johnny, any chance that cap would float? A bright led flashlight and a pair of hemostats?

> As a part of the new engine/trans/ fun and games, I decided to swap the differential lube. It's been in there since I've owned the coach, and
> probably since the 3.7 gears and Ragusa cover went on. So I picked up a couple of quarts of synthetic lube, drained what was in it (not overheated,
> no particles) and set about to refill it. It seems simple, except you have to invert the lube bottle to get the lube into the opening in the case.
> So, snip the tip, return the red plastic cap. Work the bottle into place, pop the cap, stuff the spout in the fill hole and squeeze away. First
> bottle's empty, drop it, pick up the red plastic cap and snap it back on the empty bottle, toss it aside for the trash when you're done, repeat.
> Just under two quarts, she's full to the fill hole. Pop the cap back on the bottle and drop it. Cap, where's the cap? There's one on the empty,
> where's the one for this bottle. Put a finger on the spout, turned it right side up, and set it on the slab while I replaced the fill plug.
> Searched high and wide for the red cap, it's nowhere to be seen. The slab is clean, just swept, the dam' cap is nowhere. Well, it gots to be
> SOMEwhere, where's left? Ain't but one possibility. Surely that soft plastic would simply squeeze out of the gears and shred to the bottom of the
> differential case? I'm gonna bet a thousand bucks it will do so without damage? Not gonna happen. Gasket ordered from Jimmy the K, ought to be
> here by Saturday. I'll drain into a clean container, pop the cover, and remove the frickin' cap. Reassemble, refill, and have some peace of mind.
> Murphy lives here? You betcha.
>
> --johnny

--
C. Boyd
76 Crestmont
East Tennessee
 
Hey, that "Rubber Hammer / Dumbass" award respects no age groups. It can
strike any of us, even if we keep our awareness at a high level.
But, there is much to be said for the exposure that older guys have
accumulated through the decades.
I like your suggestion of having it as a topic at a rally, somewhere,
sometime.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Oregon

On Wed, Jul 15, 2020, 3:39 PM Matt Colie via Gmclist <

> Johnny,
>
> We could make a bet that we could get a group together at the next
> international and tell such stories one at a time under it was time to go
> home.
>
> I also hope you understand that the real issue here is that if you had
> paid someone to do this "simple" job, you would never have know why the lube
> was full of red flakes and the pinion bearing seized up.
>
> This is a club that I am too young to be a charter member.
>
> Matt
> --
> Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
> Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
> OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
> SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
Years ago in the 50's and 60's we use to put all kinds of stuff in differentials when they started getting a gear whine. Cork and soft plastic were
two of the things we used. The stuff would get ground up and the gear wine went away after a few hundred miles. It did not help on bearings. I would
leave it and forget it.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
 
Saw dust always worked well too....lol

I would try to fish it out if possible but i'm with Johnny here...i'd be up all night thinking about it even if the gears set could take it.

> Years ago in the 50's and 60's we use to put all kinds of stuff in differentials when they started getting a gear whine. Cork and soft plastic
> were two of the things we used. The stuff would get ground up and the gear wine went away after a few hundred miles. It did not help on bearings.
> I would leave it and forget it.

--
Rich Mondor,

Brockville, ON

77 Hughes 2600
 
The good and the bad. It's a Ragusa cover, so the fill port is small and on the side where you can't see into it, nor is there room to pass forceps
or anything else. Fishing around with a wire hook got no results. No need for a bung, it has two. One for a temp sensor, the other larger on the
bottom for a drain. If the cap falls out when I drain it there's an end to it. Otherwise I'm with Rich - I would worry.

--johnny
--
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
 
For goodness sake. Your obsessing about this. How hard could it be to just drain it, pull the cover off, and look for the cap. Clean it up, new
gasket, put the cover back on, fill with fluid and get on with life. Its not like you have to pull the engine to do it. If this is the worst thing you
have to do on your GMC, count yourself lucky. JMHO
--
Larry
78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.
 
> For goodness sake. You are obsessing about this. How hard could it be to just drain it, pull the cover off, and look for the cap. Clean it up, new
> gasket, put the cover back on, fill with fluid and get on with life. Its not like you have to pull the engine to do it. If this is the worst thing
> you have to do on your GMC, count yourself lucky. JMHO

Larry,

It is not that I don't respect your opinion, but when there is no drain plug feature, you get to crack the cover loose and hope your pan is large
enough to catch what comes out wherever it decides to go. There is no clean way to drain either an automatic transmission or rear end. The only
relief is that if the gasket was not damaged (and it was probably not in this case) there is no reason to replace it. That "Always use a New Gasket"
thing was started by the people that sell gaskets.

Matt

--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
 
> > For goodness sake. You are obsessing about this. How hard could it be to just drain it, pull the cover off, and look for the cap. Clean it up,
> > new gasket, put the cover back on, fill with fluid and get on with life. Its not like you have to pull the engine to do it. If this is the worst
> > thing you have to do on your GMC, count yourself lucky. JMHO
>
> Larry,
>
> It is not that I don't respect your opinion, but when there is no drain plug feature, you get to crack the cover loose and hope your pan is large
> enough to catch what comes out wherever it decides to go. There is no clean way to drain either an automatic transmission or rear end. The only
> relief is that if the gasket was not damaged (and it was probably not in this case) there is no reason to replace it. That "Always use a New
> Gasket" thing was started by the people that sell gaskets.
>
> Matt

Sorry if I offended anyone. I was really kinda stating tongue in cheek. Next time I'l try to put a filter on my pen.
--
Larry
78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.
 
Well, I didn't take offense and I screwed up in the first place :) And I'm of your opinion. It will take all of maybe two hours if the gasket is
glued on and has to be scraped. Since it's a Ragusa, it will drain easily into a clean gallon water bottle which I can cap - my other fool's move is
kicking things over when I'm working under the coach.
For those of you who want a fun job in 95 degree weather, take a look at how the starter is replaced on a 2011 Chrysler Town n Country. There are
three or four you tube tutorials. That's next Friday's chore if the new starter gets here next Thursday as promised. Actually, I think the heavy
current contact in the solenoid is toasr based on the symptoms but the procedure is the same either way since the solenoid isn't removable with the
starter mounted. Getting the cap out of the coach diff is a walk in the park by comparison.
I suggest Kim Weeks needs one more sign for the tables in Patterson, Genius, Liars, and Numbnuts. Or whatever appellation fits. It probably needs
to be double the size of the other two.

--johnny
--
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
 
09:12
> For goodness sake. You are obsessing about this. How hard could it be to just drain it, pull the cover off, and look for the cap. Clean it up, new
> gasket, put the cover back on, fill with fluid and get on with life. Its not like you have to pull the engine to do it. If this is the worst thing
> you have to do on your GMC, count yourself lucky. JMHO
> Larry,
>

> It is not that I don't respect your opinion, but when there is no drain plug feature, you get to crack the cover loose and hope your pan is large
> enough to catch what comes out wherever it decides to go. There is no clean way to drain either an automatic transmission or rear end. The only
> relief is that if the gasket was not damaged (and it was probably not in this case) there is no reason to replace it. That "Always use a New
> Gasket" thing was started by the people that sell gaskets.
>
> Matt
>
> And Larry responded:
> Sorry if I offended anyone. I was really kinda stating tongue in cheek. Next time I'll try to put a filter on my pen.

Larry,

I really don't think anyone (most of all not me) was offended. We have all done such things along Johnny's line. What my problem here starts with my
hatred of opening things that don't have drain plugs. One can never effectively predict where the liquid will want to go.

I do really think we could make a session of these stories at any convention. But I don't believe that everybody here could join in..... Just most of
us.

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
 
Well, some days are diamonds. Today started like the last several. Gasket's here snd checked. But the catch bottle and funnel won't fit under the
coach.So plan B, drain into Bonnie's travelling water bucket. Which it was doing nicely, and only a bit of oil on my gloves when in the midst of the
steady stream came a PLUNK. Dare I? Could it be? I held my breath till it was drained and looked in the pail... can't see. I tipped it up for the
funnel in the catch bottle and there's the missing cap.
I got a gasket new in the wrapper when someone needs it. Save the shipping costs.

--johnny
--
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
 
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