Oh ********!!! Mistakes you have made
- Thread starter boardrider247
- Start date
My most recent fubar is when I was trying to mate my NP205 transfer case to my 700r4 transmission. Everybody said you're supposed to cut a 1/4" off the tailshaft when using the stock 4wd output shaft and the 2" adapter/spacer. My buddy kept saying I didn't have to, and I listened to him because he's the junkyard man. Well we learned something that day... when I pulled everything tight, I heard a big loud pop.... After looking around for a minute, I found that the rear output bearing retainer was cracked. DOH! At least it's only a $30 part and nothing else got damaged....
I've been thinking about writing a whole blog post on this topic. Just back from 2.5 years living in an e350 traveling from the us to South America.
First big mistake - having an auxiliary fuel tank installed. It wasn't necessary for the trip we did. The switch failed leading to us being stranded on the dempster highway in the rain. Got it fixed but still had problems and eventually ditched the whole tank. It was too heavy any way. $1k down the drain.
Second mistake - decided to get a diesel cooktop to eliminate propane and the hassle of refilling it overseas. The thing has never worked right and will be replaced with a propane system. Another $2500 mistake.
There are lots of little things I'd change too but those are the heavy hitters.
The lesson I never seem to learn: do the simplest thing that will work.
First big mistake - having an auxiliary fuel tank installed. It wasn't necessary for the trip we did. The switch failed leading to us being stranded on the dempster highway in the rain. Got it fixed but still had problems and eventually ditched the whole tank. It was too heavy any way. $1k down the drain.
Second mistake - decided to get a diesel cooktop to eliminate propane and the hassle of refilling it overseas. The thing has never worked right and will be replaced with a propane system. Another $2500 mistake.
There are lots of little things I'd change too but those are the heavy hitters.
The lesson I never seem to learn: do the simplest thing that will work.
Basil.
Active member
Well at the end of my trailer build, I was drilling the holes for the lights on my fenders, and somehow I failed to notice that I made one fender a inch wider than the other. Well it's a homemade trailer so I just left it, not worth the hassle of cutting them off and re making one.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Bikersmurf
Expedition Leader
Drilling a hole to mount a license plate onto the back tailgate... and accidently drilling a 1/4" hole into the spare tire sitting just inside of it.
Kind of related. I was rebuilding a 32' Sailboat, cordless drill in hand so I could mount something to the hull. I only needed to drill down 1/4 inch so I marked the drill bit. The problem was, the hull was not 1/4" thick at that spot. I had a stream of water shooting into my boats interior. Lessons learned.
huskyhauler
Adventurer
This isn't mechanical related, but I have knack of forgetting to load up a hatchet before heading out. I now own four very similar hatches....
This thread motivated me to finally write up a review of some of the equipment we used in our van build: http://whensparksfly.org/?p=3554
boardrider247
Weekend warrior anarchist
Well let's bring this back from the dead as I am always finding new and interesting ways to F things up. Almost always due to not having a clear plan when starting projects.
Last fall I installed a Fiberine high top on my van. Sweet let's get this thing on and it can be insulated later.
Turns out later is now and I'm using "industrial use only" contact cement to glue rubber insulation over my head inside of the van where all the fumes like to hang out.
Thinking to myself "man this would have been really easy to do BEFORE I installed the top" and it could simply be flipped upside down
Now where is that headsmack emoticon.........
Last fall I installed a Fiberine high top on my van. Sweet let's get this thing on and it can be insulated later.
Turns out later is now and I'm using "industrial use only" contact cement to glue rubber insulation over my head inside of the van where all the fumes like to hang out.
Thinking to myself "man this would have been really easy to do BEFORE I installed the top" and it could simply be flipped upside down
Now where is that headsmack emoticon.........
wjeeper
Active member
I glued down the sub floor in my van and then started working on paneling the walls. It was recommended to me to use a new adhesive that was suppose to be awesome........well turned out it completely sucked! The floor started squeaking immediately. I figured it might fade with time so we went on using it as is. It only got worse with use. I ended up pulling the wall panels out and redoing the floor with liquid nails and rivets. It hasn't squeaked yet (fingers still crossed).
I am hoping that the tonneau cover turned into pop top doesn't turn into a mistake I have made....................
I am hoping that the tonneau cover turned into pop top doesn't turn into a mistake I have made....................
villageidiot327
Explorer
HEYO!!
Bikersmurf
Expedition Leader
Same Same, no?