Breakin' Bolts Build

Oh yes, she's been moving old pallets and old firewood for a burn pile!!

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That thing is awesome!

 

She's hooked...I'm going to have to fight her for it
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MJDT8_zAE_A&feature=youtu.be

 

Yea, I'd definitely put my eye out with one of these things Greg!

This is more my speed and skill level

 

Shit, with my right shoulder now 6wks post-surgery...and the left shoulder dealing with the same tear the right just had repaired, I'll be glad and eager to be using a shovel!

Likely will be relegated to it nearly exclusively by the time I'm good, since the wife is really enjoying her time on the loader...granted we are tearing up the "green part" of our cleared yard in the late summer, it's been great for learning just how much ground these skid loaders can tear up when making sharp turns! Also helping her learn just how finite the joystick controls are, and learning how to make broad or 12pt turning to avoid churning up the ground.

 

And finally something Taco Build, let alone Taco related...

Got @EatSleepTacos old gusseted spindles the other week and finally got after it with my FiLs power sander and some 120 paper. Followed it up with rattlecan primer action and then rattlecan bedliner...did I mention they've now got A/C in their workshop garage?!?!

Classic Betty White condition, blurple touchup and all!!!

Prepped for primer and paint (blurple is reslient!)


Finished product

Now to finally fix this tomorrow from happening going forward via:

• Pinch weld smash smash;
• Add preload (they're literally on the initial thread)

 

Looks fantastic Greg like brand new, only better.

 

Boy o'Boy...well it only took 3 evening sessions and several modification learning curves later it's finally done...with an alignment appointment scheduled for tomorrow morning.

• Pulled OE spindles and swapped in Betty White's old set of gusseted spindles
  • Now to degrease them, package them up and ship them back!

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• Ended up having to cut the brake shields

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• Ended up cutting the small leg bottoms of the BAMF FBRBs to work with the SSO bumper (no photos yet, pending primer and paint application; then they'll be installed this weekend)​
• Pulled Elka 2.5s, loosened the collar enough and put 5 full turns on both

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• Punch weld smashed (seam sealer arrives next week)
• Replaced all of the front spline lug nuts
• THE SWEET SUCCESS OF BACKING UP AT FULL LOCK AND NOT TEARING INTO RUBBER TREAD WITHOUT HAVING ANY ALIGNMENT ADJUSTMENTS = WINNING!!!

 

I saw your post in the "what have you done to your 3rd gen lately" thread, and came over to your build thread to check it out. I just had to do the same thing to my Elka 2.5s. I installed them about 2 weeks ago, and was surprised by how much the front sagged with the weight I'm running. I just have the factory OR skid (basically made out of aluminum foil), but I do have a BA Highline bumper (just an insert - not a full bumper), an X20 10K winch with synthetic line, and a dual AGM battery setup, plus a pair of white knuckle sliders. I figure I'm running about 175 to 180 extra pounds up front. When I purchased the Elkas, I was initially told they had 600 pound coils, so I wasn't surprised to see them sag so much under the weight. But as I looked into it further, it turns out I actually have 700 pound coils, and I just needed to adjust the preload.

I took them off and had a local shop put them on a spring compressor, as I don't have access to a good one. I had measured the distance from the top hat to the lower eyelet, then jacked the truck up to my desired height and measured again. The driver side needed 7/8 of an inch added to the preload, and the passenger side needed 5/8 of an inch.

Curious what your stance looks like now? I'm measuring just shy of 23" hub to fender at the moment, and I think the height is just about perfect. The ride is also amazing. I was a little worried about coil binding, but it looks like they still have plenty of room to fully cycle. Here's my before and after on the passenger side. The driver side is about 1/4" more preload than this side:

 

What's UP Joe?!?

So my Elkas were ordered through Headstrong back in early 2020, with the 2-3" over stock and their extended travel offering.
It literally came from Elka with the collar on the 2nd thread, but I was roughly 3 inches lifted over stock hub centric to wheel well trim bottom.

I had already added the SSO slimline with stage 2 prior to adding the Elka's, but added the winch a year later.

I last took a meansuremnt in February, and just measured in the garage:

• Front Driver:
  • Feb: 22"
  • July: 22 3/8"
• Front Passenger:
  • Feb: 23 1/4"
  • July: 23 1/2"

Sounds like I will be visiting the neighbor for a driver side adjustment, the good thing is it's all becoming second nature.

Edit: forgot to load pics
Driver

Passenger

Here was the passenger after install, and my measurements from post install a year ago were 23 and 23 1/4 driver and passenger.

 

That makes me wonder if you have longer springs than I do. The first photo I posted is where mine were set when I received them (mine are also the 2-3" lift extended travel model). But when I installed them, I was only measuring about .5" lift hub to fender. Mine have the C12.5x330 springs, which are 700 lbs and 13" long. Yours might be 14" springs.

 

Yep C11.6x356mm.

 

That makes sense. Yours are 14" long, 650 pound springs. That explains why I had to add an inch of preload to get almost the same result.

I was so worried that I was adding too much preload and I kept seeing others who barely had to do anything to theirs out of the box. I'm definitely breathing a sigh of relief

I do absolutely love them! They ride so smooth. Where do you normally keep your adjusters set for on-road and off-road driving? I'm still playing around with the settings and trying to learn what I like. I removed my front sway bar, so I've been keeping the low-speed compression (the smaller knob) on the firmest setting (all the way clockwise) and it's been great. I left the high-speed compression wherever it was set out of the box, but I think I need to play around with it a little. I haven't had a chance to get them off road yet and figure out what settings I like.

 

After the alignment I did the low speed all the way tight on both fronts and 1 click from full loose on the high speed. I'll do a few daily commutes before adjusting them further, I also need to adjust the heavy taco lean, but my alignment only needed toe adjustments

Went across the street and got a car wash and shine...first "real" car wash of 2021

 

37s next?

 

Well I'm getting there...currently running 32.7s (285/70r17)...next set are likely 33.8s, be it 285/75r17 or 295 or 305/70r17, but I'll have to do that extra deep @boogie3478 thrice CMC in order to get to 37x12.5r17s, and I don't have time for that (famous last words)!!!

 

I like to call it cmc cubed.

 

So I did a few things taco and home related today...

Primed and applied two coats on the recently chopped BAMF FBRBs
Drilled and installed the Taco Garage DMM and the Might Mega Magnet, debating on running the ultra gauge on the DMM or running it over the door side vent trim piece, oh and I did some initial 3rd gen programing for both of the transmission temperatures.

Had a buddy come over and knock down a dozen trees in under 1.5hrs. Knocking them down ahead of our barn shed build next week, and in order to put a lean-to on the back of the barn as well as for the future gravel road that'll come behind the shed and fork off under the awning.

I got a bit of a dent put on limbing and cutting up these 80+ footers.

Here's the CAT 305 miniX compared to my RT-25. I've been cutting the trees into 6-9ft segments and piling them just behind the tree line ahead of moving them down to the berm project.

 

So I was limited to my

$83 Milwaukee M18 Cordless Lithium-Ion 6-1/2" Circular Saw - 2630-20 - ( MILWAUKEE ) - BARE TOOL

Milwaukee M18 chainsaw since I can't pull engine cords yet post surgery...those m18 High Output batteries worked out great for this size job. Check it out, between 4.4hrs on the skid and one new chain on the blade over Saturday and Sunday, I got most all of the trees cleared.
Since they're putting in my shed today, I gotta bust up more stumps and relocate the stump fire pit spot a bit further away.

Saturday lunch break drone and phone shots:


As of quitting time Sunday:

We ran up for a fish fry at the in-laws Sunday afternoon, as my brother-in-law got back Saturday from a chartered deep sea fishing outing...so we had some of fresh blueline tilefish and black sea bass!

 

So I finally got some cotter pins to replace the ones cut after the spindle swap along with the low profile castle nuts. Man what a PIA getting up to curl those pin ends enough for peace of mind.

Also while pulling the front wheels I found a (unexpected) surprise, I lost my turny-two-stage-knob-thingy for my front Elka passenger resi.