I's consider it a success. Pretty good turn out considering the weather. Next Redbird trip will have orders to check the boards before you leave. If it's pretty soggy, we'll hold off. 21 is not meant to be ran wet and soggy. Way to many close calls with major trail carnage namely, steep downhill descents with trees at the bottom. I'll be honest, I was not looking forward to this trip with the weather being so wet for the past 2 weeks......but all turned out good. Thanks to all that showed up and participated. The most important thing: we did get MWC decals on the Adopt a trail sign. I'm sure someone has pics. I ended up forgetting my camera at home.
The trip home:
Roughly 5-6 miles south of Dugger; My cruise is set on 60mph. It starts letting up and then accelerates and does this a couple of times. I say, "Something's not right guys." About that time, a loud and rapid thump, thump, thump starts. I immediately think "centering ball" with all of Jims issues. I got the Jeep off the side of the road no more than 100ft. after the noise started. Grabbed the drive-shaft and gave it a good shaking. Centering ball looks great. However, the pinion has around 3/8" play left, right, up and down. Moves in and out just a smidge too. After several phone calls to various individuals I lined up a trailer to borrow. Dad came to the rescue and is now a member of the Elite MWC Road Recovery Team. This Elite group includes members such as Lawn'Cher and What Rd. The cheby towed it like a dream. It will move under it's own power and I drove it on/off the trailer in 4wd.
Big big kudos to Byron (IllianaXJ). He caught up with us, took us to get eats and, helped us kill some time until Dad could get to us. It would have been a looong wait along side the road. Not as long as others have waited along side the road(think Kansas), but it would have sucked none-the-less.
I'll get it apart the first of next week and see what's up. Already thinking of upgrades if possible. I think it may just be the pinion bearing but who knows.......:dunno: I've already contacted the guy that installed the gears and chewed his ass throughly.:sad1:
I did get inside the house. She did not change the locks. Looks like it'll be the couch tonight, but at least I'm in the house.
Find me the snatch block thread Mac.
BTW, if anyone is interested in holding a chainsaw how-to clinic at Winterfest please, post up!