“ The Best Bad Luck”

[FreighTer Jim]

Several years ago I came up with the saying ….
“ The Best Bad Luck “ …

About an hour and a half ago as I exited the freeway
I found out I had no brakes and just a hard pedal.

Luckily I always drive conservatively and was able
to stop at the bottom of the exit ramp.

I carefully made my way over to an
O’Reilly auto parts store and changed out
my vacuum pump which I had replaced
back on December 4, 2021.

It was dark by the time I arrived but the parking lot
behind O’Reillys had lights and there was a
Dallas Police observation tower set up
right across from my truck ….

FJ

[Norman Kling]

A number of years ago I had a 67 Dodge Dart. We had been to see my sister and my dad who lived near Placerville, east of Sacramento. On the way home almost to Bakersfield, the transmission stopped but I was near a ramp and was able to coast to a stop. I was near a gas station. I called my son and told him what had happened and could he come and get us. I would call a wrecking yard and have the Dodge towed to it's final resting place. My son suggested I add transmission fluid. So I put in about a gallon of fluid and it ran again. So we continued on our way checking from time to time. Around San Fernando it was low again so I filled it up with fluid. Anyway, when I got near home it started smoking and I was glad it had gotten dark. I made it all the way home to Alpine about 200 or so miles from where it first happened. So I went to the wrecking yard and bought a used transmission and installed it. The car lasted for several more years. The seal at the back of the torque converter had gone bad and the smoke was from fluid getting onto the exhaust pipe.
Norm

[A Whiteman]

Jim, that was good timing!

Many years ago I was travelling with a friend when - in the proverbial middle of nowhere - the car started running rough, misfiring and eventually stopping dead.

Hmm.

Tools? - ah no he didn't really know what they were.

Solution: removed plugs with a pair of pliers, cleaned with a rough stone and bit of fence wire located nearby, set with the thickness of my thumb nail, reinstalled and tightened as much as the pliers would allow, and hey presto, the car ran fine all the way home (and then for several more years to the next 'service'.

What would I have done if that farmer's fence didn't have a end of wire I could break off!

[Craig Leach]

Times like these is why I always carry a Bronson rock for emergency repairs.
Craig.

[FreighTer Jim]

So My Best Bad Luck Continues
On The Oklahoma Turnpike ….

Pulled off to check messages.
Engine cranked - no start.
Called my main diesel mechanic & friend.
Diagnosis was probable high pressure oil leak.
Most likely injector o ring.
Injectors & glow plugs replaced in
April 2021 by another mechanic.

Had to deliver Model T to College Station, Texas
before Major Winter Storm.

Got truck started & left it running.
Dropped off the Model T to Ross
at Lilleker Antique Auto Restoration.

Decision Time ….

Drive around 1000 miles into a
Major Winter Storm to pick up
my back up truck in Northern Arizona ?

Continue 1100 miles to Florida to deliver
the Brass Car in my trailer ?

Chose to drive to Florida …

Drove without issue to Pensacola, Florida
without issue keeping the truck running thru
the intermittent rain …

Truck died in the parking lot of
Pensacola Fuel Injection where
I had called ahead to have new
diesel injector o ring kits and a
replacement oil cooler kit pulled
and waiting at the counter …


FJ

[Herb Iffrig]

Sounds like you got away with it that time.

[FreighTer Jim]

As things turned out …
A shop was recommended a
few miles away.
A free tow from insurance company 
for my truck & trailer.
Secured fenced storage for my
trailer at the shop.
Diagnosis done by 12 noon
the next day.
Repairs completed by Tuesday afternoon.
Stayed with friends in Destin while 
repairs were being done.

Back on the road Tuesday afternoon.


FJ