CO Ketchup Build

[mushroomax]

Sounds like a wonderful road (or should I say off-road) trip! All you've done, and continue to do with your build is truly inspiring. Always look forward to new posts here for sure ?

Thanks for the kind words Brad! The JL platform has definitely made it easier to travel and explore the last few years.

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[mushroomax]

Still Daily Driving the Jeep and hitting trails when I can, threw in a couple more mods as well.

Rusty's Front Track Bar Mount Brace - There were some fitment issues with factory welds along the frame that needed cleaning up with a grinder, I also hit the brace in some areas as well. I noticed improved handling at once and should have done this mod when I installed the lift years ago, highly recommended

ARB Dual/Twin Air Compressor: I mounted the Compressor in the engine bay using the GRIMM Offroad bracket, this mod has been a long time coming since I've been milking a cheap harbor freight version going on 4yrs now. I'd be sitting around after trail runs for at least 30min or so just listening to this thing crying for dear life trying to air up the 38s. The ARB does it in a 3rd of the time or less without breaking a sweat.

Midland MTX275 MicroMobile 15-Watt GMRS Radio: Going on multiple snow recoveries over the past winter has forced me to install a radio to help expidite link-up so I wanted something simple, small, and nonintrusive that is enough to get the job done, enter Midland's MTX275. I like that you can remote mount the base unit and interface with the radio using only the hand mike.

A few of the trail runs this year:

Spring Creek, CO:

Wyoming:

Rubicon Trail, CA:

Fordyce Trail, CA:

Cheers

 

[blnewt]

Wow Max, you've been busy, what epic adventures you're sharing w/ us . Any damage during all that trail work??

 

[mushroomax]

Wow Max, you've been busy, what epic adventures you're sharing w/ us . Any damage during all that trail work??

Engine threw a belt and smoked the tensioner pulley. But other than that just the usual scrapes and scratches on the armor. I caught the belt issue way before but rolled the dice and pushed to far to a parts store for a replacement. Funny thing is I had a spare belt in the JL the whole time...thought I left it back at the house, derp.

 

[mushroomax]

I've heard that PSC has changed belt lengths a couple of times with this kit but don't believe the current belt length is the issue and after going over everything I don't think I did anything incorrectly. But I did notice something interesting in the instructions PSC provides with the kit.

Picture of PSC provided pulley bracket that I have installed. I took this on the side of the road when I removed the smoked tensioner pulley:

As you can see I installed this correctly. The words "UP" and an arrow pointing up are clearly visible. What I did notice however is that the holes to mount the pulleys are evenly spaced apart...I even measured them to confirm. This is not the same according to the picture PSC supplies in their instructions, see below:

 

[mushroomax]

My bracket doesn't have the same spacing as the one pictured in PSC's instructions. My holes are evenly spaced. The bracket in the instructions has offset holes and they have been drilled lower down on the bracket itself. I believe the spacing difference is causing not only alignment issues but the belt to jump over the lip of the pump pulley and pull it off the 2 idler pulleys that PSC provides.

 

[mushroomax]

My pulley spacing isn't offset and measures the same from top and bottom edge of bracket. According to the pictures in the instructions the holes should be lower down on the bracket, making the idler pulleys sit closer to other pulleys on the accessory drive, and in my opinion preventing the belt from being able to jump off.

 

[mushroomax]

When I was on the side of the road and verified that I had the pulley bracket installed correctly I ended up re-installing the bottom idler pulley in the top position and vice versa. This has fixed the issue even though the 2 idler pulleys are the same diameter.

 

[mushroomax]

So I jumped the gun and turned into a raving lunatic trying to figure out the belt issue. My statements about the pulley bracket turned out to be false because I was supplied with and installed the correct bracket for my engine type (2.0T, Non-Etorq) upon initial purchase back in 2023.

The issue was the original pulleys wearing excessively and unevenly due to their aluminum composition. This problem caused the belt to fray and eat my tensioner pulley....... So, for those that are following, it's been a year since I posted last so I'm sure everyone knows by now that PSC has a "fix-it-kit" out there with new STEEL pulleys. I was provided with the "fix-it-kit free of charge and haven't had any issues since.

New Steel Pulleys:

<- Old/New ->

Pulling the old ones out:

New ones going in:

Also, Fix-it-kit came with a new belt but I don't remember off the top of my head if it's sized different.

 

[mushroomax]

Some highlights of more adventures since last posting, here are a few:

Pearl Pass, CO:

 

[mushroomax]

Blanca/Lake Como Trail, CO with fellow members @BDinTX and @BradyW:

Full Trip Report here:

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/quickie-on-blanca-lake-como-trail.102315/post-2848152

 

[mushroomax]

Spent some time in Crested Butte:

 

[mushroomax]

Devil's Punch Bowl:

 

[mushroomax]

More Schofield Pass:

 

[mushroomax]

Escaped the madness and headed to Oklahoma - helped finish building a friend's house and leaned on my shock building expertise to rebuild both 6inch diameter boom cylinders on his D229 excavator. Then I mowed his lawn with his bulldozer:

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