I liked Erin's pics of my mud shower so much, I sent them to myself.
Good thing, since her album of the trip is no longer public.

Anyway, it seems too much of this:



has toasted my idler pulley.

It was already squealing a bit over the last couple thousand miles, but it really got annoying on the trip home. I was deathly afraid it might be the alternator. I was worried enough that I called a dealer in Grand Haven as I drove by to get a quote on a new alternator in the event they denied warranty. ($361!!!!!!!)
Tonight I got under the hood and found it was the idler. It doesn't spin freely and it wobbles on the bearing. The alternator feels fine and still charges properly. Rather than jack around waiting on the dealer to keep my Jeep for days and probably deny it under warranty, I'm heading to Napa tomorrow for a replacement and a spare. The NG idler could also be the source of my slowly-dwindling MPG. We'll see.

 

Keith you are definatly a little kid at heart! the first to jump in the puddle and stomp around LOL.

 

I loved those pictures of you going through that puddle also. I shut down the link after all the controversy....sorry. Most of them are in an album on my facebook account. Feel free to add me as a friend on facebook.

Tim Plants

Thanks again for the fun weekend. Buster was an excellent guide and it was great meeting all of you.

I can't remember who it was that said they would like my stock front and rear bumpers. My phone had no service on the trails and I lost it later that evening so I could not call you. They are still available....free to whoever wants to come pick them up....I live near Grand Rapids

 

New pulley installed in the Napa parking lot.
She purrs like a kitten again.
I bought a spare, plus a spare heavy-duty belt, to put in my offroading bag. $15.69 for the Napa pulley, which claims to have better resistance to mud and water than the OEM pulley. A much better price for a US-made Gates pulley, compared to the "who knows where" made OEM or replacements from Advance/AutoZone/PepBoys. Cheap for piece of mind on the trail, I think, especially since I don't plan on avoiding muddy water any time soon.
The "indicated" MPG even seemed to hint at a return to a happier wallet on the trip home. -We'll see!

Tim, I'm shocked at the loss of your cell service on the trail. Sprint usually sucks for coverage and I was pleasantly surprised over the weekend. The only time I didn't have some semblance of a signal was "downtown" Silver Lake.

If I happen into Michigan before you dispose of the OEM bumpers, I might pop by for the rear. I asked Chris (LōD) to promise he would take another look at his rear bumper concept that he borrowed my Jeep to fit up a few weeks back. I said I wouldn't feel right about being compensated if he ended up with nothing to show for it. If that means my stock rear bumper, in all its scratched up trail glory, until he takes another stab at it, so be it. (so I'd like to try my hand at a stubbified OEM rear in the mean time)

 

[/QUOTE]Tim, I'm shocked at the loss of your cell service on the trail. Sprint usually sucks for coverage and I was pleasantly surprised over the weekend. The only time I didn't have some semblance of a signal was "downtown" Silver Lake.

If I happen into Michigan before you dispose of the OEM bumpers, I might pop by for the rear. I asked Chris (LōD) to promise he would take another look at his rear bumper concept that he borrowed my Jeep to fit up a few weeks back. I said I wouldn't feel right about being compensated if he ended up with nothing to show for it. If that means my stock rear bumper, in all its scratched up trail glory, until he takes another stab at it, so be it. (so I'd like to try my hand at a stubbified OEM rear in the mean time)[/QUOTE]
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Hey guys, it was me who was interested in the front bumper! If whoever goes up to Michigan first could pick up both from Tim, we could distribute them between Kokomo and Lafayette somehow...........
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Also since I'm posting, my better half and I would like to thank woodweavil and family for setting up and guiding this trail ride, we both had good fun! It was nice seeing you all; I can't wait for the first snow of the season!
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