Why does bad $!** happen miles from home?

[mr.wilson]

We headed out of Kansas City for a two week tour of South Dakota (Rushmore) and Wyoming (Yellowstone). :-laf The trip was great with one minor but expensive issue. Some where between Casper, WY where I filled up with fuel and noticed a small squeaking but could not locate and Goerend, NE where we were stopping for the night. The torque converter started separating from the flex plate as I would discover later. I thought the divorce was final about 5 miles west of Ogallala NE. The truck started making a whale of a clatter under the hood, I was sure something had killed the truck. But as I coasted the truck to where I was sure the tow truck was going to meet us she just wouldn't quite rolling. I limped the last 5 miles on the shoulder at 15 MPH and right into the campground right off I-80. Oh did I mention I was in western NE on a Sunday night. Yes, you are correct in the fact there is not much going on in Western NE.



Lucky for me I found a guy that was a diesel nut but drove a FORD, very helpful and didn't give me any grief for driving a DODGE. He gave me several local shops and one Dodge dealership to check out, most were busy. Some were busy with work and one was in the middle of harvest and unable to take on any business. NONE of the shops had parts but could get them in a few days.



Here is where my good fortune continues. I had my current issue of TDR in the camper, whipped it out looking for one number, the number to GOERENDS Transmission. They were awesome, and had parts for my wounded goat. Now all I need was a shop to install. A hot rod, paint, and diesel shop in North Platte NE by the name of RPM Unlimited had the time and didn't mind installing parts from an outside vendor. A few calls later the truck was in tow, Goerend was shipping the parts over night $$$ and RPM was ready to start the disassembly.



NEW TQ

NEW Flex plate

NEW Starter, teeth on the old chewed up.

Fluid and filter change,

Check rear main seal and front transmission seal, OK



The parts arrived the next morning right on time and I was back on the road by late afternoon, plus a little run around time to loosen up a fresh TQ before hooking onto the 5th wheel. The final push for home was about 7. 5 hours, and the truck pulled great.



Truely a time when being a TDR member paid off. Not like it hasn't before now but you get the idea.



THANK YOU GOEREND TRANSMISSION by the way the mechanics at RPM were very impressed with the beefy parts you sent them. I think they we a little skeptical about me ordering the parts.



Thanks to the folks at RPM



And thus ended a great vacation story... Oo.

 

[rholcom2]

Good deal!! I like hearing positive news on vendors. I travel for work and often brainstorm what I would do if I were to break down in the middle of nowhere. Especially taking into account even a majority dealerships that sell these rides arent "experts" in fixing them. Glad that you put it back together the "right" way and not just a bandaid to get it home.

 

[cerberusiam]

Glad you had such good luck there. Goerends is an amazing group of people and you found somebody willing to take on a drive in job.



Your right, not much going on in Western NE at that time. If you think I80 is bad point yourself north a 100 miles or so, its positively barren.





Many, many, many trips across NE at night and west of Lincoln its pretty slow. Did you stop and get pictures of Carhenge?

 

[mr.wilson]

Yes I do have pictues, I need to down load them from the camera. I've been busy unpackaing from the trip. I will post this weekend.

 

[gjones813]

Good deal, what was the biggest differance in the Goerend TQ over stock? Oh! congrats on the new upgraded 48re.