I did one in my collage parking lot with a hammer and a piece of exhaust pipe I had rolling around in the bed and with a few wrenches...of course that truck was a 1978 150 4x4 so it was fairly simple

 

Good to hear you got it running again.

 

it shouldnt be bad to replace. The whole shaft has to come off I think. At least it appears that way looking at it. I talked to a guy yesterday that will change the ujoints and carrier bearing as well as balance the shaft for a little less than 200 bucks....seems to be the way to go to me.

 

ran my rig out of fuel today. let them get low, was not in a familiar area and couldn't find a gas station with diesel. Finally ran out looking for one. AAA wouldn't bring diesel so I had to get flat bedded to a gas station. filled it, took a long while for it to start. Was running like **** likely due to air in the lines? moved it from the pump to a parking space it it died again. This time my batteries didn't have enough to get it started. (Mind you I was cranking on it when awaiting a tow, since I knew I had a little fuel in the other tank) Nobody could jump me since they couldn't turn over the engine. Finally called AAA again. They sent 2 battery "experts" out and hooked up to each battery with their trucks. No luck getting it to turn over. Flat bedded it home. Trickle charged primary battery over night. This morning still no luck in getting it to turn over with any strength. I just had my batteries checked Friday when I was getting ball joints replaced and they were strong. Now I fear I toasted them. Any suggestions? Never running out of fuel again. What a waste of a day.

 

You most likely fried the starter

 

It just fired over fine previously. And was cranking well up until my batteries started dying? Either that or it was the started dying? Guess I"m not too sure now.

 

I agree with Mike, fried the starter. They work good one start up and the next nothing!

 

okay...Then let me ask - how much are starters?

 

From 125-350 depending on what you want

 

While it's possible that the starter is cooked, it is also possible that the batteries are so dead that you cannot charge them both simultaneously. Unhook them both from the truck and charge them individually for 8+ hours each. A dead battery has a very high impedance and a small battery charger has a tough time getting them charged one at a time, let alone two large batteries like we have in our rigs. Give this a shot first, then if this doesn't cure your ills, you likely need a starter. But this won't cost you anything but a day's worth of waiting and then you'll be sure before you burn up a couple hundred bucks on a starter.

 

I like that suggestion. After $600 on ball joints, I;m not looking to spend more money. is 2amp or 10amp charge better for it?

 

I would put a 10A on it initially then step it back to a 2A trickle after an hour or so, but if not, just leave it on the 10A setting. A 2A trickle will typically get a little more charge in the battery than a 10A quick charge, but the 2A may not have the guts to get the battery turned around and start the charge.

 

Batteries were toast when I had them tested after trickle charging all night. Bought new ones. Truck still didn't turn over well. Figured starter was likely shot. My mechanic verified that it was. Changed it out. Got it running and purged the air out. Called me and said it was running like garbage. Tested the fuel and found that the fuel that I put in was full of ****. Thought that maybe I sucked some garbage in the fuel lines running it low, but then again I always run them low and there shouldnt be that much grit in there. He pulled a sample from inside the tank and confirmed that I did indeed get some bad fuel. He mentioned he would need to dump the tanks, likely redo the lines, change filters and possible injector trouble now....Just talked to my mechanic while writing. Said I need a full fuel syster overhaul. Since its my buddy I trust him. He thinks the gas station will cover this for me. I need to fill out some paperwork today to send to them. MY question is...I had plans on putting upgraded injectors in it within the next 5 months. He said the gas station likely won't cover any parts that are non factory. Any suggestions on how I can work this in my favor? They are still sticking me with the battery and starter however.

 

I am curious what in the world, the gas station had in their fuel that could have ruined your entire system. I can see the filter, and maybe needing to purge the lines, but to need to replace everything? I guess I am a bit skeptical. I'm not calling your buddy a liar, but unless they had gasoline in the wrong tank or something I'm not sure what could have happened.

Just have Jim at Rosewood diesel build you a set of injectors. He can rebuild your set for you if you want, or he can charge you a core charge (I think) and you can send the old ones back to him after the fact. I don't know why the station would care what you get and Jim's premium rebuilds are cheaper than a set of stock injectors. If all they will buy is the stock sticks, let them buy them, sell them as brand new, buy a set of stage 1s from Jim and then have your buddy install the 1s instead of the stock sticks.

 

What he said