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It’s a good idea to use blue threadlocker on those bolts.
But, this exact thing happened to me - except my experience was a little more exciting.
As I was traveling down a steep grade in KY on a 100* summer day, grossing over 26k lbs with a crewcab flatbed 7.3 on a 10ton deckover trailer - I heard a thump. That’s strange... Check mirrors, everything looks good. Halfway down, I tap brakes and all helll breaks loose!! Loud bang, drag, bad grinding. I’m on the brakes now, on a 7-8% grade (going way too fast because it’s straight road and I can see the ascent up the other side). Then, BANG. MASSIVE EXPLOSION!!! Nearly lifted the HEAVY truck off the ground. WTF, over???!!!!
I get pulled off the road and get around to the passenger rear tire. About that time, this guy comes running across the road all pumped up yelling and waving his arms talking fast “yo man, that was CRAZY, your tire went BOOOOM and **** flew out all over the road and my girl was like swerving around **** and....” Meanwhile, I stick my head under the mud flap to look at the inside of duals at brake parts, etc and FIRE!!!! The inside of the exploded tire is on f’ing FIRE. A TIRE FIRE. Directly below a tank with 100gals of vegetable oil and in front of a tank with 35gals of diesel. . I crawl out from under truck and literally push homie out of the way, leap over the trailer tongue, extract my fire extinguisher from under bed tool box, leap back over trailer, dive under the truck and discharge extinguisher through an opening in the ruptured tire. The last spit of the extinguisher put the fire out. Just barely. Seriously, it was close. I had already committed to get the dogs out and watch it all burn from a safe distance if I could not put it out...
Once I’m convinced the fire is OUT, I look around and see the caliper laying against the wheel. The wheel is still RED hot. The explosion was the over pressurized (HOT air) tire having structural failure. The FIRE was the hot steel setting the bead on fire. That’s why I was almost not able to put it out.
So I crawl back out from under the truck, dusting the dirt off myself and my new friend is reciting the most recent part of the story with fast talking, arm waving, etc describing me leaping through the air, producing a fire extinguisher, diving under the truck with flames licking up under the flatbed and saving my **** like a superhero. He barely stops to breathe and without pause at the end of the storytelling says ‘you want a beer??’ Yes, yes I do. I’m gonna need that in a minute. He runs across the road to his car (with very annoyed GF making gestures that signal LETS GO, lol) comes back with 2 beers and informs me he’s gonna drink his now. LOL!!
No cell service, so I send homie up the road where my buddy is at the bar eating dinner with the family. He finds my buddy, who comes to find me stealing parts off the truck I had on the trailer and fixing my junk on the side of the road. With my spare tire, and parts off my new ‘donor truck’, I was able to complete my trip.
That beer and shower later when I got to my friend’s place are among the best I’ve ever had.
Welcome to Canada where our dollar is worth 70 cents compared to yours down in the USA.
Well, that brings the price a bit more into perspective, but still outrageous for a pickup truck. I forgot you were in Canada, but my comment still stands.
Good to see you were able to get the hardware you needed.
Now to convince my wife to allow me to continue working on the truck after a stupid mistake. It was harder to tell her than to post it on here.
Hahaha!!!
Since we’re telling on ourselves.....not sure what story to tell.
Well I was once changing the fuel line in the trunk of the race car. There is also a battery disconnect switch back there. Layer of fuel on the truck, touch of the fuel line against the post of the disconnect, rush to find the fire extinguisher, clean up large mess.
Or I was once grinding something on one side of the garage. Look over to see the car cover on fire. Got that one out without the extinguisher. I bet I can still find the strange spot in the paint.
I actually don’t have a lot of fire stories. Not sure why these 2 came to mind but they were both many many years ago. Maybe I’m older and wiser....maybe I’m just older and forget stuff now.
Paint is fading out on the grill. Has anybody tried taping off the chrome and painting with a rattle can. It’s been bugging me for a few weeks now. Not high on the list of priorities but made it onto a list.
Looks good!
I typically use a version called “Trim Black” for stuff like wiper arms and such. It’s kinda semi-gloss and works well for trim stuff (go figure lol). I believe it’s made by Plasticote but I can’t remember for sure.
It is a pretty common bearing that you can find at most bearing shops. Its replacement is discussed here.
Noob, after reading through I assume without the press, just buy the idler pulley and forget the grief of re and re on the bearings. I could probably push them in with my vice but...
Originally Posted by SkySkiJason
The tensioner assembly has a shorter lifespan than the bearings for the pulleys.
Jason, By this, again on an assumption, If adequate tension is still on the belt then these bearings will still be good.
Be nice to know what is noisy without throwing parts at it until it goes away. My dad used to have a stethoscope with a brake line tube fixed to the end. He would move it around and listen until he isolated the cause. Wish I had that now. Also works well for synchronizing carbs on motorcycles.
Noob, after reading through I assume without the press, just buy the idler pulley and forget the grief of re and re on the bearings. I could probably push them in with my vice but...
Jason, By this, again on an assumption, If adequate tension is still on the belt then these bearings will still be good.
Be nice to know what is noisy without throwing parts at it until it goes away. My dad used to have a stethoscope with a brake line tube fixed to the end. He would move it around and listen until he isolated the cause. Wish I had that now. Also works well for synchronizing carbs on motorcycles.
The spring in the tensioner assembly fails eventually. Often, it moves out away from the engine and eats the belt if it gets bad enough.
The idler pulley just has a common sealed bearing pressed in the pulley. If it feels gritty or loose, you can replace the bearing. No need for a press. Vice, etc will work fine.
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It was harder to tell her than to post it on here. 
bwahahaha. 
