Probably a poor choice of words on my part. "intended purpose" would have been better.

Is it wrong for me to want all the posts available on a particular subject to be in that particular forum?

Is it fair for me to expect a user looking for information on his 7.3 to have to wade through three pages of posts about transfer cases and fog lights to find the engine data he or she needs?

If we as a forum generate three pages a day of 7.3 tech that's fantastic...it's a testament to the knowledge base of the users. The problem is we do not generate three pages of 7.3 tech. We generate one, and a page of axle and gear tech, and a page of misc. truck tech. Putting that other stuff in the proper place does not diminish the knowledge base...it expands it.

As far as load distribution....it would be a lot easier for me to just not do anything. For every post I move, edit, alter, delete, or anything else I generate a PM to that user to notify them what I did and why. My job is to make this site as easy to use as possible for ALL users. If asking my core group to help make my job easier by putting stuff where it belongs qualifies as load distribution, then yes, that is what it is about.

 

Is This Correct ?

If I Own A Gasoline Superduty.. I Stay In The Superduty Forum For Everything. All Topics.

But If I Own A 7.3 Superduty .. I Have To Go To The Superduty Forum For Anything Not Engine Related

Hey ..... That Ain't Fair... The Gas Superduty Owners Don't Have To Leave Their Forum For Non Engine Related Topics.

L O L

 

We all know how Ford LOVES to change designs mid stream every chance they get. For that reason, since I own an '03 PSD with one of the last 7.3's offered I have been totally devoted to this specific forum. Yea, I suppose questions about tires, rim size's and body parts could be asked elsewhere, but everything else is pretty much ALL specific to our 7.3's. I mean REALLY, how many STROKER SD's are there to every 1 gasser SD?

 

Cookie,

That's fair. I can see where moderating four forums could get to be quite a HUGE job, especially if a LOT of topics have to get moved. But is it your "core group" who are the largest "off topic" offenders? We are going to be happy to comply with something to make your job easier, of course!

I went to the Superduty forum and looked around for a while to help get a feel for it. Folks talking about grilles that won't fit mine, mirrors that are electrically different, headlights that won't bolt up, rear seats in their Crewcabs that have storage underneath and fold up, etc, etc. Those trucks are not very similar except being named Superduty.

But, maybe the definition of acceptable topics for this forum can be changed. Is it cast in stone in Atlanta? Can you change "where it belongs"?

Again, as Refugio suggested, forums could be divided up as:
7.3-powered Superdutys
6.0-powered Superdutys
V-8 powered Superdutys
V-10 powered Superdutys.

Not trying to be contentious, just giving you my thoughts. After all, you DID say the floor was open. And you KNOW I'm not shy.

Pop

 

I actually see this as a pretty good point. However, there are forums dedicated specifically to the V10 and 4.6/5.4 engines too.

Edit: Also, the general SD forum is for all years of the SD, correct? Am I also correct in thinking that some mechanical (suspension, transmission, etc...) changes were made around the 04 model year, along with the intro of the 6.0? So if we ask a question in the SD forum, it's not as specific to our models of trucks, depending on what's asked?

Edit #2: Pop hit on the point I was trying to make in the first edit. There's a lot of stuff in the SD forum that doesn't apply to our trucks, not just the mechanical stuff. I feel like I have a hard time finding what I'm looking for in the SD forum. Like I'm looking for grille inserts. Most of the stuff in the SD forum relates to the new style of grille. That doesn't help me much.

 

Well, speak for yourselves. I NEVER stray off topic. In fact, just the other day, I was writing something about diesels and warmups, and then, miraculously, the subject of motorcycles came up and since this is something near and dear to my heart, I, uh, um, hmm...

Yeah, okay. Guilty as charged. I have, however gone to a couple of other forums to ask questions. The answers have seemed less forthcoming and less informative than what occurs on this forum. Also, while I am interested in Ford trucks, I am most interested in the 7.3. So, I tend to hang here even when the subject isn't quite on topic.

I think, as many have said, it has a lot to do with familiarity, not the breeding-contempt kind, but the comfortable and fun kind. For the breeding-contempt kind, I can always lurk at a Chevy forum. Oh - sorry. Did it again. That's not the topic.

Another aspect of it is simply fun. This forum seems to have a good rapport. People make jokes and others laugh. I've been on other forums where someone makes a joke, and is accused of insensitivity, rudeness, bias, and then I have to try to explain the joke and.... Never mind.

Anyway. I do understand what you are getting at. I'll try to better abide by whatever rules become fixed in jello - or stone, if we need to leave some fun out.

 

Ok well I know I havent been a member here long and I dont contribute much but do ask a lot of questions and do B.S. on here sometimes. I am a member of two other forums that deal with FORD Diesels. I used to go to all. I quit because 1. I was not getting much help at all 2. the help I got was go to this site and look 3. The people just didnt seem as welcoming or freindly as all of you have been. I personally have enjoyed and learned a lot from this forum. I know a little about diesels I mean enough to kepp it running and in pretty good shape but I am not very mechanically inclined. I like coming here to ask any questione related to thruck lighting etc because you can screw up major with that stuff and I trust you guys here. You seem to know alot. i also like the questions bout lighting stuff like that cause many of the questions asked are the same as I have. if it is not a matter of bandwith I think the site should stay the way it is. Yea we get off subject sometimes but it is in good taste and I feel that if the question relates to how to do anything concerning a 7.3L years 1999-2003 this is where it should go. The reason for that is then when stuff is explained, there is no difference not even a slight difference.. This makes it alot easier for the people like me who love to work on their own truck and really dont trust other people to work on it but arent really mechanically inclined the oppurtunity to learn and not be worried when we start to do a job and it is not like somebody in the super duty forum explained. All I can say is this is the best site I have found on the net for my truck and it has been really helpfull the way it is and I trust they ppeople on here that they know what they are doing. I can understand where you are coming from though cookie and it is your site not mine I have just found it really user freindly that way it is.

Another thing Im sure you meant this by off topic stuff. when people come here and ask what brand of a product they should get for something for their truck .Yea it may not realate to the engine but we all know how expensive stuff can be and how many different companies sell their own make of it. I just like being able to come here and ask this is what Im looking for who has it cheapest but still has it realiable because I dont want to spend a lot and find its crap.

 

This is a read first in the V10 forum...
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=192724


Agreed - that was the the good point about making it a "Free-for-all". I think the group camaraderie the 7.3l forum has is a great thing, and one that I would like to maintain.
In all fairness, user friendliness was the reason this was suggested (such policies have been a very successful part of the V10 and the 6.0l forum for a long time) - we don't want to change things if you don't want too, BUT, it will make it easier for more users if threads are in the forums in which they were designed for.
While I don't know every component about the Superduty (and please pull me up if I am incorrect in stating this) the 99-04's which are primarily discussed in the SD forum (with the exception of the 6.0l and its transmission) are fundamentally the same, with exception for the engine, a different torque converter and a different wiring loom. Things like the suspension, transfer case, axles (well the pre 02's all had D50's, but still this was across the lineup), frame, body, most of the transmission etc. etc. That we most certainly do not... I found this forum originally when I had a problem with my 7.3l, and while I don't get the opportunity to participate in this forum as much as I like, I do really appreciate the kinship here, and the respect for other users, be they members with 5 posts or 5000, and hence why we are asking all of the users thoughts on it, and not just implementing it
No, we appreciate it!!!
Quality user feedback (be it positive or negative) is one thing that can only make this site better.


On edit: I thought I would add, this idea isn't about splitting up you as a group or reducing the technical information you recieve, we are just trying to encourage users to use the full complement of substantial resources FTE offers.

 

I have only owned my truck for about 3 weeks, and since then have learned ALOT here in this forum. I am with others that feel comfortable with the answers I get from the people here. I have tried the other forums a couple times, the last time about a wire to hook into for some lights I was trying to add and the answers I got were things like " I think it is the blue/black wire" and then a couple others chimed in to say it was just the blue wire, but someone tried to correct that back to a different color wire. Anyway the point was that I didn't get a firm answer that I felt comfortable with like I do in this forum. I can trust the answers I get from this forum and when someone gets corrected by another member it is not "your an idiot", but "thanks for the information and correction".
One thing that I have noticed in the short time I have been here is that threads seem to be repeated alot, usually by a new person (Myself included in that category 3 weeks ago) Maybe the search function for Newbies could be made easier to use?? (Don't know how just an idea) How many times does a posting guru need to answer the question of "My diesel is stopping while driving but then starts up right away again" with "change your CPS"?
The last time I was in the Superduty area the top thread was something about who makes subwoofer boxes to put behind the seat and then got of topic into a stereo discussion. Go ask your local car stereo shop!
Anyway, just my $.02

 

arninetyes wrote:

Another aspect of it is simply fun. This forum seems to have a good rapport. People make jokes and others laugh. I've been on other forums where someone makes a joke, and is accused of insensitivity, rudeness, bias, and then I have to try to explain the joke and.... Never mind.

Anyway. I do understand what you are getting at. I'll try to better abide by whatever rules become fixed in jello - or stone, if we need to leave some fun out.

I don't see the harm in us fooling around a bit once the thread has been posted and answered. I think most of us expect it. It's our nature around here. That is what builds the rapport within our core group and attracts so many people to it. If it were all technical jargon and straight answers, it would get a little boring.

I do agree that fog lights (unless installed under the hood) and maybe tire/wheel questions may go too far. I did post a question one time about my rear differential. It was (rightfully) transfered to General Superduty and I got one (1) person help me. I was happy for the help yet, when you are used to getting minimally 5 replies, it makes you appreciate this group.

When someone asks a "how to" question, and you know they're going to perform that task, you look forward to hearing back from them. You can sense the general happiness of the group when they succeed.

When somone from Vermont asks someone from Montana to go to a dealership and check out a truck for them, and they do it, free of charge, that's a tight group.
That's the part I wouldn't want to lose.

 

perhaps a moved thread icon should be used to show people what threads you are moving... it is an easy way to see which threads are inappropriate.

 

I have not been here long, but have gained several years of experience from the combined contributions of all of you. I know we get a little of topic once in a while but most things do in some way apply to PSD's. I replied to a topic about driving on sand(https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...highlight=sand ). It may seem that could go on another forum and I guess it could. I have driven gassers and diesels in the sand and they behave very different. As far a suspension goes, you have order for a diesel of gas engine. I know it gets off topic in here, but I kinda like being able to get help on questions on my 99.5 PSD truck. Just my thoughts.

 

Interesting ideas here.

 

Just another thought, Without our 7.3PSD's we would all have just another truck and we would all be on other forums.

 

If that were the case, why would we bother with forums?