Yesterday was a bit challenging. I’ll just sum it up with the fact that after a full day (my sized day) the power steering pump is laying under the Ford. It still has it’s pressure side hose attached because there was no way to break it loose in place. It may not break loose out of place either and I may not mess with it as a new hose is $16 and the existing one may well be original equipment. It’s another one of those- as long as, while I’m doing it, might as well- things. I’ll add a highlight to demonstrate part of why getting the pump off took hours. (1) The pulley HAS to be taken off before you can get to the bolts that hold the pump on. (2) A special tool is required both to remove the pulley and to re-install it after every else is done. (3) The special tool can be “borrowed” from a parts supplier but the one I usually go to didn’t have one available but the real time eater was the fact that I had to use my left arm with a wrench INSIDE the fan shroud to turn the puller while holding another wrench on the nut that holds the puller together. I finally gave up and took the shroud loose. I expect I’ll have to remove the fan also before re-installing the pulley because the installer is even more cumbersome. I even resorted to calling Shorty’s brother Kenny for his input. Actually the best help he had to offer is that he usually allows 4+ hours in his professional shop for the job. He’s probably one of the very best mechanics I’ve ever known so I felt a lot better about my efforts at home.
Well you now know where I’ll be most of the afternoon. I only limit it to “most” because I’m not sure how much more punishment my body is willing to endure today. I will not hesitate to knock off if I think it’s the right thing to do. There’s always tomorrow but if there isn’t a “tomorrow” then I would have wasted my time worrying about it, Right?
OK Crusty go get your grubbys on and get on with it. It’s beautiful outside, mostly sunny and warm, so you no longer have a ready excuse and DO NOT stop and consider the “ready excuse” issue or you’ll think of one. . ..
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