President's Day Rattlesnake run.

[12 Volt Man]

A friend from work invited me to take a little trip out to 5 mile pass for a quick run on Rattlesnake.

Staging area, airing down.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2396/2276596530_52e7d574e7.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/12voltman/2276596530/)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2311/2276595984_83fd4a4e7b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/12voltman/2276595984/)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2201/2275805003_5fe89a5872.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/12voltman/2275805003/)


We had a good time on the trail.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2384/2275811039_7083bb73c2.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/12voltman/2275811039/)


At the end of the trail "Wayne's World" was waiting for us. We decided to give it a try.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2097/2276599106_560eb3b74f.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/12voltman/2276599106/)


Then is was my turn......
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2013/2276597754_d2596aa95b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/12voltman/2276597754/)


After and unsuccessful attempt I backed down off the obstacle. My rear bumper dug in. The only place the had any traction was the front passenger tire. It was also jammed against the wall. It didn't take much.......then POP!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2186/2275806155_822c0fee7c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/12voltman/2275806155/)


I snapped a U-Joint, which in turn broke the yoke on my axle.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2173/2276598642_cb48fe8388.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/12voltman/2276598642/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2080/2276601184_29697704c5.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/12voltman/2276601184/)

Then in order to get down off the obstacle, I had to take a strap. This was the first time I have ever needed a tow strap in my Jeep.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2325/2276602986_e75277f18f.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/12voltman/2276602986/)


I left my mark on Wayne's World. We'll do battle another day.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2110/2276602492_7074a842c2.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/12voltman/2276602492/)

We limped my Jeep back to Lehi wondering how I could get all the way back to South Weber. I had the parts I needed to fix this in my garage at home. We stopped in at the local Checker Auto Parts, they didn't carry axle shafts. It was pretty late by now. Luckily at Checker, we ran in to a Gentleman by the name of "Sixto". He didn't speak much English, but we were able to find out that he worked at a shop and there were still some guys there. He gave us a card with an address and we stopped by.

At "Garboni's" auto (I think it was called that), a body shop we found 4 or 5 guys working late. We were able to get access to a torch. We had them cut off the yoke from the axle. We figured this would get us home. It did the trick and got us home safely.

Knowing that I needed to drive my Jeep to work the next morning. I made a call to my buddy Chris (ROOK1) to had recently changed out and axle shaft on his jeep. We got it swapped out in less than an hour. Thanks Chris!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2362/2276599346_d319e02f55.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/12voltman/2276599346/)

Also, thanks to Isreal and Spencer for offering to help.

I have a couple of small videos from this trip. I'll see if I can post them later.

[xjblue]

First axle Ujoint and strap all at once, nice job!

[XJBANKER]

I think that the proper excuse would be that the axle originally recieved a stress crack from playing at the dunes two days earlier and that waynes world just finished it off.

[12 Volt Man]

I think that the proper excuse would be that the axle originally recieved a stress crack from playing at the dunes two days earlier and that waynes world just finished it off.

That's it.

Or was it that my Jeep hadn't been on any runs for 6 months, then I try and jam two in to one weekend? Maybe it was punishing me.