Burken Boys’ and Girl’s Journey

[wjburken]

The other night my daughter called me at work and said the Yukon had a bunch of smoke coming out from under the hood after her and my wife pulled into the driveway. Not knowing what it was and thinking the engine may catch on fire my wife called 911. The fire department showed up and determined it was a coolant leak spraying coolant on the engine, which is much better than a car fire. When my wife asked the one fireman, who I’ve known for years and he also works at the local NAPA store, what it was so she could tell me, he said “it’s a coolant leak by the heater core, Wade will know what it is.” My immediate thought was the plastic tees.

Well, I got home after all of this and found the plastic tee on the inlet hose had cracked, just as I suspected.

Fortunately, I had a set of replacement tees in my parts cabinet. I can’t remember when I bought them, but remembered that I had them got done reason.

Javier volunteered to swap them out so I let him. It’s pretty cool knowing my kids are able to do things like this. He had it all taken care of in no time.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

The other night my daughter called me at work and said the Yukon had a bunch of smoke coming out from under the hood after her and my wife pulled into the driveway. Not knowing what it was and thinking the engine may catch on fire my wife called 911. The fire department showed up and determined it was a coolant leak spraying coolant on the engine, which is much better than a car fire. When my wife asked the one fireman, who I’ve known for years and he also works at the local NAPA store, what it was so she could tell me, he said “it’s a coolant leak by the heater core, Wade will know what it is.” My immediate thought was the plastic tees.

Well, I got home after all of this and found the plastic tee on the inlet hose had cracked, just as I suspected.

Fortunately, I had a set of replacement tees in my parts cabinet. I can’t remember when I bought them, but remembered that I had them got done reason.

Javier volunteered to swap them out so I let him. It’s pretty cool knowing my kids are able to do things like this. He had it all taken care of in no time.View attachment 420360View attachment 420359

Yes, for sure, it is a very significant 'right of passage' time for a parent, when your children can take over wrenching (and other) tasks that only you cold do in the past.

Fortunately (like I was), your issue occurred relatively close to home, and in your case, it was just a crack (mine blew apart).

 

[Larryjb]

At least they were in a parking lot and not the middle of the road when it went. And fortunately that T is at the top of the engine. No need to drain to replace. But, they aren't fun to remove. When mine went it split wide open and pumped coolant all over the place. I didn't have anything to block it off, and I wasn't far from home so I had mine towed home.

We had our own story tonight, but not so dramatic as yours, and it involves our Explorer. (The 2006-10 were good years except for coolant hoses).

 

[wjburken]

A month ago, while going around clearing snow, Joseph called and said his trucks hitch had dropped a little bit while pulling his trailer.

Turns out the hitch and the rear bumper had rusted through and could no longer safely pull a trailer. He was able to come home and borrow Javier’s truck to finish the day out and then used my truck the next day.

I purchased a new hitch for the truck and Javier had just pulled a bumper off of a similar truck at his work that Joseph could have.

Today he is in the process of removing the old hitch and bumper to put the new ones on.

Those of you in the northern road salt states can appreciate the amount of rust involved when working on a 20 yr old Iowa truck.

 

[Fless]

I thought you were joking there for a minute, Wade. I was wondering about what you meant by "a 20 yr old Iowa truck." I didn't think any survived that long (that would run, anyway).

So the new hitch mounts differently than the OE one did, it looks like.

 

[wjburken]

I thought you were joking there for a minute, Wade. I was wondering about what you meant by "a 20 yr old Iowa truck." I didn't think any survived that long (that would run, anyway).

So the new hitch mounts differently than the OE one did, it looks like.

Yeah-20 years worth of rust there.

The new hitch bolts up to the frame, which is solid, using the same holes as the OEM hitch. It just doesn’t bolt up to the step bumper like the OEM hitch.

The hitch failed at the cross tube and then pulled the brace in the step bumper down with it. The side plates that attached to the frame were solid.

Edit: what is not shown in the photo are the new side plates that the section of the new hitch that is showing bolts up to.

 

[Sparksalot]

A month ago, while going around clearing snow, Joseph called and said his trucks hitch had dropped a little bit while pulling his trailer.

Turns out the hitch and the rear bumper had rusted through and could no longer safely pull a trailer. He was able to come home and borrow Javier’s truck to finish the day out and then used my truck the next day.

I purchased a new hitch for the truck and Javier had just pulled a bumper off of a similar truck at his work that Joseph could have.

Today he is in the process of removing the old hitch and bumper to put the new ones on.

Those of you in the northern road salt states can appreciate the amount of rust involved when working on a 20 yr old Iowa truck.

View attachment 421295View attachment 421296View attachment 421297View attachment 421298View attachment 421299

 

[wjburken]

Well….a leg of Joseph’s journey is coming to an end here in a few weeks as he is graduating high school. He has grown into a fine young man, despite my efforts.

He will be attending a local community college and takes classes towards a degree in industrial maintenance. He has been working at my place of work this semester as part of a Work Experience class performing a wide range of tasks in the plant with assembly and service work. Since he is now 18, I can have him start doing more.

He has been asked to stay on working part time through the summer and into next school year. This will allow him to get more work experience as well as maintain his lawn care business through the summer and then work around classes in the fall.

His mom and I are very proud of him.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Well….a leg of Joseph’s journey is coming to an end here in a few weeks as he is graduating high school. He has grown into a fine young man, despite my efforts.

He will be attending a local community college and takes classes towards a degree in industrial maintenance. He has been working at my place of work this semester as part of a Work Experience class performing a wide range of tasks in the plant with assembly and service work. Since he is now 18, I can have him start doing more.

He has been asked to stay on working part time through the summer and into next school year. This will allow him to get more work experience as well as maintain his lawn care business through the summer and then work around classes in the fall.

His mom and I are very proud of him.
View attachment 427836View attachment 427837

Good kid. Time goes by so fast. Too fast sometimes.

 

[Sparksalot]

Good kid. Time goes by so fast. Too fast sometimes.

Ain’t that the truth. My baby girl turns 20 this weekend.