Rescue Mission

Over the years, Dad has come to my rescue in many and varied ways. This time, the tables were turned. I got a call Thursday afternoon that he was stranded at the cabin. He drove in, and his pickup wouldn't start when he went to drive out. There was no rush as he had plenty of accommodations. But that evening, White Horse and I hit the trail.

We borrowed our new ranch partner's tilt bed. I think this relationship with Jack is going to be a real win-win. 

We stayed the night at the cabin and when we went to load up in the morning, Dad's pickup started. So he headed for town, only to make it a mile or so down the highway before she quit. We were suspecting the fuel pump. So we jumped it on the trailer and completed the journey to Worland. 

Beautiful drive down Tensleep Canyon. Fun to take it slow for a change. Lots to see. 

Once back at the ranch, she started and ran enough for us to get her backed off the trailer and put in the shop. 

This is an interesting tilt bed trailer. It's got a lot of pivot points and latches.

Before it was said and done, one of those latches jumped up and bit me!

Nothing Dad couldn't fix with a blue shop rag and a little black tape.

Then we went to cleaning out his bed. Our mission was to pull the truck box off and expose the fuel pump.

Six bolts hold the bed on. 18mm. 

Then remove the fuel-fill set up. 

Unhooking the lights was probably the hardest part. 

Then, with the help of a cherry picker and a couple of hands that are working on the house, we pulled the box back and rested it on the tires. 

Thus, exposing the top of the tank and the fuel pump assembly that rests inside of it. 

After unhooking the lines and wires, we pulled the culprit out. 

Then slid the new one in. 

Rehooking all the lines and wires again. She fired right up. 

Then restocked the tool box. 

And went back to work.

Mission accomplished. A rancher's truck is his lifeline. Without it, he's lost. With it, he's ranchin! Breakdowns are going to happen, but woe to poorly manufactured parts that cause them! This is the third fuel pump that has been put into Dad's truck. This time, I think we got it. We put in a good quality pump and are pretty confident that it was done right. A lot of guys will drop the fuel tank to change the pump. That works if you have a hoist and an empty tank. We had a full tank of gas and no hoist. Pulling the box was our only option. Worked good. Dad is now back on the road and the world is a safer place because of it. Dad is used to rescuing others, but it doesn't hurt for a guy to have to get rescued himself. Keeps you humble and compassionate. No time to waste, though. There's miles to cover! Let's ranch.