Half-a$$ repair

[Kane]

Well, as I posted earlier, the ring gear on my Zilla's clutch basket exploded. I got the new one in yesterday. So, I open the case back up again, and as I'm spraying the inside of the block down with WD-40 to insure a clean block to work on......I see the crank nut move. So I give it a tug, and it slides off the crank. The threads wer totally gone off both the crank and the nut, so smooth you could wear the nut as a ring. Now, this is not something you can just easily fix. First of all, this nut is left-hand thread, and you cant just rethread it with a right-hand threaded die. Everytime you stalled or shut the machine off the enertia would loosen the nut. But, now try finding the next size down in a left-hand die that you can afford, and don't forget the tap as well, you'll need to make the nut too. Result? New crank. My response? Lots of 4-letter words. Then I found a tight nut that I could cram on the crank end with a few slaps with a brass hammer and welded the bastard in place.

I just finished putting this damned thing together from the frame up. All the damage the previous owner inflicted upon this poor sumanabitch was phenomanal. I decided to just find a replacement crank and since it couldnt hurt the old one that welding it would be just as good. I can easily remove the weld with carbide cutters without ever touching the gears and such so, no loss really. I'm not going to give up after so many repairs to this one. I think I'll ride out the season as it is and go for building my first blinged-out 4-wheeler ride this winter.

I would normally never even consider welding a crank nut, but this crank is tight. Might as well get some use out of it. Hope I don't blow a seal, LOL!!!!!!!!!

[Banshee]

Good luck.

[zillaguy89]

Man Kane, you have the worst luck with that thing...haha not to say I've had great luck with mine either. I'm glad I'm building a banshee....haha

[370banshee]

lets hear it for the yellow team!!!!!!

[CHAD]

lol, goodluck with that thing...

[odaen]

damn, that sounds almost as much maintanence as marriage to a porn star. one problem after another, but the ride just seems to make it worth it

[Kane]

Well, about 7 1/2 hours of constant abuse with no problems. The difference was instantly noticeable. The old basket must have been bad to begin with, though it didnt readily appear so. Well, now I have 2 choices, I can buy the whole crank for $330 or I can buy the clutch side half for $180. I think I'm going to hold out for an Ebay crank and just put a new rod kit on it.

Yeah, porn star, that seems to about sum it up. But I'll keep going. I have too much time invested in it to give up. It has a long way to go before the damage exceeds the value. Considering how screwed up it was when I got it, I think I've gotten off pretty easy.

[bigkahun74]

wow sounds like you have been having a real good time with your zilla. if i was you.. i would sell it really cheap to big k. i think if it was cheap enough he would buy it

[Kane]

Aint gonna happen. It's become a challenge now. It's me or it.

[370banshee]

it would have to be super cheap... BIG K is a broke ass so i hear...... haha