New Drive lines are in. Man they are nice.
So it took all week to figure out the VSS. I got a hold of the company that made it & AA on Wednesday. I asked if I could cut the cable shorter to make it work with the AA gear. VSS guy says no, it needs to be that long. He then says he has ran into this a few times with AA, and to call them, as it is their part that's bad. AA says they have no idea what I'm talking about, and blames the VSS guy. I tell AA to call him, and work it out. By Friday they came to a conclusion.
I looked online about this, and didn't have any luck really. So here it is for those scratching heads, like I was.
The gear that AA sells with the Atlas, is an aftermarket unit. Apparently, they decided to make it with a shallow end that only allows 1/2" of cable insertion, instead of the 1" that OEM has. The VSS guy, makes his cable ends for a OEM application. AA said nobody has caught this until I did, (Hmm, not according to the VSS guy).
So the VSS guy said if I use this gear, I have no choice but to have it shortened. He said he would do it for free, if I send it back, but it would take 3 weeks before I had it back. I asked him how he does it. He explained that the cable is a square shaped copper coiled strand, with many tiny strands. Cutting it to length, then melting the end to keep it from unraveling, then shape a point on it with a grinding wheel. I said I could handle it, but don't want to void the warranty. He said do it, if it doesn't work, send it back, and he will fix it free of charge, and honor the warranty.
So AA emails me and said that the VSS guy was on top of this, and he would help me out. I replied back saying that, he gave me instructions on how to shorten the cable, but if it spins inside the aftermarket gear, I will have no choice but to use an OEM gear, and that would be on them. No reply yet. So they charge $34 for the cheaper aftermarket gear. I was told by the VSS guy, that OEM is $120/ea. They did tell me that getting the manufacturer to change how they make thousands of units, based on a few complaint's, wouldn't change how they make them. I say, go back to OEM, or find another manufacturer. Not my deal!!!
FF until today.... I shortened it, and installed it. This was the last thing to do to put the rig back together since I started on the clutch way way back. So, this also meant the first time I could attempt to move it. Gotta tell ya, I was a bit nervous. This rig has a history of messing with me, and making me do things over & over. Clutch pedal works way to easy, and that had me on edge.
1st & 2nd pic is the correct cable length for use with OEM speedo gears. The 2nd pic just has the collar nut at the flange stop.
3rd & 4th pics are showing what happens when the cable bottoms out in AA's aftermarket gear. It leaves that 1/4" gap, and stops the cable flange from mating to the speedo assembly, and can barely get the collar nut threaded on.
So you can see why I came to the conclusion, it had to be cut or replaced, using this same VSS gear.
Guess what? Everything works, and works great!! Well, at least around the neighborhood on a test run it does. I need to take it out for a shake down next weekend at an off road park. In a few weeks, Another member from here & I, am heading out to the Rocky Mtn's in Bear country, for a full week of camping in the wilderness, and getting lost in nature. It has to work right, or it might never make it back home. lol
I just modified a new tow cargo carrier for the bumper. It will hold all the camping gear. The rear cargo is loaded with tools & parts. The roof rack will hold all personal gear/clothing. The rear seat folded down will have to hold the 2 large, and 1 small cooler, food and cooking supplies. I acquired a neat 4.25 lb mini propane tank, and it took $3 to fill it. It hold a gallon, which is way more then those little 16 oz bottles. Also got a new Trasharoo to attach to the rear cargo door. A new Cobra 75 CB. A cool electric shower pump/hose/wand for the shower/restroom tent. A new full size Split axe, & D handle shovel. Some battery operated LED motion sensor lights with remote. A few other camping goodies, to make the stay a bit more civilized then total primitive. Oh... and a big ass can of Bear spray. lol
I hate those mismatch kind of problems. I run into them all the time.
