3010 TransMule strut problem

[wlwells@yahoo.com]

I just put new tires on the mule and I loaded up the tools and blocks in the mule and backed up to the building to put away the tools. My wife came out the back door, I went over to talk to her and looked back at the Mule. I noticed the right front tire was almost sideways. After looking around, I found that the piston on the strut had come loose. The nut was just laying on the mounting plate under the dash. The wife is going to rent a strut coil spring compressor this afternoon.

 

[2fast2]

Editing my first post, I see you stated the nut came off the top of the strut. That shouldn't have happened. The picture looks like a busted strut so I'm glad for you it just came apart. I'd check the other ones, too, while you're at it. Probably didn't need the spring compressor but it does make the job easier.

 

[timswi]

Editing my first post, I see you stated the nut came off the top of the strut. That shouldn't have happened. The picture looks like a busted strut so I'm glad for you it just came apart. I'd check the other ones, too, while you're at it. Probably didn't need the spring compressor but it does make the job easier.

Agree, but I'd be really careul pulling those struts apart without a spring compressor, seen the results of that if they are under load, and they look like they are.

 

[wlwells@yahoo.com]

My Dad and I got out this evening and worked on the mule some. The spring had a small load on it, not much. The threads on the piston were a little messed up. We cleaned them up by spraying wd-40 and running the nut down the threads and taking it back off. We were able to pull the piston out put everything back on the top of the strut like it sould be, but haven't been able to fasten the top of the strut to the mule yet. It was getting cooler and starting to get dark. We will get back out there in the morning and finish up. I am not sure about that strut, I don't think you should be able to pull or push the piston up and down by hand. I also hope the treads on the piston will hold. If not, I will have to replace the strut, and that will be about $250 plus shipping, from what I have found on the net.

 

[2fast2]

Gas charged struts have pressure in them so they will always return to full extension. You can move them by hand to compress the strut, but there is obvious resistance to the movement. It will go down slowly, it will come up slowly. If it has almost no resistance, it is shot. If it doesn't extend on it's own, it is either not gas charged (unusual for cars, dunno for UTVs) or maybe the strut rod got bent when it disconnected?
Stating the obvious, the spring is still good, as is the strut mount at the top, so only buy the part you need. My really good sports car struts are less than $250 each, so I hope they don't hurt you that badly!

 

[wlwells@yahoo.com]

We put the strut back together and got it connected back to the mule. We have rode around the farm the last couple of days, it seems to ride the same as before. It does seem to be a little taller , with the new tires.