Ford F550 Chelsea PTO Repairs - Unexpected Complications

[@mariosaccoccio1688]

Your understanding of the electrical part of the repair process is what sets a real mechanic from a parts changing hack. Nice going!

[@WatchWesWork]

Thanks!

[@572Btriode]

@@WatchWesWork @Mario Saccoccio - It's well said Wes, well said.

[@fetus2280]

Yes ... My sentiments exactly . Whilst watching this i was saying very similar to myself, not often can a Mechanic do this sort of thing.. Like my industry for example. A tech can build a rig, network, custom water cooling lines etc etc but couldnt soldier two wires together if their life depended on it . We too have our "Tech" and our "TECHS" lol . Love watching this guy when it comes down to the electrical stuff, really enjoy the troubleshooting aspect, it helps me in my projects, jobs, albeit i am retired now and dont do what i used to, i Still want to learn as much as i can everyday . Big Up's to Wes for this. And his family whom support him .Cheers mate .

[@VSOPkiller]

As a parts changing hack, I agree 100% lol This is why I watch and learn

[@imdeplorable2241]

Couldn't have said it better myself. 👏👍

[@kentmckean6795]

I'm not surprised that multiple other shops couldn't fix the problem. A large percentage (most) of "service shops" have no one that is actually capable of trouble shooting and diagnosing a problem more complex than a bad relay or blown fuse. You my friend are a talented young man!

[@misters2837]

Parts Swappers

[@stansdds]

Yep, so many "mechanics" of today are nothing more than parts changers.

[@Mr.Ramirez95]

@@misters2837 master plan of manufacturing, its cheaper to hire a parts swapper than a mechanic allowing for bigger corporate bonuses at the end of the quarter.

[@misters2837]

@@Mr.Ramirez95 Well they might think its "Cheaper" and for the muffler/brake/tire/general maintenance type shops of yesteryear parts swappers were fine...but now those shops are mostly gone (now Wal-Mart is king), and now you have dealers or Big Chain Shops or Independent Shops...and they have hired parts swappers to do the mundane. There is less and less of the Driveline and Transmission specialists (and others - we had an "Auto Electric" shop, that was known for finding gremlins) because the consumer has been brainwashed into thinking that a parts swapper and a reman part is OK to install because its "cheaper" - The Consumer doesn't know any better!

[@Mr.Ramirez95]

@@misters2837 this is the way it's been done by Ford, Chevy, Toyota and many other manufacturers. They KNOW ITS CHEAPER to swap an assembly than repair/rebuild the current one. This has nothing to do with the consumer. We haven't been "brainwashed" we just don't really care how the job is done, as long as our vehicles are back on the road in the least amount of time possible. Time is Money. I think the best market for specialized mechanics is in the older vehicle market, as parts are no longer readily available or manufacturered. I just don't see the need for specialized mechanics in the newer vehicle market.

[@vehcor]

I like getting projects others failed to fix, you end up with very happy return customers. It does have its downsides though. The latest downside is I am now the go to guy for a very rusty 88 RX7. Your sarcasm is beginning to rival mine! lol

[@WatchWesWork]

Hmm. So they're going to bring me more garbage trucks? This may have been a bad idea...

[@Chr.U.Cas1622]

@@WatchWesWork No problem as long as it's only the trucks and not only the garbage! ;-)

[@davidhudson5452]

@@WatchWesWork Yes with bugs

[@vehcor]

@@WatchWesWork Or at least the same one. I am starting to think the other guys knew what they were doing when they pretended not to fix the RX7 the first time. lol It was before my KZbin days but it was a really unique problem. I wish I had recorded it.

[@larryskeeper1197]

@@Chr.U.Cas1622 i hated working on those Allison trans in garbage trucks. Boss would tell us "I've got a Volvo GT coming in", our excitement suddenly disappeared when the reality was discovered. Rotten smelling b#*&@s of things.....

[@TechItOut]

This is a perfect example of the difference between an engineer and a fitter. An engineer knows what they are doing and how to trace faults. Brilliant as always.

[@WatchWesWork]

Thank you

[@garymucher4082]

I am a retire Engineering Technition and love trouble shooting circuits. You have to be the only person I have watched that seem to use actual logic in your diagnoses and explain what was wrong and why. A pleasure watching your thoughts through your diagnoses process. Bravo sir Bravo...

[@scootergem]

Not my cup of tea, but I know you helped out the other people that have to deal with these convoluted problems. It did help me understand why a good/excellent mechanic costs so much/is WORTH so much. Excellent presentation! Thanks for sharing.

[@darylnicklen3685]

Thanks Wes the close up shots of exactly what you are doing are so well executed you would swear it was for commercial TV. Your dry humor just breaks up what you are doing and makes the viewer think for a moment. Always enjoy the outros will full explanation of what happened and why. You weren't wrong in the description when you said this video has it all.

[@rkan2]

I think he would still benefit from a Sony A7s in a lot of the dark undersides of the vehicles he works on. Pair that with some nice F2.8 glass and you don't need any additional lights for the camera anyway. :P

[@planaritytheory]

Channels like this one are why youtube is _better_ than commercial TV (the best parts of youtube are, anyway).

[@bohhica1]

Man, instead of swatting that mosquito, pat yourself on your back! That was a great job. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and knowledge of electrical systems.

[@bevanson]

Hey Wes! You’re becoming the South Main Auto of Fulton, Illinois! 😂🇦🇺

[@dans_Learning_Curve]

Absolutely! Honesty Knowledgeable Snarky Willing to do it!

[@hawkdsl]

DPW is a necessary function of our society. The Men who do these jobs for us are unsung heroes in my book. Anything we can do to help make their job easier is probably greatly appreciated. The crew that runs that truck had a great day with the truck working properly.

[@lavejim11]

Scotty K, eat your heart out. It's just a pleasure to watch a guy work who really understands what he is doing. It's so rare in the automotive repair business today. Great work, Wes

[@robertaccorsini4663]

You are a magician. You work on anything mechanical and electrical and you are able to figure it out and fix it.

[@mdouglaswray]

Your customers are SO LUCKY to have you. You sort out mysteries they didn't even know were present. Good job as always!

[@claytoncoolidge992]

Fine job sir. I love the fixes that others failed to fix. Its those customers who will never go anywhere else and will be the best advertising you could ever get.

[@jerryb1234]

Wes is like a dog with a bone, when he decides to sink his teeth into something, he kills it, ya never cease to amaze me with your determination, it's like, at some point it becomes personal to you, then you kicks it's ass with knowledge, grit and snarky commentary, lol, great video brother, thanks for sharing.

[@eiserntorsphantomoftheoper2154]

Guy has serious skill.

[@suzuki230]

Never tone down the amount of sarcasm in the video, it’s what makes the video special and a kick ass job on this.

[@waltersobchak2973]

Great diagnosis and repair. I bought a used 3/4 ton pickup with a plow from a local dealer. When I took the plow off the truck headlights didn't work. I took it back to the dealer for a couple of items they were going to fix and mentioned the headlights. When I got it back the truck lights worked, but when I put the plow back on no plow lights. It didn't take long to find that their "fix" for the truck lights was the disconnect the harness for the plow. After I wired the plow harness back in and downloaded a wiring diagram it took about 5 minutes with a 12v test light to find a bad relay. Then I let the dealer know that I'd be sharing my experience with the "quality" of their workmanship with everyone I know. Laziness on their part has cost them infinitely more money than the extra 5 minutes of work it would have taken them to do it right. Now if only Wes wasn't half a day's drive away... 😄

[@oldpcgamers7450]

Bravo Wes. The lost art of troubleshooting is alive and well.

[@markbowen3638]

Great fix Wes, love how you diagnosed the problem with the control box relays. You always go one step beyond other shops, most of them just throw parts at em and ship em out. Seems you can find wiring diagrams when you need them. Pleasure watching yo work! Best wishes from the UK 🇬🇧

[@richardwallinger1683]

wow you are one top quality diagnostic mechanic / electrical engineer .. you need a medal of honor for fixing that smelly puppy .

[@House0399]

Cuddos to you for sticking out to a complete job. That’s easier to do when you don’t have a boss screaming down the back of your neck that you’re spending to much time on the problem or a customer saying you’re just trying to milk a job for more money. Some problems just take longer then others. The brilliance of your process was pretty cool.

[@neilcowan535]

Kudos? I think cuddos mught be a a parasitic infestation of some kind, Not sure. :)

[@charlesreohr6236]

@@neilcowan535 Ha Ha! I think so to.

[@southjerseysound7340]

You're right,stuff like this one can be tough at a big shop. Plus the fact that it appeared to be working really makes it tough to justify spending a lot of the customers money for what appeared like a convenient feature. I think if one of the others got the burnt pto I'd like to think one of them could've figured it out. When I still worked for a big shop my boss used to send these type of jobs to my personal shop. I could take the time needed to figure them out without having to charge them for scratching my head. So the customers were happy and my boss was able to throw me a job keeping me happy. It worked really good while it lasted,but my friend/boss passed away from a massive heart attack and his son saw things differently. But I still tried to make things work and agreed not to take any new customer's. I tried making it work but I left after 6 months or so along with most of the customers. It was a shame because he ran 25+ years of hard work into the ground in less than a year.

[@colddiesel]

I reckon I know a bit but I love these diagnostics - chasing rabbits down the right rabbit hole. It makes me understand somethings that I do not know at all, and learning new stuff is always worthwhile.

[@arejay4965]

I think a lot of people might stop after fixing the first problem. This is where I believe a lot of folks would just say screw it. Wes just keeps going until all the problems are fixed. Great job on your tenacity and ability Wes, you are an inspiration.

[@dans_Learning_Curve]

The "last" problem caused the first problem!

[@paratrooper7340]

I admire guys like you more than college graduates who think they know everything and want you to know that they know everything but in reality only know very little about everything. That's why buildings collapse, bridges fail and damns burst but a good mechanic is worth his weight in gold!

[@1musicsearcher]

Your ability to figure shit like this out always impresses me. At least the misses didn’t turn the engine on this time.

[@guubagaaba8391]

the people in your area are sooo lucky to have you as their mechanic !!!!!!!

[@johnfry9010]

There are not enough mechanics who understand all this electrical stuff and you are one of the few who really get it , Nice repair !

[@BeenThrDunThat]

We, I should say 'I', am never surprised that with your jobs that a walk turns into a trip, but so many of your trips lately have turned into cross-country journeys! Love coming along for your journeys!!

[@eugenesanderlin3043]

I can recall when I started fixing,vehicles at thirteen,there wasn't to many that had all the relays solinoids,and absolutely no computers. I enjoy watching you even though I will not be working on any ,at 89, the agility has left me ,continue amazing me with your tallents. God Bless you and your family.

[@craigsmith8217]

You are one of the few that are willing and smart enough to fix this. They should send the bill to the upfitter.

[@jukeman57]

You really are a very competent technician Wes. That was a very difficult series of problems to diagnose. Because of your persistence and unwillingness to just be satisfied with a marginal fix, makes you exceptional. I hope you are demanding compensation worthy of your excellence work. Especially after several other shops failed.

[@agistan7764]

not technician, Wes is an engineer and a very good one at that. Just watch his old CNC videos.

[@N1RKW]

Well done, Wes! Any mechanic can fix a Ford, but it takes a real skilled professional to actually make a Ford run properly!

[@ragingcurrent3250]

I’ve been working on my own cars my whole life, but automatic transmissions are still magical to me. I just assume there’s little wizards in there waving their wands to make it go. Great vid and diagnosis once again Wes!

[@gregdutton8219]

Check out WeberAuto channel. It is the best I've found for explaining the magical wizardry going on in transmissions. kzbin.info

[@honest8bob]

Precision transmission on youtube is a good place to start if your really interested.

[@Billybobaggins9]

@@honest8bob +1 to precision they are a plethora of A/T knowledge

[@dans_Learning_Curve]

It's all about reading the speed and fluid pressure.

[@phalanx3803]

@@honest8bob that guy is amazing he pulls them apart faster then i pulled my Lego apart when i was a kid. i can only dream of pulling apart transmissions that fast then again i dont pull them apart for a job every day only pull a few apart for friends mainly 4L60E's because POC 4L60E gotta have have 6 neutrals and friends dont listen when i say get a different transmission that can handle the Boost dont matter how much you spend on a 4L60E when you pump 300+kW through it, its 1 to 6 neutrals time is gonna be faster then any other.

[@johnlottes7440]

Nice to know that you actually fix something that someone else couldn't or didn't take the time to figure out wtf was actually wrong.

[@davidtaylor4832]

I've always been well impressed by your analysis skill's. I've come to believe you have a natural instinct for it, born out of real-world experience. An enjoyable half hour, for me.

[@jaymann]

You want something diagnosed and fixed properly? Take it to Wes. He's your man. Regards from the UK, Wes.

[@farmerbill6855]

Because a lever on the floor and a knob on the dash just weren't good enough. You're a great mechanic Wes, content is the best. You're a credit to your profession and your clients should be proud to have you. What I don't get is, what kind of lies do you keep telling that pretty girl to get her to hang around? You're my hero. Best regards from Indiana.

[@michelbrodeur6055]

Wes you have the tenacity of a bulldog. Great catch by talking to the owner of said equipment and going the extra mile in diagnosing the issue. Thanks again.

[@gmctech]

Absolutely fantastic strategy based diagnostics here Wes! I get absolutely giddy with joy when someone brings me a vehicle with electrical malfunctions.. I'm never happier than when I'm submersed in bundles wires and pages of electrical diagrams... 😁

[@williamervin4463]

It’s great to see someone fully testing post initial problem repair and looking into secondary and tertiary issues to find to real issues. Great job!

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Great work, Wes! Love the logical approach and attention to detail. The root cause of the burned up clutch was very interesting to discover 👌 Aftermarket wiring rats nests are always time consuming to untangle lol

[@WatchWesWork]

Thank you sir! It's not technically the "right" way to fix it, but it should work!

[@OttawaOldFart]

You should know LOL

[@rodfrey]

It was your troubleshooting detective work on the antique CNC electronics that got me to subscribe in the first place, and the same approach for mechanics is what keeps me coming back.

[@bigtrev8xl]

It sure makes ya feel good when you've repaired something, that 4 other workshops failed to fix..😊😊👍👌

[@dondalrymple5794]

Wes doesn’t fix things, he repairs the underlying problems. What a catch!

[@olspanner]

You are a CLASS act Wes. Great diagnostic skills and determination to uncover ALL the problems. Thanks to you and your family for the time and effort that goes into your videos.

[@dwitcraft]

So basically, you're becoming the go to guy for garbage trucks and rusty plow trucks. I don't know how your parents feel, but we couldn't be prouder! Out here in the PNW, the chill of autumn is in full swing. It's beginning to fell a lot like Christmas! A plow truck video can't be far away!

[@stumpy2816]

Fascinating for me to watch you trace those wiring diagrams. Another great video of a tech doing a repair to make it right. I suspect you have gained a return customer.👍👍

[@dada191]

All I can say is BRAVO! That was a MasterClass in repair work.

[@Odinvalknir]

I look forward to Saturday/Sunday for Wes' videos

[@Mahees_230]

I spent seven years in the waste removal industry, and our trucks either had electric shift or air shift PTO. There was no gear clash with electric. Dump the air, PTO switch on, shift to neutral, and it will engage. Air shift was the easiest. Come to a stop, cut it the PTO, shift to neutral. It locks the service brakes. The tricky one was the ten wheel cutdown. PTO cuts out if the RPM's are too high, and comes back on when the engine returns to idle. Great job Wes. Looking forward to the next video.

[@patrickmorrissey2271]

Great job Wes.... Very nice. I agree with Scott.... Also, be careful... You fix something like that, that nobody can fix.... Word spreads fast, and you end up with 10 of them in the driveway.....

[@michaelashcraft8569]

The patience you had in diagnosing the REAL cause of the PTO failure is a testament to your determination to correctly fix the problem rather than bypass it...

[@billjohnson2000]

Love the “root cause” identification. Engineers try to learn this from process maps, 5 why analysis, 8D’s, and many other problem solving tools. But, when it’s part of your DNA, (like yours is) it’s fun to watch. You just can’t teach that!

[@WatchWesWork]

Apparently not at 4 other shops.

[@WatchWesWork]

@John Brennan Try watching the video.

[@shaunbrennan5281]

John Brennan Nah, watch it all buddy.

[@larrypinter3321]

Well done persevering to success where others failed. Methodology, analyses, applying theory to practice. Thumbs up.

[@jacquejecker4435]

It is amazing how well you are able to diagnose these electro-mechanical problems. Where others say they don't have diagrams, you just print them out and your knowledge of control circuits it phenomenal. Great work.

[@jaybrown3953]

And the 5th time is a charm, Wes can fix everything... good job. When that happens take the total amount on the bill and X it by 2. That's your bonus.

[@daverunion2162]

Proof that you are not only a great mechanic; but, also a phenomenal electrical engineer/repairman.

[@carlitoscard4248]

thanks for your patience in teaching, not easy while working. mechanics is about fixing the problem and not giving up. even with no comment many are watching you, ( from California),

[@datadog7179]

Hey Wes! That maneuver with the snap ring pliers and bearing press was quite impressive! Great job, you work great, even when you’re frustrated! Thanks for the video.

[@greengohm]

With this dedication to finding the root cause you are worth your weight in gold!

[@jabbasan12]

Awesome job Wes! It’s great to see there are still people out there that are willing to go the extra mile for the customer to ensure a job is done correctly! I see you are picking up “This old Tony’s” sense of humor. :p

[@serafinroman1313]

DUDE YOU ARE BEST IN FIXING MECHNICAL AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS !!!

[@ronaldheit196]

After 4 so called reputable shops worked on it you get it fixed. Yup, give yourself a huge pat on the back Wes. It's so enjoyable watching you figure out others FUBAR moves then you actually figuring out how reverse what they did and how to fix it.

[@robertheinkel6225]

Fubar? I haven’t heard that since I left he service.

[@bobg7288]

One of your best diagnostic descriptions ever riveting to the very end...well done

[@65bugnut]

I couldn't fix 1/4 of the things that you do, I enjoy watching a professional like yourself take the time to explain what was wrong, and the process you take to repair. Thanks Wes.

[@jrrodriguez7787]

A job well done West no one else could do that job but you very proud of you man continuing work

[@john7017]

Great video! On your closing remarks, this is why I built my garage and installed lifts, purchased scan tools, oscilloscopes to repair our fleet of service trucks ourselves. On many occasions after maintenance and repairs were half assed by professional shops. Now we do everything ourselves, save a money and its fixed properly. Keep up the good work!

[@drewmckendrick7171]

"I don't know why this seal failed...." That truck was never going back out the door without the problem solved. Great work as usual.

[@frankdeegan8974]

No big deal from an old school perspective, but not much old school today though. It takes a special person to effectively diagnose system problems and Wes is definitely a go to mechanic

[@jakeoht791]

I am glad I have such an honest mechanic. I don’t mind paying a bit extra for someone who actually methodical and diligent in their work. Great work!

[@axcs0119]

I find it great that even if you have not seen something before that does not stop you from figuring out the problem. You also have a very good way of explaining what and why.

[@CentaurAcademy]

I have said this before, but Wes, your diagnostic skills are out of this world. Respect.

[@MOzarkMike]

I’ve been around a long time and I’ve only seen two other mechanics who are as thorough and as knowledgeable as you. Both of them worked at a high end restoration shop where I did some business consulting. You do an amazing job of diagnosing and fixing the most elusive problems.

[@edchenal821]

Your patience in troubleshooting the problems is admirable.

[@robgm6926]

Haven't messed with any trucks with a PTO in years. That system with the constant mesh drive gear and clutch is pretty slick. Drove a late 70s GMC with an Alison automatic behind a 6v-92 Detroit. Had to set the breaks, put the trans in gear to stop the input shaft from turning, put the PTO in gear, shift trans to neutral and then go ahead and raise the dump body.

[@arturos571]

you are the perfect example of a tech that is working to make a reputation not a flat rate paycheck. thats why the other shops didnt fix it. they werent thinking like a shop owner. i too am a one man shop and dont plan on hiring anyone anytime soon. i love ur channel.

[@99andrianmonk]

Great job. Most mechanics would have stopped after fixing - or more probably, just replacing - the hydraulic pump. Your persistence in making sure it was working correctly separates you from all the others. I hope the owner of the truck rewards you with continued business. As a viewer, it's really helpful when you walk through stuff; like you did with the wiring diagram explaining how things should work and what you're going to do to address the problem. Looking forward to next Saturday's video.

[@dennisphoenix1]

I was giving you respect for stripping and rebuilding the Pto because most people would just get another one and fit it , but now you have diagnosed and fixed the wiring issue so it works properly puts you on another level of persistent and tenacious. Well done you should be proud .

[@almclean4835]

Good repair, you’ll have a very happy customer. I like how you just laugh at faults and carry on and fix them

[@WatchWesWork]

Got to laugh, since there’s no cursing on the channel or crying in the shop

[@laurence1643]

Excellent work and problem solving !! Really like watching you get things working completely correctly.

[@aaronjohn6586]

Wes, truly appreciate your demonstration of why it's so important to take the time to properly diagnose a problem. You showed in no uncertain terms the difference between a dedicated professional and those that lack the willingness to put in the effort.

[@jacknevitt7384]

Wes, pat yourself on the back all you want; you’ve earned it! Your problem solving skills and excellent explanations are so interesting to watch. I wish you lived near Kennesaw, Georgia; no rust from road chemicals and snow maybe 2 days a year.

[@TokyoCraftsman]

Wes, your problem-solving skills are second to none!

[@ao2528]

The combination of many skills is the reason for your success, I fully understand and appreciate your professionalism, excellent work.

[@henriquett8232]

I really enjoy watching your ability to troubleshoot the electrical problems. You make it LOOK easy.

[@davedunn2124]

Always nice to see the lovely Mrs. Watch Wes Work involved. You are very thural in all your work and I admire that in you. Only wish you were closer to me so I could send you all my work.

[@CPthetooladdict]

Good morning with Wes looking forward to the next good one!!

[@lawrencecavens5760]

Wes - You just proved how important the original wiring Schematics are, - More precisely to follow the original build the way the engineers designed the unit. So called tecks of now and days rely on scan tools TOO Much! and don't trouble shoot and work the problem from the beginning - Eric O at south-main auto does this exact approach like you did and 99.9% of the time he finds the culprit... You deserve a 5Gold STAR and Like I say Are a great Credit to the repair industry. I'm Very Impressed...Wayda go there...

[@jeepinjohnny2898]

Yo - Wes. Your diagnostics skills are downright amazing !! I greatly appreciate the effort you expend explaining everything you do while doing it. Really interesting. Thanks.

[@dpyles9396]

and THAT is why I like watching your videos! It gets repaired properly.

[@infocpctrainer]

I'm amazed at your thoroughness when dealing with problems. I can see why other dealers give up with 'rats nest' wiring. your customer should be made up now everything works as it should. Love this video Saturday nights here in UK, beats anything else on tv as far as I'm concerned.

[@WatchWesWork]

Thank you for watching

[@colinwallace5286]

Nice work. You just illustrated the difference between a “mechanic”who fixes things, and a “technician” who replaces parts. I hope they appreciate your attention to detail, because it means they won’t be back for a while.

[@DocNo27]

Good fix and attention to detail! Sadly I'm not shocked 4 other shops couldn't fix it. No one seems to understand the importance of root cause analysis and the importance of making zero assumptions and testing everything down to the most basic component/path. Yup, it can be tedious - but if you really want to solve the real problem, it's the only way!

[@abuzed6533]

That’s why little garages are way’s better, thinking outside the box. I find the bid shops don’t want to send the time , they just want to replace. Nice work showing them how it’s done!

[@geraldtrice4894]

“Eschew Obfuscation” was my favorite bumper sticker. The word eschew is rarely used while working on trucks.

[@StopDropandLOL]

Four shops couldn't fix it, but they clearly brought it to the right place! A lot of techs I know when they come across a problem like this because it doesn't have a linear solution they give up too easily. A good diagnostic tech is a rare thing nowadays, and they were lucky to find you Wes!

[@mattbrown3400]

great job WES!. especially with kids around working garages. i stress out knowing my daughters could be anywhere and I have the habit of walking around anything im moving or driving about 3 times to be careful. i too have determined the safest place is in the cab or on the tractor with me...

[@techlessman2162]

That was an impressive bit of diagnostics and resolution - and hopefully a very happy customer!!

[@pmae9010]

It is great that you take us along for the detail of the "how it works" in the computer. I really enjoy your content, Hi to the family, thanks Wes.

[@mrswes]

Hi!

[@jazzerbyte]

Great analysis of the problems, including reconstructing a probable chain of events!