By Tony K and Eric B
-General Maintenance-
The more time you can spend under your rig the better off you will be. Doing even the simpliest of tasks creates familiarity with your rig that you can’t get from reading a manual. It’s also a big help when you have to make a trail fix you won’t feel so overwhelmed.
Simple fixes may not seem so simple if you have never done them in your driveway. Getting 90wt into the tranny can be a pain in the arse until you fit a short hose to the bottle to allow some clearance. If you don’t do these things at home and learn about them they can be a major headache on the trail.
Checking gear box levels can indicate a problem and help you avoid expensive repairs. It’s amazing how many people never check fluid levels.
Once you are under the rig take the time and look around, might be surprised at just what you can see and what you learn about your rig. How many people realize there is a square plug on the knuckle housing that gets removed and the housing then can be pumped the rest of the way full of grease.
Knowing the sizes of bolts can be helpful. Enables you to take the right wrench with you and not take the whole roll.
And even if you don’t do the more complicated of jobs, change the oil and fluids, hoses and all that other little stuff. It will give you the confidence to dive off the deep end and tackle some of those jobs that you thought were beyond your skills. Landcruisers are not that hard to work on, especially with a Factory Service Manual close at hand. And Toyota did put out one heck of a service manual for these rigs that is still available.
So grab your rags and tools and dig in. You won’t be sorry.
-Heavy Maintenance-
This is the big stuff. 
Heavy maintenance is those jobs that are beyond the average guys skill or comfort level. Rebuilding a 3rd member, changing gear ratio’s and tearing down a transmission all fall under the heavy maintenance category. While I encourage you to do as much as possible there are a few jobs I won’t suggest you do without some soul searching and a bit of planning. You have to be willing to tear into something. I am willing to open up just about anything but that is just how I am. If you are not extremely confident in your abilities it is better to pay someone to make these type of fixes and changes for you. There is no reason to bury yourself in a repair that is beyond your abilities and comfort zone.
You will find that I defer to the FSM on a regular basis. The factory service manual will take you through everything there is to repair on your rig. Toyota put these things together with the same procedures and look how long they have lasted so far. As I have often said when in doubt trust the FSM.
I will be the first to admit there are still a few things I have not done to my rig but the list is very short. The only thing I have not taken apart is my steering box and while I have torn down and rebuilt other engine blocks, my diesel only got a cam change and a head rebuild. And don’t ask about the injection pump. Any one who said that diesels are mechanically simple never looked too close at an inline injection pump. Even the diesel boat yard that I work at sends these things off to specialized shops for service and repair.
Some things on our rigs reach the point where you have to have help. And while this could mean additional physical help, primarily I am talking about help that has more skills and knowledge of a particular job or task. This point comes at different times for everyone. But this is also why I encourage anyone to do as much as possible on their own rig. Someday you might have to dive off the deep end and familiarity with other parts of your rig may give you the confidence to tackle the more complex jobs. Do go easy on yourself if you are about to leave your comfort zone, have someone available nearby who can help in a pinch to save your butt.
The need for special service tools (referred to as SST’s in the factory service manual) can bring about the fear that the job is not possible which is not always the case. Frequently a little creativity and ingenuity will get you past the need for expensive tools you need only rarely. I tore into my tranny with a few long arm pullers, some pipe and a couple of levers/pry bars. Some tools though are absolutely essential when doing such maintenance, a press is at the top of the list. Doesn’t have to be all that big or expensive, I have only a 12 ton model that came from Harbor Freight and cost less than $150. Some engine work may require welding skills, I needed to add on some more metal to my corroded thermostat housing.
You will need some specialized tools to do a gear change and even might have to make up a few and even borrow others. Dial Indicators with magnetic bases are a must have but might be borrowed, a tool to hold the pinion flange is nothing more than a flat bar with some holes in it. A torque meter is another of those better borrowed than bought.
You have to own a good torque wrench and should also have a decent bench to work on out of the rain. A floor jack and heavy jack stands becomes mandatory, raising the rig and dropping tranny’s is heavy risky work. Have the right lifting tools is important. And so is having a hard surface to use them on. No laying in the gravel to change your ring and pinion!
Pulling engines requires a hoist but this may be a better tool to borrow than to own. Most rental places usually have them available. There is one in my shop right now but it belongs to a friend and I am thinking of returning it to free up the space in my shop. Other tools needed may include a valve spring compressor and a cam bearing driver if you are going to do engine work and these also are better to rent or borrow than to own.
As long as you approach these tough jobs with a little common sense they are doable. A lot of work and worry that you did it right but still very doable.
