I'm sorting out a few things with older posts.
This one should be here I reckon.
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DEC 2008
G'day all and the best of seasons greetings to all readers.
I'm mobile again after many months of stuffing around. I took the Ute into town today (boxing day) and did some shopping and fueled-up.
That was not accomplished without a dash of drama. . . oh no, I thought. The engine shut down on the way in.
I thought it was fuel, but it turned out to be corrosion on the fuse-box contacts and the cut-off valve specifically. So, now I have a new 10-litre fuel can ($25) and the taxi bill $12 to remind me to take a few tools with me next time.
I did notice that the pos-terminal doesn't like it when I crank the engine over several times. . . she just about melts the terminal on the battery. Something wrong here I think. New BIG battery too. . .
After I came home I decided on double jeaprody, I headed up to Tully Gorge for another adventure into the unknown. Same deal. . . she quit on the way, but this time I headed straight for the fuse-box and yep, she had popped the fuse again.
That was fixed and I arrived at the camping area just in time for a swim. Well, sorta. I floated flapped and drifted for all of 5-mins in my shorts and then came home. Big deal, but it was nice to have the mobility.
On the way home I decicded to really go crazy.
I headed up the Misty Mountain track, which is dirt and sprinkled with drainage berms around some of the steeper areas, no issues.
It seems like the 1.8 litre diff is the way to go. I had considered swapping the diesel diff under her, but now I am pretty happy with the ratio and gear spread I have with the petrol dif.
First gear is walking-pace low and second will get you into a jog.
Third gear is the best for these tracks and will pull strongly on moderate hills. Fourth is 65 kph friendly and top will sit on 80 kph all day I reckon.
I do not need speed. The setup as it is, feels good for towing a small trailer or pop-top. I have the power down low where I want it.
All good.
Hi Dazza,
Good the see you are mobile again & all the hard yakka was worth while.
The battery terminal melting problem sounds like the battery lead is not able to carry the large current draw when starting due to high resistance. Perhaps a heavier duty cable will cure the problem. I'm sure your sparky mate will sort that out.
Will be heading bush myself as soon as the weather is a bit cooler so you have a good one in 2009.
Cheers
Ted ;D
Hi Daza
Happy new year mate,got the old truck mobil again,well done.
Have you shifted camp yet,or did you chat up that lady up in the local shop and decided to hang around for a while LOL.
Which way you heading north or west??
To hot to go nth i guess,start heading west and you will be ready for the season,Im heading out in April to meet a group in Mt Celia.
Jackhammer (Scott) coming over in May for 4 weeks,wants to go to Leonora.But also Ted asked me to join him for a trip to the pilbara,so got a busy one this year mate.
Take it easy see ya out there.
Cheers Jon.
Hey, Jon.
Good to hear from you. I'm no closer to deciding about future directions until I get the Ute sorted and have developed some faith in the exchange engine.
I went for a drive to Innisfail a couple of days ago. This is the second trip there since she's been going. A couple of changes have made a huge difference: I discovered the donor ute had the cab jacked-up an inch from standard. This is as a result of deciding to do the same thing to enable more clearance. When I dismantled the old donor mounts I discovered it had been done and ended up with a handful of dougnuts which, when added to my Ute, solved the clearence problem dramatically. This trip to Innisfail was a quiet lope in fifth over all the hills and I ended the day by taking the consumption figures and ended up getting 10.6km a litre.
I drove all around that town. . . backtracking on local knowlege several times to find what I was looking for. I guess if I had been cruising the highway I would be getting close to 13 km a litre . I'm well pleased.
Previous trips with the old petrol donk meant multiple gear changes over anything larger than a cow-pat. No massive power with the old diesel, but she has grunt and torque aplenty and should see me through the remainder of my driving career.
Some issues have emmerged; the alternator appears to be stuffed and is only charging 8-amps, also, heat and sound entering via the footwell and firewall.
I've swapped floor mats and layed some tar sheets (original equipment) on bare metal and that's made a difference. I bought a cheap hairdryer to cook the mats into place. Bloody miricle really, I've been looking for these tar-mats for ages and found them amongst old stock at a place in Tully. . . amazing.
The other issue is a leaking front main seal on the engine crank.
After 6-years of condensation seapage. . . I'm not surprised the front seal cut-out. I think it seats on the harmonic balancer shaft from memory. . . the seal is less than $10, so I've ordered it and arranged for the balance to be lathe-spun and polished or, I'll replace it is it looks dodgy after removal.
Travel: It look like I'll see the wet through. The Georgina is flooded and the channel country is no-go, just now. I would prefer to return west via central Australia rather than go the long ways. . north or south. Mt Isa has been cut off several times from news reports. Boulia too may be a problem. Sit tight for a while I reckon.
Yes I will return west. I don't particularly care if you and the blow-ins. . .
clean-out the skat. It will make my task easier. ;D
I have another project I want to do. I've become fascinated with wood-ovens. I suppose they are best described as 'bee-hive' ovens. For anyone passing through Boulder, you can see one in the Big BP roadhouse on the Kambalda road. I want to build one somewhere. Maybe Laverton or Redcastle or even Mt Ida. Anywhere will do.
I just hope I get the chance and it doesn't get busted by abuse.
That's it for now. I will post a small avi-clip when I get broadband access.
To all readers. . . I hope we get to meet somewhere along the track.
Good luck all.
daza
May 2009
Hi Daza
How are you mate,got the old beast sorted yet,are you still in the same spot or have you moved?
Been out with a group for 4 weeks only picked up half an oz,getting a bit tight out there,the realestaters have been at it again,hardly no places to camp at Redcastle or the 14ml anymore
its all under lease.
Heading for Laverton on Friday15th,with Scott,got permission to go on a lease.
Let me know where you build your pizza oven mate,you can give me a demo,love pizza.
Thought you mite have been over here by now,still gives me time to clean out the good spots LOL.
Anyway keep well,see ya when we see ya.
Cheers jon.
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I'm keeping these posts as a Word doc with embedded images. It's the easiest way I know to archive them.
daza
