What a mixed bag I've had over the past 2 days. I decided that I would take 113-372 for it's first run out of town LOL
, 20 minutes into the trip a loud clatter RRRRRRRRRRR noise, hastily trying to find a spot to stop on the side of the road, while quickly glancing at Oil pressure gauge, still on 20+lbs, at idle speed.
I managed to stop with the engine still running but still making the very loud RRRRRR sound, lifted the bonnet to see the generator had moved and was hanging at a horrible angle inclined to the fan
I switched off the engine as the loud RRRRRRRR sound was the multi-bladed fan hitting the gen/pulley, get down and get under to see the long bolt 5" x 5/16UNF thread was missing
, my travelling mate Ken (8 Field Ambulance Veteran Sth Vietnam) stayed with the Land Rover, while I walked a damn long way back looking for the bolt, I thought I had no chance of finding it, but I did find it in the middle of the road.
A short while later it was refitted, I remembered later why it had come loose. In Corowa 2009 I bought 2 NOS fan belts from Hilton P, I had trouble fitting one let alone 2 belts, so I must have only tightened the tension bolt through the generator thinking later after running the engine it might stretch a little, that was probably the last time I thought about it LOL
It was a cool night in Broke, I was treated to Motel 88 aka the tub on 113-372, I was in my swag etc but my legs were out, after a restless night I took this picture this morning from my suite in Motel 88 it was 0545hrs
the Kookaburras were singing etc, so I figured I'd better get up and mark my territory (rope it off for other club members, not pee on trees LOL), here is Motel 88, sorry about the blurred image, cold fingers n all.
I quickly had breakfast which wasn't much, lit my British army kettle for a cuppa
then sat back for a while watching the place fill up. It was hectic at times, did a lot of talking about the differences between S2 C/R & S2A 88GS, a lot of experts out there LOL
As the day progressed, I met up with a lot of people that I know from different events that happen about the place, and some from the internet, I did speak with a few veterans and a couple of people who were really chuffed that I'm not a mechanic/spray painter etc etc etc, and that they are now more willing and keen to get into their respective restorations on Series Land Rovers.
My day wasn't over yet, on the way home home we sailed past where we had lost the bolt, fingers XX'd that nothing would come loose with that
. I turned off Broke road onto Allandale road coming along past the airport, when I looked at the temp gauge, it was heading was up past the highest numerals
, engine was still pulling like a mail train, no sign of any sluggish behaviour, I nervously slowed down to 40mph, looking in the rear view mirror for tell tale signs, nothing so we kept going for the last 2 miles, I turned to corner rolled down the street switching off the engine, it started to run backwards, I could hear it, this is what greeted me when I lifted the bonnet
and this
I let it cool down for 1 1/2hrs before attempting to see what failed, it didn't take long to find the problem, water was pouring out the hole in the water pump, after all the trouble I went to keeping the seals wet while restoring the vehicle, it still failed, thankfully not too far from home, well I guess I will have some things to do at some point during the week, that was my weekend, cheers Dennis
PS I have a new water pump in the shed, I had a quick look this afternoon but no luck, I hope I haven't already used it, I know I bought 2 from a reputable dealer in the UK, hopefully I will find it
PPS I almost forgot to mention, a lots of cars whizzed by honking horns n insults which I returned by flipping the bird, but one chap pulled up in a toyota, he looked like a farmer so he wasn't about to give s**t about 113-372 broken down, anyway to cut a long story short he was from Yagoona in Sydney owns a S3 ex-mil and is a member of ?AAMVC, he knew lots of the peoples names I rattled off, I think his name was Jimmy, his vehcile was silver grey ute 4x4..
