Thread: Syklone BLOWN AWAY!!!

Bit of an expensive loss yesterday...

Took Vincent for a big day drive from Canberra down to Cooma, then up the unsealed road towards Braidwood, turning off for a low range visit to Bendethera camping area, then home via Araluen Road and Braidwood.

We aired down at the turnoff track off Coooma Road (Middle Mountain Road) towards Bendethera, where we had a chat to a nice bloke and his family who were heading out the other way. I didn't notice anything amiss, but certainly didn't look closely at the snorkel.

On the way in, via the very steep ups and downs, despite stopping and chatting to several 4x4's and a couple of motorbikes, nobody else noticed anything visibly out of place (or certainly didn't mention it if they did)...

Finally arrived at the Bendethera Caves grassed parking area and stopped for a cup of tea. First sip of steaming tea and smiling from the smell of the fresh, crisp, clear air and I almost choked! Standing next to the vehicle I noticed my brand new Syklone pre-cleaner was GONE!

It simply was not there! Just a safari snorkel tube in all it's wide open throaty glory, proudly poking skyward with nothing between my engine and the open air!

Most of the trip in from the airing down point (about 1hr45min) was walking pace. We took it very steady, didn't collide with any trees, sticks or anything and I am simply baffled as to where and when the pre-cleaner came off

I slipped off my shoes and pulled an explorer sock over the open pipe, snigging it up with some tie-wire, to at least try and provide some filtering on the very dry dusty track.

Due to the lack of concerned punters during our earlier "G'days", I thought perhaps it had only just come off in the last few km. We started to back track, but there was no evidence to be found

We met up with a bloke and his family who we had stopped and chatted to earlier at the Dampier trig point. He said he hadn't seen anything on the track. Mind you, some of the final bits of this track near Bendethera camp ground would make a billy goat blush, so I reckon if it fell off in the last few km it probably rolled down into some deep dark ravine never to be seen again.

We decided it was likely gone forever, so after much swearing, feelings of exasperation and disappointment, I decided to take my bat and ball and go home

The sky was cloudy, so I didn't want to hang around. I am VERY thankful it didn't rain.

The pre-cleaner was fitted with a very well made adaptor (which is still attached with rock-solid lack of movement). The head was attached with a very solid clamp and tightened appropriately.

I still can't believe I didn't see the thing come off, as surely it would have easily been seen dropping virtually in front of me. My only other thought is that it came off on the highway or the other road prior to the slow 4x4 leg. In this case it may have lifted off at speed and been flung far to the rear.

There are no signs of impact or scratches anywhere on the vehicle to help work it out. It is as if it just vanished

Anyway, it was an expensive and very upsetting loss. This morning I'll be re-fitting the original safari ram head (which my wife lovingly pointed out had nothing wrong with it in the first place), as I don't have the $$$ to fork out for another syklone head. Better have a look at the air cleaner as well to see how it faired.

Trip home with the sock was trouble free, no loss of power (so perhaps the air filter is not too dusty) but slow on the crappy winding dirt up Araluen Road.

I am satisfied I have whinged and ranted enough now. Time to suck it up and get on with things. It was just a tad hard to take given it was a $270 piece of equipment and we had ensured it was solidly fitted, plus the fact two days earlier a freak incident with a stick resulted in the aluminium mesh above the front bumper being pierced inwards with said stick (thank goodness the radiator was unscathed).

End of sooking tirade...

PS- Carlie now thinks Vincent looks like he's had a significant snipping-off of prominent "man bits" and reckons we should re-name him Margaret... which I am strongly considering...

Know nothing of Skyclones, but I recently purchased a cheap ($35) pre cleaner from ebay, which should get a significant workout on the next Edjit adventure in July.

Whilst I agree that the standard setup, well maintained, should provide adequate protection, after seeing what ended up in the airbox after our Centreline excursion, (mulga sticks 6mm in dia and over 150mm long and this was through a snorkel ) I thought it a good idea to try something in addition.

I think my vehicle is the one in front in Bushies first photo........nuff said.