Bush Mechanics

[subasurf]

Hey chaps, inspired by the old series on ABC, Bush Mechanics, I thought I'd start a thread where we can all chip in out ideas on how to fix common and not so common problems that pop up with your vehicle when it's most unwelcome....when ya in the bush. And naturally I'm looking for ingenuous ideas, nut just simple (uuuh replace the part with a spare) kind of responses ;)

I'll start with a well known one.
Got a slight leak in your radiator that could spell doom for your car and yourself? Crack a raw egg down into the radiator to seal it :p Haven't personally tried it, but it's be proven.

[Sleepy]

I'll borrow one from Jack Abslom.

Repair a leaky fuel tank with hand soap and bulldust squished up into a puty.

[V8Landy]

If your Chassis breaks open the fridge and have a beer or 20:p

[Sleepy]

If your Chassis breaks open the fridge and have a beer or 20:p
:Rolling::Rolling::Rolling:

[digger]

small leak in radiator but too big for that sealer stuff to fix inside>>


cracked pepper... used it on a XL (63) falcon and when I sold it about 6 years later...still pepper in place!!!


also had at one stage a vauxall (stop laughing!! ;) :0 )
spring from accelerator went, all that was in the car was a pair of shorts with elastic in sides (one size fits all things) anyway, cut elastic out and tied in place....worked well for a few weeks!!!! (then I chickened out and fixed properly)

then it lost a small round cover plate from the top of the rocker cover...
a 10c piece and a rock, all fixed...still there when I gave the old girl away...
(making top value of car 10c) (the rock was to pound the 10c piece in place...)

(was about to park it and take plates off... err... to help the council you'll understand..:angel:;) . and a bloke walked up and says, hey mate if you ever want to sell that can I give you my number I want one....

His face was funny when I stood up, handed him the keys and took the rego papers out of my pocket and signed it over to him for free... he checked to see I was the real owner about 10 times!!!

digger

[subasurf]

Classic. I've heard about the cracked pepper trick aswell, but never seen it done.

[Blknight.aus]

if you crack the chassis, cut down a tree, prop up the chaissis and lash the tree to it, ditto for a collapsed spring

laundry detergent if made thick enough works for brake fluid

you can splice a rope loop to replace a fanbelt

a jerry can on the roof syphoning into a fuel filter can bypass your lift pump.

[Bearman]

Big ends made out of leather
Wiper washer motor for fuel pump
Spinifex or any sort of grass to repair a flat
Length of twine/rope for broken accellerator cable
As said, pepper or soap to repair radiator (usually have to leave cap off so as not to build up pressure)
Spinifex resin to repair radiators,fuel tanks and cracked batteries

[subasurf]

a jerry can on the roof syphoning into a fuel filter can bypass your lift pump.

Yup, that's how I always tell my mates to test their engines if they are having issues with it conking out and stalling. Gravity feed the engine and if it runs, you know the problem is probably in the fuel line. :D
On big trips I always have enough tubing and a bottle to create a makeshift gravity feed tank on my roof rack in case I puncture (too badly for bush repair) my fuel tank.

[Sleepy]

I am told you can use water for brake fluid at a pinch too :eek:

[Bearman]

If you have an Isuzu and cant get diesel you can run on kero or Avtur (jet turbine fuel) which is really kero with anti freeze and anti misting additives. Just add a little engine oil to the tank to give lubricating properties for the injector pump. They run quite happily on it.

[subasurf]

Is that specific to Isuzu? If so, do you know why?

[Bearman]

Is that specific to Isuzu? If so, do you know why?

Most earlier types of diesel engine with mechanical pumps will run on kero but I wouldnt know about the later electronic types.

[Tank]

Never leave home without a good Hi-tensile chain with chain hooks each end, can be used for lashing broken chassis, lashing a log underneath axle after losing wheel hub and wheel, good idea to have a couple of chain dogs as well. Dishwashing liquid works well as brake fluid. Never roll a drum of fuel to your car, drive to drum, if you roll it you will mix any crap in the drum with the fuel and it will end up in your filters, Regards Frank

[Blknight.aus]

almost any liquid will work short term for brake fluid

any diesel will run any fuel that is close enough to the correct viscosity and flash point but how long for is the big question. older diesels with gravel accepting tolerances will do it for longer and newer diesels with electric pumps and fractions of bees whisker clearances will suffer degredation and failure faster.

[djam1]

For a laugh you can use goats milk as brake fluid if you need too.
I have often used winch cables run to the rear axle to stop the axle from moving back on corrugated roads if you have either broken U bolts or springs.
Logs of Mulga wood are great for wiring in place to hold the engine and gearbox in if all the mounts are broken.
It is possible to repair a clutch centre that has been torn out by using the bottom of a 44 gallon drum.
With chassis failures you can use spare leaf springs/ tyre levers or other large steel things and high tensile chain and high tensile steel bolts to lash
things together this has even been done on broken diff housings if not broken in halves.
Failed fuel pumps on a carb petrol can be bypassed by using a jerry can on the roof and some fuel line.
Failed radiators can be bypassed by using a resivour of fluid (works with a truck if you have a 44 of water)
If the chips are really down it surprises you what you can do if you have no alternatives.

[Xtreme]

Resin from grass trees is also good for fuel tank repairs.

I'm amazed that no one has yet mentioned the many uses of the versatile fencing wire ............................... now that should start something!

Roger

[rovercare]

Most any liquid will do for brake/clutch fluid

I've fixed a holed radiator with Chewy, green extra to be precise, after a girly I was playing with many years ago, ran myfirst car that I built into a roo and its joey:eek:

The radiator remained for another 12 months with the chewy baked in place working a treat:D

[Bearman]

Resin from grass trees is also good for fuel tank repairs.

I'm amazed that no one has yet mentioned the many uses of the versatile fencing wire ............................... now that should start something!

Roger

Aha, Forgot about that one. I once had the rear diff on an XP Falcon ute come apart between Surat and Roma. I was cruising along and it just stopped driving and the engine was speeding up, thought I had done a clutch plate. Further investigation revealed that the rh axle tube had broken the welds and came out of the diff housing,hence no drive. Went to the nearest fence,got several metres of no 8 wire and lashed the rear springs together. Got me into town but the diff was knackered. Good old fencing wire. Who remembers "Northern Safari" where Keith used a makeshift windlass to pull the old Buick out of a bog AND the .303 to cut the branches down.

[Michael2]

I've used water for brake fluid, and vice grips to clamp off the split brake hose. 3 wheel braking was better than none, I just had to grip the steering wheel in aticipation of the drag.

Made a fanbelt out of synthetic cord for a Hiace once, we were somewhere between Fitzroy Crossing & Broome.

I've even gone so far as using metric bolts on a series Landy.:o

[sclarke]

I used no8 fencing wire to wire up a hilux steering arm in Toolangi and got FLAMED for it on this exact forum... ROFL

[barney]

at one stage, most of my exhaust was supported by fencing wire and hose clamps.
DEVCON is a good multipurpose repair medium, i have used it to resurface my water pump inner face to reapair a leak. it also can be used to fix holes in radiators, fuel tanks, diff and gearbox housings, sumps.
i've also used the outer lamnation of a piece of heater hose to replace an O ring in my clutch slave cylinder in an old Hilux. it was still there 3 yrs later when i sold it.

[subasurf]

Who remembers "Northern Safari" where Keith used a makeshift windlass to pull the old Buick out of a bog AND the .303 to cut the branches down.

I hadn't even heard of it until I read this post. Now I googled it, fell in love and ordered the DVD. Can't wait for it to arrive.

[dmdigital]

1 metre long by 1cm wide cable ties are extremely useful. The modern equivalent of fencing wire (except for bits that get really hot:eek:).

They are great as battery clamps and holding the air-filter housing in place on a Tdi Defender and big enough to use on a lot of other bits and pieces.

[Bundalene]

We have Northern Safari on video, taped it from TV years ago, and we also have the book "Crocodile Safari Man" written by Keith Adams, the fellow who drove the 1948 Buick from Perth to the Gulf. It's really amazing how clean the 2 ladies keep whilst camped on the Robinson River. Most times wearing white and cooking over an open fire, baking bread etc. etc.

Their little dog is amazing as well

Considering the trip was made in the 1950's it was real challenge, especially driving from Kalgoorlie to Alice Springs via via Warburton & the Rawlinson Ranges.

It's an excellent show.

If anyone is interested in getting the DVD, in the back of the book is an order form. The address to obtain the DVD is: P.O. Box 358, Karrinyup, W.A 6921 or phone (08) 9341 1944. The cost is $39.50 plus $5 postage & handling.

Mrs B

[Bearman]

Like you I saw that movie back in the 70's (I think) and was amazed at how he got that old Buick into some of those locations. I used to travel to Robinson River NT every year for a couple of weeks camping and fishing back in mid 70's to early 90's in my early landrovers and know that country pretty well. It must have been sheer determination that got him through some of those tight spots like creek crossings, bulldust patches, sand crossings etc especially pulling a trailer. I guess he wasnt in any sort of a hurry either. Also that small boat they had, loaded up it had about 2 inches of freeboard and back in those days there were still a lot of crocs around in that area, and to think they went 12miles offshore to Vanderlin island. I wouldnt even do that in my 12ft tinnie when I used to go up there as the weather was always unpredictable. Southerlies would blow up very quickly and turn a flat sea into a choppy dangerous one. More than once I have had to camp on the beach miles from camp being unable to get back to the Robinson. Very gutsy people.

[Sprint]

I used no8 fencing wire to wire up a hilux steering arm in Toolangi and got FLAMED for it on this exact forum... ROFL
you helped rescue a hilux, plus you wasted perfectly good wire by doing it..... what else did you expect? lol

[mike 90 RR]

Aluminium cans for big end's (motor)
Serial boxes for gaskets
2 core wire + Interior light globe & sticky tape makes a torch for under the bonnet
Silicon seals cracked exhaust manifolds (even "No More Gaps" will do it)
Hit a Roo?? .... Holden / Ford radiators with extended hoses, hanging / wired on the Roo bar will get you home

[Bundalene]

[QUOTE=Bearman;954778]Like you I saw that movie back in the 70's (I think) and was amazed at how he got that old Buick into some of those locations. I used to travel to Robinson River NT every year for a couple of weeks camping and fishing back in mid 70's to early 90's in my early landrovers and know that country pretty well.


We also used to go fishing at Seven Emu station on the Robinson River, I think the first time we were there was 1989 and each year after that till old Willie Shadforth, the owner of Seven Emu, passed away in 2000. It's a beautiful river and a great place, but like you say, the tracks are really very ordinary.
Just googled up Northern Safari and the DVD's are a lot less than the price on the order form in the book, so sorry for mis-information.:)

Mrs B

[Bearman]

[QUOTE=Bearman;954778]Like you I saw that movie back in the 70's (I think) and was amazed at how he got that old Buick into some of those locations. I used to travel to Robinson River NT every year for a couple of weeks camping and fishing back in mid 70's to early 90's in my early landrovers and know that country pretty well.


We also used to go fishing at Seven Emu station on the Robinson River, I think the first time we were there was 1989 and each year after that till old Willie Shadforth, the owner of Seven Emu, passed away in 2000. It's a beautiful river and a great place, but like you say, the tracks are really very ordinary.
Just googled up Northern Safari and the DVD's are a lot less than the price on the order form in the book, so sorry for mis-information.:)

Mrs B

Hi Mrs B,
I was there in 89,90 and the last time in 92 I think in August /September.In 89 and 90 I was camped at the sand hills near the mouth. I actually made that track up to the sandhills.Had a mustard coloured S3 with a Clevo 351 and auto trans and a offroad trailer with a bush freezer. In 92 I camped over at Shark creek to get away from the number of people camped there. I knew old Willie very well and was sad to see him pass away. A true old gentleman (half black/half chinese). Also knew his sons, Ned,Kenny and Frank. I stopped going there when Frank started charging $200 just to come through the gate and to top it off they raided our camp when we were away fishing one day and lifted half a 44 of petrol. That was enough for me! Havent been back since. Wouldnt have happened if Willie was still running the place.However I still have good memories of the place, the fishing/crabbing was fantastic in those early days. Used to be that you could pull up anywhere on the river and catch barra. Regularly used to do the hat trick and catch 3 in 3 casts. My sons were introduced to barra fishing there.

[subasurf]

I ordered Northern Safari through the exploreoz webpage. Can't wait for it to arrive.

[Bearman]

I ordered Northern Safari through the exploreoz webpage. Can't wait for it to arrive.

You will enjoy it. Keith Adams is still alive and still living in WA.

[Bundalene]

We used to put our boat in at Shark Creek. In those days we only had a roof topper tinny and it was easier to put it in there and motor out to the mouth. Fishing & crabbing was always great and there were usually a few pretty big crocs hanging around Shark Creek as well. We particularly liked catching mangrove jacks there, but the sandflies were always thick along the mangroves in Shark Creek.

We used to camp not far from the old shack, close to the turn off to Shark Creek, but stopped staying there due to the crowds that ended up camped close by. Last time we were there, we camped back towards Willie's place, where the Robinson was still fresh. The camp spot was quite hard to get to but really lovely. That was where you could cross the Robinson and get to Pungalina.

We won't go back there now, but like you, we have great memories. And yes, Willie was a real gentleman.

Mrs B

[Sleepy]

Found an old book, SAFE OUTBACK TRAVEL, by Jack Absalom. (He did an ABC series in the 80's).

Some of his tips:

Jam for gasket cement
Kangaroo tail skin to repair radiator hose :eek:
A piece of branch cut to size to act as welsh plug
Add a cup of metho to water contaiminated fuel
A can of beer for a fire extinguisher :o:(

[rovercare]

A can of beer for a fire extinguisher :o:(



Done that before......twice, first was auto fluid pushing out onto my extractors on a 302 windsor in a rangie, then the second, was when I fitted 2 turbo's and the manifolding got that hot, it combusted the ignition leads:eek:

[B92 8NW]

I have that book. He dedicates two pages to explaining that "a so called 'automatic' car" is a death trap and that it "concerns him [sic] greatly"

Ahh well. First published in the early seventies I think.

[subasurf]

My Northern Safari DVD has arrived! Horray! watching it now.
To think, the guy that made it lives near me. Might have to buy him a beer.

[101 Ron]

The story is my father many years ago was driving a series one rover when out in the sand dunes he stalled it at the bottom of a fishbowl and the battery gave out.
No problem..........
Just get out the jack and jack up one rear wheel.
Select top gear.
turn the rear wheel by hand to start the motor starting by buncing the wheel backwards and forwards from compression to compression.
I have heard of this being done by winding a piece of rope around the wheel and pulling hard with two blokes.(victa copied this idea)

[Bundalene]

My Northern Safari DVD has arrived! Horray! watching it now.
To think, the guy that made it lives near me. Might have to buy him a beer.

Buy him two beers. I reckon he deserves it!

[Blknight.aus]

The story is my father many years ago was driving a series one rover when out in the sand dunes he stalled it at the bottom of a fishbowl and the battery gave out.
No problem..........
Just get out the jack and jack up one rear wheel.
Select top gear.
turn the rear wheel by hand to start the motor starting by buncing the wheel backwards and forwards from compression to compression.
I have heard of this being done by winding a piece of rope around the wheel and pulling hard with two blokes.(victa copied this idea)

what was wrong with his crank handle?

[Hymie]

what was wrong with his crank handle?

Went to have a look at an ex Army 2a for a mate.
The seller said it was a runner but it had a flat battery.
I pulled the crank handle out from behind the seat, (not even believing it would do any good), after 3 swings off she went!
The seller thought it was a funny jack handle and had no idea what it was for.

[Blknight.aus]

if youve drained you battery down and its not got enough in it to fire your diesel over to start it but its got enough to make the headlights work.

remove all the glow plugs and wind the engine over by hand to make sure the injectors are primed.

get #1 cylinder past TDC and just into the power stroke, put the other 3 glow plugs back in dont wire them up.

take your handy shot gun shell and pull it apart put the powder or grains into a straw, gently crush and grind the powder/gains to a finer dust. dry and gently coat the tip of the glowplug and insert the rest of the powder into the glow plug hole

reinstall the +1 glowplug, set the engine for a start and then short the battery to the number 1 plug.

the powder from the shell will fire and push the piston down with enough oomph to get the next pot in line to fire.

Preheating the air intake and block might be required if its cold enough.

[Newbs-IIA]

OMG I am defs trying that next time i go out west. Wonder how the old toyota H diesels will cope hehe

[Sleepy]

if youve drained you battery down and its not got enough in it to fire your diesel over to start it but its got enough to make the headlights work.

remove all the glow plugs and wind the engine over by hand to make sure the injectors are primed.

get #1 cylinder past TDC and just into the power stroke, put the other 3 glow plugs back in dont wire them up.

take your handy shot gun shell and pull it apart put the powder or grains into a straw, gently crush and grind the powder/gains to a finer dust. dry and gently coat the tip of the glowplug and insert the rest of the powder into the glow plug hole

reinstall the +1 glowplug, set the engine for a start and then short the battery to the number 1 plug.

the powder from the shell will fire and push the piston down with enough oomph to get the next pot in line to fire.

Preheating the air intake and block might be required if its cold enough.


:eek2:

[subasurf]

Man, that's freaking gnarly. I think I'll just carry a spare battery ;)

[Blknight.aus]

cmon dont tell me Im the only one here whose started a cartridge start engine.....

[Hymie]

No Dave, I've fired a Stuart tank.
I know where there a few boxes of cartridges stored away too.

[Panda]

:eek: Of course not Dave ... :eek::eek:


cmon dont tell me Im the only one here whose started a cartridge start engine.....

[Sleepy]

cmon dont tell me Im the only one here whose started a cartridge start engine.....

No, but I do recall the original movie "Flight of the Pheonix" with Jimmy Stewart starting his aircraft with the remaining 6 cartridges......"That's one" splutter splutter "That's two" splutter splutter....etc (I wont spoil the ending ;))


Great movie!
Sorry thread drift - back to the bushies.

[Blknight.aus]

thats the most common one that gets called out when I make the bet that I can start a series diesel using only a 6v motor bike battery as the electrical supply.

[Blknight.aus]

If you blow a rod, providing the engine is still in one piece and the crank hasnt fallen out of bed. (applies to all landies pre td5)

remove the rocker covers, remove the sump
remove whats left of the rod but retain the bearing shells
remove the rockers for the effected cylinder
remove whats left of the piston (you may need to remove the head but you might be able to smash it up enough to get it out from below)
hoseclamp or tie wire the bearing shells back into place on the crank
fill the whole on the side of the block with anything you can to keep the oil in and the coolant in
replace the sump and the covers

(Its possable to throw the #3 leg on a 2.25 and not bust an oil or coolant gallery)

[steveG]

You had me thinking there for a bit as to why you need to put the bearing shells back on.
Finally realised its to blank the oil gallery on the crank to retain oil pressure to the other journals.

[Sleepy]

I was waiting for the new piston made out of a baked bean can:D

[Panda]

:Rolling::Rolling::Rolling:Dave MacGyver of Land Rovers!


I was waiting for the new piston made out of a baked bean can:D