Thread: Well, we're off!

its a hard life---

After this little incident: http://www.aulro.com/afvb/technical-...r-problem.html We're on the road again. Bloody mechanics who don't get permission to fit parts but charge like a wounded bull for them anyway! I authorised them to fit a slave cylinder kit, as the old seals were shot from the forced ejection of the cylinder. I had priced kits from British 4WD for them as they didn't have a supplier for the parts when we first discussed it. Gave them the number for Brit 4WD and the part numbers. Cylinder kit was about $40-50, and a full slave cylinder $126.
So what do they do? Without my authorisation they source a full new slave cylinder from somewhere else, fitted it and charge me $210 (+$240 for labour) Not ****** happy Jan! I paid, but gave them a mouthful about it on the way out.

So on a lighter note today we toured from Corryong, through Wodonga, Yackandandah, etc to Mt Beauty. I know why it's called that, lovely little place.
Motored up the Tawonga Gap after lunch and are now resting nicely at the Best Western in Bright. We'll be based here for the next couple of days. Even got internet access! Not bad for 3.5 stars
I purchased a HEMA Vic High Country map and am now looking over it for unclosed tracks to explore

We're finally home after our second breakdown Threw another fan belt this afternoon exactly 40kms from Armidale. Pulled over straight away and I think I avoided any head gasket damage. She still had water in the system, albeit very hot water That's the second belt in 2 months, I will be getting a new automatic tensioner before I put another belt on, as I believe that to be the cause.

Caught a lift with an NRMA tilt-tray the rest of the way home. Collected the Defender and towed the float back with that

Anyway, some photos of the trip:
Heading off


The Cargo


Our stopover spot in Bogan Gate


Exploring the powerline tracks off Elliot Way


Our first snow driving near the old Kiandra Goldfields



Three Mile Dam




Lobs Hole Ravine


Cabramurra


'Assisting' a friends car out of Megan's property


More to follow....

Brumbies on the Elliot Way


Approaching Perisher


Jyndabyne to Khancoban near Thredbo


Unscheduled pitstop due to clutch slave cylinder 'issue'


The view from Megan's Mum's kitchen window


Overlooking Mt Beauty when we finally got underway for our High Country trip

Heading for Falls Creek and our second day of skiing


The road to Hotham


Mt Hotham



One of the Cattlemans huts near dinner plains
(I snatch recovered a falcon that had wandered off the road into the snow just after this , but unfortunately no pics )


The road from Omeo-Benambra-Nariel-Corryong
(Technically closed )


Our final ski session at Mt Selwyn - I can now do 2-3 parallel turns in a row before falling over


The Disco had performed admirably until 40kms from home.....


The end

I'm underway again!

I replaced the belt tensioner and fan belt this morning. It turns out that the ex-landy dealer here (they still do parts) gave me the wrong belt last time Instead of the 96 update belt they gave me the 94-95 belt. Apparently it's a poofteenth smaller than the new one. So at least that explains why it **** itself after only 2 months, and was noisy all the time.

My biggest worry of course was that I'd done the head gasket when it broke, since we'd just run up the Moonbi's at full song and she was pretty warm when it happened.
After fitting the belt I topped up the coolant and let it idle while I bled the air out of the thermostat housing. Then stopped it and checked the oil and the coolant overflow tank. All good so far.
So I took it for a good run out on the Waterfall way and checked again, expecting the worst of course. But.........










Not a single bubble when I bled it while hot!!




I'll still keep an eye on it for a bit, especially the drive to Brissie next Friday arvo

Great pics Treads

you may have gotten away with it!!
I'd keep a close eye on it for a while though

Looking at our posts, we missed each other by stuff all. I wished i'd known you were heading down this way, as I would've caught up with you - as I'm living in Wagga now days.

Trying to keep up with everything on this forum is actually pretty hard.

Anyway, here is my trip report of pretty much the same area, but a few days after you went through: http://www.aulro.com/afvb/nsw-act-re...ly-2008-a.html

Cheers
Chris