Puma failure in Cape York!

[n plus one]

Well the trusty Puma finally let me down - blew two low beams on the drive home from the Cape. I blame Nolans Brook - anyone know what type of trade-in I might get on a new Navara ?

In all seriousness, my total list of issues for three weeks up the Cape (plus a 6k commute) were:

* two low beams (on the drive home):
* a couple of new wind screen chips:
* reverse light is operating intermittently (pretty sure this kicked off before I left):
* minor oil leek from back of transfer case (drive flange nut needed half a turn - sorted over a beer at camp):
* bloody KM2s still won't balance:
* my Ashcroft diff appears to have a (very slight) porous weld on the pegging plate: and
* the ODS trailing arm to diff mounting bolt needed two turns (thought that one was a major! Mechanic fitted new ones before I left so I suspect a little settling occurred).

Bloody thing is a complete disaster, too scared to take it anywhere (except maybe the CSR solo next year)...

[PAT303]

You won't get the KM2's to balance,I tried two different tyre shops to no avail,totally over rated tyre for the outback IMHO,and they throw rocks,my pet hate. Pat

[DeanoH]

I know how you feel, we've just returned with the OKA from a 16,000 Km around Australia jaunt including 600 Km through the Great Sandy Desert, not even a puncture but the rear pinion seal started weeping going into Kununurra so I had to replace it. Bloody POS !

Re the KM 2's, how about 1/2 a bag of wheel balancing sand in each one ?, very common and effective balancing with truck tires and works a treat with the 305 70 R 19.5's on the OKA. Try Googleing Centramatic wheel balancers, there's a very good video out there which shows how they work.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ullnFQD4F1I[/ame]





Deano

[spudboy]

Good to hear!

For the tyre balancing, there a lots of 'bead' type balancers you can get from eBay. Some steel some glass. Counteract Tyre Balancing Beads 2 X 12oz 340G | eBay

Do some research and you'll probably even find some old posts on AULRO about it too.

[n plus one]

Yeah, got a bunch of beads to go in the KM2s at some stage - need to break the beads and give 'em a try. Hopefully it's not a lateral imbalance issue...

Hey Deano, you weren't in FNQ in the last couple of weeks were you? I had a chat with two OKA owners at Lakelands on my way up the Cape.

[Patchy]

I wouldnt recommend balancing sand we use to use it on trucks at work its fine until the tyre comes off and needs to reseal coz the beads always leaked after the first use.. not recommended for a 4by with running low pressures as beads may come off easier and leak.. also something you dont have to worry bout with a car but it also use to wear the casing so limited the amount we could cap them for the tags.

[leeds]

We use BFG M/T and BFG KM2 in size 255/85/16 and they balance up ok.

So is the issue the actual tyres or the people doing the balancing?




Brendan

[weeds]

never had a problem balancing my K M2's, on my second set

[n plus one]

Appears to be the tyres - six different mobs have had a go (including rolling balances, balancing specialists, etc).

Seems like plenty of guys in the States have had similar issues with KM2s too. Not a big deal, just makes the transport sections a bit tiresome...

[PAT303]

Tiresome,try driving from Headland to Newman with the front shimmying the whole way and two safety people with you at the same time,both of them are luck to be alive. Pat