Doooottttttttt, where are you???

[supersparky]

Be sure to let us know how it all went when you get back to in range.

[Dot]

OK we made it to Kulgera roadhouse and thought we would have ph and internet but hello nothing... $25 for a powered site, the toilets and laundry are never cleaned, they are a health hazard, no water apart from untreated bore water and were told not to drink the water when in the shower , no dump point, no tv, radio, =NOTHING. The place has really gone down since we were first here some years ago. Had to come inside the roadhouse to get some time on here but what a story to get on, had to go and ask a little kid to help but in the end his dad made progress. Still trying to get answers from 3 places for parts. Have sent every pic and every number that we can find. The trip from Marla to here went pretty good, only stuck in 6th gear the once so happy with that. Waiting for one of the parts people to get back to us before we run out of time.. Heading to Alice tomorrow..

[GoinBush]

That's why we always push on to Erldunda. Are you with the Evil Empire? You should have had phone coverage at all these roadhouses.

[supersparky]

Dot, When it is stuck in 6th gear and the bus is still moving, what happens when you pump the clutch?

[T1 Terry]

Hi Dottie, every so often use the clutch when driving in 6th gear to make sure it is still operational, this way you won't get stuck in any gears. the problem would be the same if you were to drive a long time in 5th gear, it is the hydraulics in the clutch that are mucking up and not the gearbox of clutch itself. It is possible there is excessive water build up in the clutch fluid and heat causes the water to boil, steam does not work as a hydraulic fluid so simply compresses and does not operate the clutch at all. I would not recommend attempting to bleed new fluid through the clutch, easy to stuff it up if you get the order of operation wrong and then you will have no clutch at all. Buy the whole unit and have it installed where ever you can find a competent mechanic who really does understand the air over hydraulic clutch operation. It is a simple job if you know just what you are doing, it is very easy to completely stuff up if you don't know what you are doing.
I would say the strange clutch feel when the bus was here was the early signs of the hydraulics failing, if you were experienced in clutchless gear changes there would be no real problem but as you are not experienced in this mystic art it would be best to get it sorted sooner rather than later, these problem do have a nasty habit of getting worse or complete failure, then it would be a real crash course in clutchless gear changing.... in more ways than one
I'm also guessing the 6th gear has been back cut to rectify a jumping out of gear problem, this requires a bit of finesse in the throttle to gear lever combination to actually get it out of gear, that very narrow range between accelerating slightly and engine braking slightly, practise getting the throttle feel and when you think you have mastered it try pulling the gearbox out of 6th gear without using the clutch..... it maybe a life saving lesson in the future.
It is a pity they no longer teach this or require it when testing for a heavy vehicle licence, if the hydraulics were lost and a lower gear could not be selected a long down hill run could end in disaster if the driver could not selct a low gear before the start of the hill simply because the clutch no longer worked.

T1 Terry

[Dot]

Just popped in to Erldunda just for some internet coverage and a cuppa. Got a price on servo air hydrol syst $195 inc gst. Need ot head off towards AS to see if the sat part is there. Any suggestions where to stop? Also will go see the hydrol man suggested by Deborah and Janelle. Copyus later x Terry I have given your ph numb to a couple of bus people Peter I think his name was .. and I shall practice my double clutch procedure

[T1 Terry]

Just popped in to Erldunda just for some internet coverage and a cuppa. Got a price on servo air hydrol syst $195 inc gst. Need ot head off towards AS to see if the sat part is there. Any suggestions where to stop? Also will go see the hydrol man suggested by Deborah and Janelle. Copyus later x Terry I have given your ph numb to a couple of bus people Peter I think his name was .. and I shall practice my double clutch procedure

Double clutch only works if the clutch is working, you need to practice no clutch gear changes, the timing is similar but no clutch use, 2 fingers on the gear lever and you will feel when it's ready to come out of gear and ready to go into the next gear because you have the road speed matched to the engine revs. Takes a while to master but once you master the skill it is there for life..... and may save your life at some time An art that every heavy vehicle driver with a manual transmission should learn, those with an auto, the best of British luck to you if is should ever decide not to play the game, some may remember a tale of potential disaster shared by Derek on the old CMCA forum and the nonsense from the peanut gallery that followed

[Newcastle George]

Then, to make matters worse, he cooled the brakes in a stream.

George

[pet-els]

But how many might have learnt by his mistake and were willing to own up to it.

PeterH

[GoinBush]

Any suggestions where to stop?

Just asked around. BIL uses MacDonnell Range Park says it's good, he has caravan. His store managers stayed at Heritage Park, they have huge bus and toad, said it was good.