This Part 3 of the mysteries of our old lady I honestly did not expect at all. But then the first parts not really …
The rise
Yesterday on the way to Moremi we were surprised by an extremely bad road. From Maun about 20km of the road was paved after that the dirt road began with a lot of corrugation and deep potholes. Quickly I turned the diflocks and into 4×4, and go. No problem appeared actually all the way, despite very rough terrain with lots of loose sand. I looked forward to the picnic area to also lower the tire pressure. Unfortunately, just before the picnic area we got stuck in the loose sand. What struck me was that the lever when reversing, or attempting, shifted to the left, not good it seemed.
After lowering the tire pressure to 1.5 bar, and getting rid of the sand in front of the wheels and the car we continued our way.
In the afternoon, when we were just out of the park, suddenly the “charge” indicator lit up, quickly I stopped the car and yes, the fan belt was off the pulley. Unfortunately, the engine pulley had been damaged, how could that be, since I had just taken pretty rigorous measures (see posts about the 200Tdi).
Quickly I mounted another fan belt, it was getting dark… The race against the sunset started now, we still had 70km to go. After about 10km, however, the fan belt, appeared to be gone again :-(. Fortunately, I had another one sitting in my toolbox, the sun was now really down, and I could quickly mount it. Carefully we drove down the bumpy road carefully avoiding the deepest pits and grooves.
Meanwhile, it had become very dark and the lights we sometimes put on during the day, were no luxury. With a combination of high and low beam I was able to find the best way.
Unfortunately, here too after about 20km, we still had to do about 40km, misfortune happened, the lights went, no high beam and low beam, only the city lights and the rear lights are still working. Fortunately, I lead two AliExpress floodlights mounted which now come in handy, much to the displeasure of the oncoming traffic we encounter sparingly.
We make it without further stop to the campsite, just about one and a half hour after sunset.
The engine rubbers
At 31-8, we have researched the Land Rover dealership in Maun and our problem presented to him.
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I have meanwhile found that all four engine and gearbox seals were broken. He proposes to get an indepenent mechanic, regardless of his garage, otherwise I have to pay the LR-prices …
Yamaha, the name of the mechanic, is called by the manager and after an African fifteen minutes, so about thirty minutes later, he arrives. He confirmed my diagnosis and goes to work with his partner.
The engine and gearbox are jacked up and the broken seals are removed.
Together with Yamaha we go to Rileys Garage, the local Shell pump workshop, shops, an ATM and a parts shop, perfect! After some explanations, we get out with four new rubbers and a new V-belt and a pot of hand soap.
Yamaha mounts the rubbers with his mate, while I, GJ, remove the pulley, in the meantime I know that this takes just four key-10 bolts.
As well as might possibly I get the dents out of the pulley and Yamaha assembles it again. The front two square (motor) rubbers are in in the meantime. The rear rubber should be slightly modified, a piece of the upper plate must be grinded off.
Mounting the rubbers under the gearbox takes another hour or two, and then that is ready too. We drive to the campsite, Maun Rest Camp and set up our tent in the dark.
In retrospect, we have, I think, since the event on the road to Epupa driven with broken seals in Namibia, some 3,000 km, phew, we got lucky.
The fuel tank
The next day, September 1, we started with the leaking fuel tank. Yamaha already noted yesterday that the leak is really serious. I get up at 7 am to empty the tank into a bucket that I empty in the front tank, which was fortunately empty. There are still more than 4 buckets of diesel, which I did not expect.
Just after half past eight Yamaha and his friend Shakes arrive. I have meanwhile also disconnect all hoses and gauge wiring. They take off the tank quickly and we clean it and inspect the outside, nothing apparent, no corrosion, dents or scratches.
Yamaha proposes to drive to a workshop so they can test the tank and possibly repair it. When pressure testing of the tank there indeed appears a hole to have originated in a weld. We leave the tank behind and will be called when it is repaired, it will take about 2.5 hours.
At the campsite, I invite the men for a coffee and we exchange stories. Yamaha proposes they do another job and will come pick me up when he is called.
I meanwhile remove the two drive shafts. There is a slight leakage at the connection of the rear drive shaft to the transfer box and a somewhat more violent leak at the front drive shaft to the front differential.
The first leak appears to be fixed by tightening a nut so that the sealing ring which is under increased strain. The front seal appears really worn out and we decided to see if Rileys have these in stock.
When Yamaha picks me up we can drive off right away. At Rileys we buy the seal and they inform very interested whether the previous repair was successful, so yeah.
The tank is again completely closed, welded, coated and ready for installation, which cost me 750 pula (approx. € 70).
The men at the campsite start immediately with the installation while I mount the seal in the front dif. Delicious, a Land Rover without leakage!
Around five pm we are ready and I get the bill from Yamaha, For all labour of two days with two men he charges us 2,350 pula (approx. € 210).
Highly recommended, if you ever get stranded with a Land Rover in Maun, ask around for Yamaha, he knows everything about all models, providing craftsmanship a European mechanic can be jealous of.
Some leftovers
The lighting, something appears to be broken in the steering wheel switch. I repair it with a piece of wire that I weave between the various contacts.
The tilt of the front axle, I release the u-bolts, raise the dif slightly and tighten the bolts, job done.
The brakes, the braking gets harder and more often I have to pump the brakes. I just asked Yamaha, he advised me to adjust the brakes, so that I do and the brakes work perfect again.
The filter our drinking water is replaced, and now the tap also runs again.
The exhaust, yet another story, but in short. It turned out that the original location of the outlet at the new leaf springs was no longer possible. The spring even broke off a piece of exhaust. I therefore had the exhaust modified, a new piece is welded in so it ends at the rear of the car. Today I still get it changed a bit so that the end is directed downwards and not immediately below the back door. Now we have no exhaust fumes inside and the back doesn’t get covered in grime.