Bugger, Bugger, Bugger...my shortest holiday on record

Submitted: Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 20:10

ThreadID: 52725 Views:4487 Replies:22 FollowUps:29

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Willem

We left home around 1pm today and took a little used gravel road heading almost due east. There had been some rain the previous night and some streams were running and there was a bit of ponded water about.

84 kays out and BANG......bugger!!!! a flat tyre? GQ sags at rear. Left hand wheel overtakes us and goes bush. Luckily I was only doing about 40km/h as I had just slowed for a wet creek crossing.
Judith and Jeddah go to retrieve wheel.

Wheel studs all there although slightly bent. Backing plate rather mangled. Hub and brake rotor and brake calipers all OK. Body panel a bit bent. Get to work and remove caliper, then backing plate but not willing to take hub/rotor off as wheelstuds are bent. Blow debris out with air compressor. JUdith finds 4 wheel nuts and together with my spares we make up a set. One stud is US. Get everything hooked up again and fit spare wheel.

Now what to do? Heading through nowhere country. Better go home. Better still, ring garage and order 6 wheel studs and nuts. Go for Next G phone. Hmmmm....searching ...searching...NO Next G!!!!......just as well I have my Iridium Satphone. Order parts.

Drive back home tightening wheel nuts 3 x 5km, then 3 x 10km then 20km later and then the home run.

I was running a tyre that had scalloped a tad on my last trek and had taken off the front wheel and fitted it to the left rear. I was sure I had tightened the wheelnuts as I have been driving around like this for the past two weeks. Who knows?

Expected time of departure now(if the parts arrive and IF they are the right ones) tomorrow afternoon.....Sigh

Think I will go have something to soothe the nerves....LOL

Cheers

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Reply By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 20:15

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 20:15

Bugga x 100000000000000000 mate!!!!!!

It just never happens the way we plan, eh?!

I hope the correct studs turn up and that you can get over to the east coast asap.....

I always carry a spare set of front and back studs (which "should" mean that I never need 'em!!).

HooRoo and Merry Xmas

Roachie

AnswerID: 277710

Follow Up By: Willem - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 20:23

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 20:23

Bill

I have two spare studs but did not feel like trying the repair job out bush. Will get mechanic to do the dirty work tomorrow ...lol

Merry Xmas to you and Annette and the boys

Cheers

FollowupID: 541665

Follow Up By: Nick R (VIC) - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 23:13

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 23:13

I Have some spare studs here if you want them
Nick

Carpe Cerevisi

Lifetime Member
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FollowupID: 541693

Reply By: ZukscooterX90 (Qld) - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 20:20

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 20:20

G'day Wllem,lucky you were close to home & nothing too serious happened.Good luck with the arrival of new studs in time for you journey to the big smoke.Have a Great Xmas & New Year to you both.
Safe travel's Bob.

AnswerID: 277712

Follow Up By: Willem - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 22:36

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 22:36

Bob

Hope you have a good festive season too. Take care.

Cheers

FollowupID: 541686

Follow Up By: Muzzgit [WA] - Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 01:56

Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 01:56

Willem, thats what happens when you take off that peice of string you tied around your middle finger! LOL

When your heading said Bugger Bugger Bugger I thought maybe you ran over three toyota's hahahaha

FollowupID: 541704

Reply By: Wayne (NSW) - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 20:23

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 20:23

Willem,

Don't you just hate it when the wheels fall off.

I think that they should make large 4WD vehicle like trucks and have left hand thread nuts on the near side wheels. That would stop the nuts from spinning off.

It has happened to me twice but not to the extent of a wheel coming off, but just coming lose and rattling around.

Hope all the parts turn up and you are back on the road soon.

Wayne

AnswerID: 277713

Follow Up By: Willem - Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 11:55

Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 11:55

Hi Wayne

Parts now arriving Saturday am so hopefully we will be on thew road again by lunch time

Cheers

FollowupID: 541760

Reply By: Wayne (NSW) - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 20:24

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 20:24

AnswerID: 277714

Reply By: Member - Tim - Stratford (VIC) - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 20:35

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 20:35

Willem,

Good to hear it wasn't worse.... you've now got another good story to tell around the campfire.

Was the rims that parted company a steel split rim or an alloy?

Tim

AnswerID: 277715

Follow Up By: Member - Tim - Stratford (VIC) - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 20:36

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 20:36

Oops

".....rims...." - Should be RIM - not trying to put the mozz on you. :-)

Tim

FollowupID: 541668

Follow Up By: Willem - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 20:50

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 20:50

Tim

Steel split

Cheers

FollowupID: 541669

Reply By: Jim from Best Off Road - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 20:36

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 20:36

Another chapter for your book?

AnswerID: 277716

Follow Up By: Willem - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 22:18

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 22:18

It might make an appearance....lol

FollowupID: 541676

Reply By: Member - Littleborgy (SA) - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 20:56

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 20:56

Good to hear it wasn't worse Willem... Hope the right studs get there tomorrow so you can be on your way again.

Cheers, Brad

AnswerID: 277721

Reply By: Kiwi & "Mahindra" - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 21:40

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 21:40

ah well, atleast the sat phone was there hey!

Good luck leaving on time!!

Laura

AnswerID: 277736

Reply By: Member - Brad S (SA) - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 22:05

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 22:05

Headed for Pualco?
It was as dry as last time I was up that way...cupla years ago. Hope it was rained on.

AnswerID: 277739

Follow Up By: Willem - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 22:31

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 22:31

Brad

Not sure where Pualco is? I was heading out towards Loch Lily and then Pooncarrie and beyond. There has been a bit of rain out there. The sheep and skippy's are looking healthy.

Cheers

FollowupID: 541683

Reply By: Member - Doug T (FNQ) - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 22:07

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 22:07

Willem
Bad luck about that, but CHECK THIS OUT

..

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Lifetime Member
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AnswerID: 277740

Follow Up By: Willem - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 22:19

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 22:19

Yerrr Doug....but I only need some new wheelstuds......lol

FollowupID: 541677

Reply By: David from Engine Saver Low Water Alarms - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 22:34

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 22:34

You picked a fine time to leave me loose wheel!

AnswerID: 277744

Follow Up By: Willem - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 22:53

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 22:53

Hahahahahahah...I'll buy that one!!!!

Cheers

FollowupID: 541688

Reply By: Member - Axle - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 22:44

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 22:44

Hi Willem, Chit mate! not the start you wanted but as you of all people know," Thats life", You had a spooky post here a while back, hope that thing had nothing to do with wheels falling off!!

Anyway enough chit, get mobile again, have a great trip, no better place than the east coast of Australia!!, Yuppies galore, Landrover drivers, Volvo as well, Highways clogged with B-Doubles,

Caravaners all in a line, Nissan passing Toyos, Toyos Passing nissans, The Boys in Blue parked up in un marked 380s,

Fabulous piece of coastline really, Merry Xmas safe motoring.

Cheers Axle.

AnswerID: 277748

Follow Up By: Willem - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 22:54

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 22:54

I will keep a lookout for errant Landrover drivers......LOL

You have a good one too, Axle

Cheers

FollowupID: 541689

Follow Up By: Muzzgit [WA] - Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 02:07

Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 02:07

So Willem, does that mean you headed off up that old seldom used track and didn't tell anyone where you were going or how long you'd be?

FollowupID: 541705

Follow Up By: Willem - Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 07:10

Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 07:10

Muzz

Yes. All hush hush and secret.

Most of the people I may have told have scant knowledge of their surroundings and don't venture much past the shopping centres or the bitumen run in town(Adelaide).....lol

Cheers

FollowupID: 541717

Reply By: Member - JohnR (Vic)&Kath - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 23:24

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 23:24

Bad luck abounds Bro. Sorry to hear about the trouble. So did the wheel studs just come undone or did you hear some rumble along the way? Splits too and torque wrench applied I guess.

AnswerID: 277753

Follow Up By: Willem - Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 07:07

Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 07:07

Torque wrench applied???? Never.

Due to the scalloped tread the tyre was making a humming noise. But no, no warning. I though I had a blow out as GQ sagged fast in the rear end. Then saw wheel bouncing over the scrub.

Cheers

FollowupID: 541716

Reply By: Member - 'Lucy' - Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 23:32

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 at 23:32

Why do you have to do your level best to outdo us all in the 'muckup stakes'. (LOL)

But I do like your recovery's though.

I have changed tyres/wheels a billion times over the years and to date -touch wood and whatever else you can think of - have never had the misfortune of this type of thing happening to me.

I have always assumed that you would get some warning, however it would appear not.

Like Billy boy I carry a spare set of studs and nuts plus a set of the studs and colletts that hold the back axels in. I am sure Bill is right when he says if you have them then you will never need them. (LOL)

Anyway, better luck tomorrow old son and may the best of British Luck be with you and mum and the 'daughter' of course.

PS

Mine is in the Dog Hospital as we speak after having a piece of corn cob removed from her duadenum (just after the stomach) this morning. B l o o d y coota 'hoovered' it down real quick and blocked the intestinal track. $1,400 later she should perfect again, until the next 'event'.

There goes the M-8274 I was eyeing off. (nah! not really)

AnswerID: 277755

Follow Up By: Willem - Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 11:52

Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 11:52

You may not have had a wheel drop off, but plenty other 'incidents' have come your way.....LOL

Ouch! That Vet Bill must've hurt.

What is a M-8274???

FollowupID: 541758

Follow Up By: Al & Mrs Al (Vic) - Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 13:59

Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 13:59

Willem,

The dog just went out in simpathy as Lucky was still getting all the attention at home LOL

Cheers Kev

FollowupID: 541777

Follow Up By: Member - 'Lucy' - Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 14:40

Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 14:40

Willem

For your 'edification' - A M8274

Kev

I am sure there is a section in the Crimes Act 1914 to cover galoots that use others puters.

FollowupID: 541784

Follow Up By: Willem - Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 14:55

Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 14:55

Ahhhhh...why didn't ya say Hi Mount Warn

Is this for the Droopy or the Jeepney????

Methinks there is also a bylaw under the Crimes Act 1814 for posters who use bad grammar....hahahahahaha

FollowupID: 541785

Reply By: Member - Luke (SA) - Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 00:08

Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 00:08

What a Bugger of a start 'eh Willem.

Just glad no one was injured and your not still stuck on the side of the road in the middle of no where and hope the repairs are quick and done properly so they don't give you any more grief.
Hope everything goes better for you tomorrow

Wouldn't have been very good sitting on the side of the road in the heat today??

Take it easy
Merry Christmas

Cheers Luke

AnswerID: 277758

Follow Up By: Willem - Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 07:59

Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 07:59

Yep, it was a tad warm and the flies were friendly as well....lol

Will be down in the new year to see what leftovers there are from the shed you rang me about.

Cheers

FollowupID: 541722

Follow Up By: Member - Luke (SA) - Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 09:17

Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 09:17

No problems Willem.

Will be good to catch up

Cheers Luke

FollowupID: 541727

Reply By: Twintrail(W.A.) - Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 00:15

Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 00:15

Hi Willem,about time you traded up to a toyota .merry christmas Pedro

AnswerID: 277759

Follow Up By: Willem - Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 07:12

Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 07:12

Hi Pedro

Originally I traded up from a Toyota to a Nissan.....lol

Cheers

FollowupID: 541718

Reply By: Member - bushfix - Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 09:25

Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 09:25

hmmm,

could get worse up ahead if there has been a bit of rain. It's a long way to Qondong Vale if those tracks are wet, as you probably know. Were you approaching Braemar? Don't forget that drop down crossing near Faraway Hill. he he .......

good luck with the repairs mate. see you soon.

AnswerID: 277789

Follow Up By: Willem - Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 11:45

Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 11:45

Nah...going to take black top now as far as Menindee.....when we get going again....lol

Yes we were about 20km this side of Braemar.

Cheers

FollowupID: 541755

Reply By: Member - MrBitchi (QLD) - Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 09:48

Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 09:48

Wheel fell off? It's a Nissan thing ;-))

Merry Christmas, Willem, and don't use too much pear juice for the nerves.. only medicinal quantities allowed ;-)

AnswerID: 277793

Follow Up By: Willem - Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 11:48

Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 11:48

Yes John, yes.....ummm.... we won't talk about Mitsubishi's that roll off a hill like they were made to do so.....LOL

You have a good festive time too.

Cheers

FollowupID: 541756

Follow Up By: Member - MrBitchi (QLD) - Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 11:54

Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 11:54

LOL... 1 Mitsubishi v how many Nissan wheels???

Cheers, see you at the gathering next year.

FollowupID: 541759

Reply By: Yowie73 - Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 10:03

Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 10:03

I know how you feel, although yours was a little shorter than mine.

We got 600km's into our trip when the engine started making a rattling noise. Turned out to be a broken valve guide into the motor.

This was on Monday, day 1 of our four week trip. We are now sitting in Dubbo with the head off the motor, trying to get it fixed over xmas. Looks like we're spending xmas here.

AnswerID: 277801

Follow Up By: Willem - Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 11:41

Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 11:41

All I can say is.....bugger!!!!

I am still waiting for parts too. Should be here tomorrow and hopefully we will be mobile again by lunch time.

Cheers

FollowupID: 541753

Reply By: Member - Brad S (SA) - Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 12:18

Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 12:18

Hi Willem

Pualco Station nestles on the eastern side of the Pualco Range.
It is now, or rather last time I heard, abandoned, although an acquaintance had "tourist" rights and someone else had grazing rights.
The turn off is at Braemar heading north.

Hope things are greener up your way now. I was at Wilmington and Horseshoe Range a couple of months ago...whew...crispy dry!

Yeah...what a bugger of a thing to happen.
Anyway, I hope you get back on track soon.

Have a good good trip and a Merry Christmas.

Cheers
Brad

AnswerID: 277827

Follow Up By: Willem - Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 15:03

Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 15:03

Yeah Brad, thanks for that. It iosn't marked on any of my maps. My mishapocurred near the abandoned Bendigo Station on the way to Braemar and beyond

It is very green around these environs. So far we have had 351mm for the year and our average is 300mm. Trouble is the rain didn't come at the right time for the wheat growers.

Have a good festive season.

Cheers

FollowupID: 541786

Reply By: Andrew from Vivid Adventures - Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 16:15

Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 16:15

Sorry to hear old fella.

Travel safe, and put it down for learnings re future trips pls.

Cheers & Merry Christmas to Judith & Jedda too
Andrew.

AnswerID: 277858

Follow Up By: Willem - Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 21:00

Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 21:00

Yeah....May you and yours have a good festive season too.

Learn something....nah!......lol

Cheers

FollowupID: 541861

Reply By: Dave B (NSW) - Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 23:28

Friday, Dec 21, 2007 at 23:28

G'day Willem, just check the road conditions east of Menindee before you commit to that way.
Just got home about an hour ago after spending 4 hours on the side of the road down that way, waiting for the roads to dry.
There has been plenty of storms go through and the wind, unbelievable.
While I was stationary, the truck (81 ton) was rocking from side to side for quite a few minutes as I got battered with the wind.
I am sure a caravan would have blown over.
Merry Christmas to you and Judith.
Dave

'Wouldn't be dead for quids'