Back together - in business, mobile!!!

Well this morning, temp sensor is in. Alternator is back on - with newly sleeved pivot. All 5 v-belts on and tensioned. Started, charging... and ran until the temp gauge moved off the stop. All good to go - except for the travel budget being a grand lighter!

5 Oct '15 Waiting...

Waiting on a new temperature sensor... Waiting on re-bushing of the alternator pivot...

Meanwhile we have obtained a good map of OZ - and marked in blue where we have been with RHHINO over the last five years... The red bits are by car...

End of September...

Maz has had a birthday! We got the new water pump. Same problem as at Fitzroy Crossing... the pulley flange is 10mm too close to the base. Last time we had no choice but to press it out. This time the flange is steel, not cast iron. Probably a shrink fit... freeze the pump, heat the flange, press together. Hence we will have a spacer made and not mess withe the new (genuine) pump.

The busted pump is in perfect condition, bar a few nicks and missing flange. The shaft is unmarked, seriously harderned steel. Just needs a new, steel flange... Peter at McBurnies has made a spacer which does the trick, and a new flange for the old pump, just needs fitting - a spare.

Bus put back back together at Wunghnu, and off home. Katamatite the temperature gauge flicked and died. Stopped for a look... engine is cool and the coolant still inside, where it belongs so continue home.

Next day alternator removed to re-bush the pivot. Getting the mount off, again requires dropping the air conditioning pumps. 17 bolts in all!! Ah, ha can now find the temp sensor... It's not there! The wire and connector floating in mid air, and can now see the aluminium end cap in the head and about 4 threads. Maybe was knocked during head works, or removed-replaced... I suppose that the aluminium cup is not screwed in, just seized/jammed.

Lucky it stayed put. I will seek a replacement before deciding what to do.  And so it goes... or rather doesn't!

18th Sept - Shakedown Trip

So here is the water pump - minus the pulley flange and with a few dings!

Bus is ready. Planned a few day trip, a shakedown... First night be at Wunghnu, for Moira MiniRail meeting. 80km. Went beautifully. Needed to move the RHHINO around the back of the Community Hall for the night... clunk, charging light on... stopped to check, of course.

The 3 year old water pump had shed the pull flange. Fortunately the pull did not do too much damage on departing the shaft, but the flange is chewed out, must have been rattling on the hardened shaft. Hopefully found a new pump in Sydney, via the Shepparton Hino service guys D&S Truck Repairs. End of trip for now. Have moved the bus into friends, the Kennedy's, back yard. Will hopefully have the new pump about Tuesday...

Have cracked the inside (of three) V belt grooves on the pulley, so will come back home with two on... Also note that the alternator is wobbling on the pivot again, damn! Maybe I have had the belts too tight? But it was only levered by hand...

Guess that is what a 'shakedown' trip is about!!!

28th Aug... the bed is IN!

Nearly back together. Bed is made, cupboards and drawers packed.

Outside TV is functional. Cabled for broadcast TV and satellite. New ($200 Crimsafe) screen on the window in front of the door is finally on!

Still need to deal with the 24v PV and fix a leak...

25th Aug, Batteries okay, yay

Yarra Mul Batteries has resurrected the pair of 120AH deep cycle 'house' batteries. They have spent the weekend on de-sulfating cycle and come up to about 90% (from about 60%). So Graeme has done himself out of a $750 sale - til maybe, next year anyway....

Replaced the outside light with an LED (12v self adhesive, waterproof) strip light on the bottom edge of the awning housing. Wow, awesome, don't you reckon? Dimable too!

The fridge is on, the cupboards filled, nearly ready...

20th August '15 : RHHINO back in business!

Here is the engine bay through the hatch. All in one piece. Everything looking good, and the fluids - fuel, oil, coolant staying where they should!

The new muffler is paid for ($240). Straight through , but still quiet. Awaiting the account for the head work (expecting a couple of grand - having to come out of the holiday budget!!!)

While the bed base is out I have re-plumbed the water filler and vent, to keep them up out of the way in the 'through bin' and added a mains connection for topping up the tank more easily - a branch with a tap from the pressure line into the top of the tank. When connected to the mains, opening the tap lets flow directly into the tank Easy!

I still need to replace the crap cheap, failed 24v bus charger panels. Waiting on small custom flashings to stop leaves etc washing into the gap behind the awnings. Making a new 'footrest step' in front of Maz's seat. will then build a better spot for honey in the front left corner...

The five year old  'house' batteries are over the road being de-sulfated. Hope the works as one is dow to about 55% and the other about 70% (a pair of good replacements are about $750!!!)

And I have removed the damaged front left hubcap and bracket, cleaned up the wheel with wire brushed on an angle grinder an painted it - Chrome. Much tidier. Fixing the panels and a paint can wait...

17th August '15 going again...

The RHHINO is mobile again. Took it to Yarrawonga for a new muffler at Carline...

14th August '15 - Cylinder head installed

The head is back on and the rest being re-assembled. With luck we will be ready for a test run next week...

3rd August '15: no head...

The broken studs failed below the surface, so clever stud removal tricks are out. Hence head is off and headed (sic) for the head doctor, so will be shaved and get new studs... Then put everything back together = more time, more money...

1st August '15... the engine compartment

Crossover pipes and heat shields removed. There just is not enough room to get at the broken studs with out getting the manifold out of the way, hence turbo has to come out, at least... maybe the head... working on options

30 July 2015 grounded...

Well, the bus has two broken exhaust manifold studs. Hence the exhaust leak and the compression brake not working properly. Have new gaskets from Hino...

The broken studs are very, very difficult to get at. Turbo may have to come off, or the cylinder head... or even take the engine out. Time & $... John Lee is working on a solution...

So we might not be going anywhere for a little while; even though we are 80% packed (in the house) and ready!

27th July 2015

We have been committed to stay home til mid-July until the last show of the Allegro Theatre Company (Yarrawonga) production of Fame- the Musical...

Today the RHHINO has gone to the 'doctor' for its pre-journey service; AND to try and remedy the exhaust leak - which I fear is the exhaust/compression brake valve. The bed has been removed for access to the inside engine hatch... soot everywhere!

With luck we will be out of here next week - straight north until it warms up, then slow down and enjoy north Queensland. Maybe a week at Daintree. Maybe back to Cooktown. Probably visit those coastal places we found last time...