Post by brucek on Aug 26, 2016 12:58:57 GMT 10
A bit of a hard luck story but still a big adventure. I set off from home (Lithgow NSW) on 18th July to do the Canning Stock Route.
I made it about 300 km up the Tanami Road (still about 400 km short of the WA border) before deciding to abort the mission due to the severe corrugations which caused the loss of recovery track, loss of CB aerial and the sand anchor securing clamp/bolt. Decided to head for home via the Oodnadatta Track. Couldn't continue to the CSR with compromised communications and recovery equipment. And if that wasn't enough, when I was doing an Oil change later on at Marree I found fragments of some internal engine part stuck to the magnetic drain plug (see 4th pic) causing me to shorten the return trip even more (I was planning to head up the Strzelecki Track to Innaminka). This really pissed me off because the locals at Lyndhurst told me the Strez. was in top condition!
Anyway I managed to cover 5,910 km before ultimate engine failure 60 km west of Cobar NSW (less than half the original planned distance).
It was literally a last minute decision to add the Ural to my NRMA Roadside Assist the day before I set off - I'm glad I did, they bailed me out and it finished up not costing a brass razoo to get me and the outfit home.
The Ural is still under warranty and now being repaired by Ural guru Graeme at Uralla.
1st pic - the route I took.
2nd pic - the end of the bitumen on the Tanami Rd 15 km from Yuendumu. In the 15 km to Yuendumu things got broken or lost due to the severe corrugations. In the better sections I could cruise at 70 km/hr at worst down to less than 20 km/hr
3rd pic - start of the Oodnadatta Track at Marla SA. The Oodnadatta Track was excellent - 80 km/hr cruising was possible for most of it.
4th pic - these bits were stuck to the magnetic drain plug when I did the 10,000 km oil change at Marree (anyone know what part of the engine these might belong to?)
It was a great experience. I now have real, actual data to base my next trip on. Average speed, realistic distances covered, gear to take and gear to leave at home etc. etc.
Some trip data for interest sake:
Total distance = 5,910.8 km (corrected for 7% odometer error)
Total fuel cost = $828.16
Total litres = 538.75
Av. cost / litre = $1.582
Av. fuel consumption = 10.97 km/l or 9.1 l/100 km or (31 MPG in the old money). I'm reasonably happy with that. It includes slow going on rough, unsealed roads & tracks.
Av. distance /day = 328.4 km (18 days)
Worst economy = 8.9 km/l
Best economy = 18.7 km/l
Comfortable cruising speed for me was between 80 & 90 km/hr
All up weight including me in my riding gear was 700 kg (estimated). About 100 kg overweight. Stated GVM on the compliance sticker is 610 kg.
I've added about 37 kg to the tare weight with what I call permanent fittings i.e. Fire extinguisher, aux. battery & isolator, CB radio, winch & mounting hardware, towing bracket & bow shackle, Gearsack rack, jerry cans & holders, fridge mounting plate, tie-down lugs, sump bash plate and instruments.
I should add I fitted a volt meter and oil temperature gauge before the trip.
Oil temp. was 90°C @ 85 km/hr in 18°-20° ambient
and 100°C @ 85 km/hr in high 20s, low 30s ambient temps.
Conclusion? I won't be wasting my time or money fitting an oil cooler though a cooler may be of some use in the height of an Aussie summer BUT make sure it has a thermostat and a bypass or you risk running the oil TOO cool.
After a rest stop the oil temp. came down from 100° to around 50° or 60° in about 20 mins. or so reinforcing my feelings about oil coolers being unnecessary.
Hope this has been useful. Happy travels everyone.
I made it about 300 km up the Tanami Road (still about 400 km short of the WA border) before deciding to abort the mission due to the severe corrugations which caused the loss of recovery track, loss of CB aerial and the sand anchor securing clamp/bolt. Decided to head for home via the Oodnadatta Track. Couldn't continue to the CSR with compromised communications and recovery equipment. And if that wasn't enough, when I was doing an Oil change later on at Marree I found fragments of some internal engine part stuck to the magnetic drain plug (see 4th pic) causing me to shorten the return trip even more (I was planning to head up the Strzelecki Track to Innaminka). This really pissed me off because the locals at Lyndhurst told me the Strez. was in top condition!
Anyway I managed to cover 5,910 km before ultimate engine failure 60 km west of Cobar NSW (less than half the original planned distance).
It was literally a last minute decision to add the Ural to my NRMA Roadside Assist the day before I set off - I'm glad I did, they bailed me out and it finished up not costing a brass razoo to get me and the outfit home.
The Ural is still under warranty and now being repaired by Ural guru Graeme at Uralla.
1st pic - the route I took.
2nd pic - the end of the bitumen on the Tanami Rd 15 km from Yuendumu. In the 15 km to Yuendumu things got broken or lost due to the severe corrugations. In the better sections I could cruise at 70 km/hr at worst down to less than 20 km/hr
3rd pic - start of the Oodnadatta Track at Marla SA. The Oodnadatta Track was excellent - 80 km/hr cruising was possible for most of it.
4th pic - these bits were stuck to the magnetic drain plug when I did the 10,000 km oil change at Marree (anyone know what part of the engine these might belong to?)
It was a great experience. I now have real, actual data to base my next trip on. Average speed, realistic distances covered, gear to take and gear to leave at home etc. etc.
Some trip data for interest sake:
Total distance = 5,910.8 km (corrected for 7% odometer error)
Total fuel cost = $828.16
Total litres = 538.75
Av. cost / litre = $1.582
Av. fuel consumption = 10.97 km/l or 9.1 l/100 km or (31 MPG in the old money). I'm reasonably happy with that. It includes slow going on rough, unsealed roads & tracks.
Av. distance /day = 328.4 km (18 days)
Worst economy = 8.9 km/l
Best economy = 18.7 km/l
Comfortable cruising speed for me was between 80 & 90 km/hr
All up weight including me in my riding gear was 700 kg (estimated). About 100 kg overweight. Stated GVM on the compliance sticker is 610 kg.
I've added about 37 kg to the tare weight with what I call permanent fittings i.e. Fire extinguisher, aux. battery & isolator, CB radio, winch & mounting hardware, towing bracket & bow shackle, Gearsack rack, jerry cans & holders, fridge mounting plate, tie-down lugs, sump bash plate and instruments.
I should add I fitted a volt meter and oil temperature gauge before the trip.
Oil temp. was 90°C @ 85 km/hr in 18°-20° ambient
and 100°C @ 85 km/hr in high 20s, low 30s ambient temps.
Conclusion? I won't be wasting my time or money fitting an oil cooler though a cooler may be of some use in the height of an Aussie summer BUT make sure it has a thermostat and a bypass or you risk running the oil TOO cool.
After a rest stop the oil temp. came down from 100° to around 50° or 60° in about 20 mins. or so reinforcing my feelings about oil coolers being unnecessary.
Hope this has been useful. Happy travels everyone.
🤔🤑😂
