Bush Mechanics Course

[JimmyC Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close JimmyC]

G'day all,
Just wondering if there is such thing as a basic, 4x4 or bush mechanics course getting around?
Something that could teach the average Joe how to do things that you might have to in the bush (radiator repair, shock replacement, battery welding, etc).
Would be a handy thing to do, especially going remote.
If anyone has any good bush mechanics tips this would be a good sharing opportunity too!
Thanks!

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

I've run a couple covering those sorts of things at my place for our 4wd club.

Cheers Andrew

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Bit of battery welding going on here.

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...l=1#post396092
http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...h-Welding-Demo
http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...l=1#post431102

Cheers Andrew

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

bit of radiator repair here http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...l=1#post341541

Cheers Andrew

[JimmyC Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close JimmyC]

bit of radiator repair here http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...l=1#post341541

Cheers Andrew

Thanks mate, thinking of making a little book with all this sort of stuff in it

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Thanks mate, thinking of making a little book with all this sort of stuff in it

Just talking with the missus about some events on our travels and I recalled the need to fix a hole in the rear fuel tank after going across the Tanami, its a long story but basically I ended up screwing a self tapping screw through the hole with a leather washer that i made from a toggle from a jacket, then covered it with metal putty.

That held for 9 months

As for shocks and things, doing as much work on your vehicle at home as you can prepares you for these things.

Cheers Andrew

[JimmyC Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close JimmyC]

Doing work at home is the best way to learn too in my opinion. Also my mechanic is pretty chilled and will let me use the hoist free of charge and let me hang around and watch them do work. I bought a code reader for the car which is all well and good but I feel it would be handy to learn what codes you can 'drive on' and which ones will require more. By that I mean if the engine throws an O2 sensor code, obviously you can drive on that without causing too much extra damage.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Generally speaking if it throws a code that will cause issues it will go into limp mode, which is useful for getting you car off the road and that's about all.

Cheers Andrew

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Repairing or replacing tyres might be another skill a budding bush mechanic might like to gain, have a look here.

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...eplacing-tyres

Cheers Andrew

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

Take the techstream with your laptop and you can diagnose the fault codes easily and cancel them. Chances are, mechanics out in the bush won't be able to analyse these things. You can identify the fault and then get parts delivered to a convenient place if necessary. Or just burn it there and move on.

[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

Just talking with the missus about some events on our travels and I recalled the need to fix a hole in the rear fuel tank after going across the Tanami, its a long story but basically I ended up screwing a self tapping screw through the hole with a leather washer that i made from a toggle from a jacket, then covered it with metal putty.

That held for 9 months

As for shocks and things, doing as much work on your vehicle at home as you can prepares you for these things.

Cheers Andrew

Travelling with my aunt in Africa in a panel van and she put a hole in her fuel tank. She made us chew soap to make a paste to fill it. That lasted for a bit but would eventually give out and then we'd start all over again. She had a production line of four kids in the back chewing for about 3 hours

Your method seems way better

[sunchaser Member Find all posts View Profile Close sunchaser]

Hey Jimmy
Don't forget a bottle of Rapid Fix welding glue. Awesome stuff that's saved a radiator for me in the past.
I won't leave home without it
Cheers Gaz

[JimmyC Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close JimmyC]

Hey Jimmy
Don't forget a bottle of Rapid Fix welding glue. Awesome stuff that's saved a radiator for me in the past.
I won't leave home without it
Cheers Gaz

Is that the two part play-doh stuff? I have some of that under a different name. Love the stuff, used it to fix a hole in a fire truck

[sunchaser Member Find all posts View Profile Close sunchaser]

Yes its a two part but not the play doh type. it's an acrelate type glue which is good for most things, and a white powder when mixed with the glue will form a metal that can be drilled,tapped etc.
Check out http://www.rapidfixaustralia.com.au/
Cheers Gaz

[Graz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Graz]

The stuff is good but dont buy it in Australia.Get it from the States bigger bottle and cheaper
http://www.rapid-fix.com/
Amazon price:
http://www.amazon.com/RapidFix-RFX71.../dp/B0021UMTZQ