Chris Blakey - Celebrate the Seven Trans Siberian journey

[Ruairidh Dunford]

   

   

   

[Ruairidh Dunford]

“Great driving along the 170 from Porvoo to Vaalimaa, all running smoothly (for now!)”

[Ruairidh Dunford]

   


Link to their YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE5_u23...Od66povk3w

[Ruairidh Dunford]

   


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Like Nick, i am not able to comment on the blog either.

If anyone has direct contact details please let me know - chemical metal will seal it, in my opinion.

[Chris KC]

It's always been my policy when far from home to tinker as little as possible, as 'well-intentioned interventions' can sometimes make matters a whole lot worse.
How bad an oil leak I wonder?

But, given that it's already off, surely the simplest thing would be to fit the other pump and see if it does work? Won't take long to find out. Or it might at least buy time to get a robust repair done on the cracked pump. I don't use one myself and I'm not sure what it's made of but I have in mind welding / brazing / soldering etc.

As you say Ruairidh, the simple and commendably practical alternative is to bung it with the nearest available glue / putty - I suspect the choice is more about availability and cost than preference (I was looking for glue to mend tent poles in Norway last summer and had a nasty shock!) I'd try to flush it with brake cleaner or similar first to make sure it sticks properly.

If someone has a good pump to send him I could possibly arrange a contact in St. Petersburg to receive it and liaise with Chris for collection, if there is room in his schedule.

[Ian Williams]

An epoxy such as Araldite or even better if its available, epoxy fuel tank repair putty will hold back the leak. I am curious though so to ask a stupid question when embarking on a trip like this, well any trip for that mater, why carry a spare that you don't know works??

["Slack Alice" Simon]

Due to all sorts of reasons, Chris set off with an engine, gearbox, distributor, dynamo and carburettor all rebuilt or new, with less than 50 miles running-in time together.


The fuel pump was also new, a fine example (we guessed) of Chinese engineering. 


While working on the car we found that most new parts needed fettling a bit before they fitted satisfactorily, so I expect Chris will keep using a fuel pump that is working fine, albeit leaking oil from what appears to be a non-structural crack, to a completely unknown new item.   

Unless someone can tell me otherwise, I assume the pump body is Mazak or similar, and so cannot be mended by conventional means involving lots of heat.

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I found the "Comment" button worked for me, I had to give it my email address, and then, eventually, my comment appeared.

[Chris KC]

It's a fair comment Ian, but most of my longer trips have been conducted in a spirit of optimism, or wouldn't have happened at all! Wouldn't be the first time I'd hopefully bunged in a spare only to find it utterly useless when called upon!

[Ruairidh Dunford]

   


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[Chris KC]

Thanks for posting the updates Ruairidh - keep 'em coming!