For 3 years the road trip of 2019 has been our beacon of sanity. In February, when the freeze of winter made it to our bones, and hope and the thaw wouldn’t come until April; we persevered. When the caregiver thing got tough - could you believe - we banded together and found our way to the summer of 2019. When Brighty, our Land Rover 110, rejected lovingly installed new parts we looked to our beacon and whispered in unison - “summer of 2019.”
So, here I sit, showered but still greasy and 4 days late departing. Whisper it - “summer of 2019.” I can blame the weather. I can blame my wife, Michelle, for visiting family in May and leaving me rudderless. The truth is, I have a habit of taking things apart before a road trip - just for inspection - then 3 to 4 days pass waiting for parts to put things back together. “Summer of 2019.”
Happy travels this summer...
This is my daughter - waiting for the elevator at the doctor's office and bragging how she lifted 4 lolipops despite having no pockets in her leggings. I don't want to encourage her - but skills.
With reflection - those svelte, deft fingers would be perfect for threading that tiny screw that secures the baseplate in the Lucas 45D distributor. That brass washer at the base of a 300tdi injector - the one my big, dumb fingers can't even pick up off a flat surface - I bet she could retrieve it from the injector hole with ease. On second thought, keep practicing Astrid - the Land Rover's spring service is a few short weeks away.
I have been usurped as the King of the Castle. Even in my youth - my best days - I never had this kind of game. A Sorel snow boot brought down from such a height lands a withering, bone breaking blow. I am the dirty rascal.
Happy Valentines Michelle - 14 years as partners, coconspirators - lovers...
I promise it will get easier as I rage into my dozing years...
A winter driveway observation that put a smile on my face - Land Rover engineers have designed all the lighting surfaces to gather little toques (snow hats) to stay warm in winter weather.
Winter temperatures in Toronto dropped to -20 C (-4 F) this morning. The inner glow from this observation was bracing when unplugging my oil pan heater, breathing gut-warm air on frozen door locks and weather seals, scrapping glass surfaces, and clearing body panels of ice and snow. Driveway wisdom - a good smile is like a glow plug cycle for the soul...
A winter walk on a riverbank with my ladies to start the New Year. Crisp air and soothing, running water washing away the detritus of 2018.
Shortly after this photo our conversation devolved into a discussion of “fish face.” I learned that for the proficient it will plump up your lips and accentuate your cheek bones. It was a ridiculous exchange full of laughter, but it left me unsettled.
I walked in silence and took stock of where I was; the stage in my fatherly journey; a reference point. It is 2019 and Astrid is 12 years old. There have been requests for weekend mall trips, clothing brands are recurring in her developing style, I don't know most of her music and the bathroom is getting cluttered with lady products. A realization occured, and I felt exposed. I stood, slack-jawed, where the river spilled into a lake with my cheeks beat red by a wind that wrestled snow from the tree limbs. A realization like a warning crack of ice under foot - the insidious influence of popular culture has been gaining ground, and I stood on the precipice of the unknown. In that moment the seed of a roadtrip was planted - a strategy for 2019 - a necessary period of culture shock, Land Rover comfort deprivation and bouts of isolation. Here is to regaining the ground lost; here is to victory in 2019 - whiz, whiz.
Here is another moody winter garage shot from Eore, our Series III Land Rover's, hibernation. I am organizing tools and sorting spares in a dim florescent light tonight - puttering and cozy in the low hum of an electric heater to the rhythmic drip of snow melting off the roof.
Does anybody else share their garage with a rodent of some description? In the corners and out of the way places I find little turds. Whether tucking my floor jack next to the tool box or sliding a milk crate of Land Rover spares under my bench - I first have to sweep up little turds.
A Vole has been in residence in my garage for a number of years. When Astrid was 6 she named it “Toothbrush”. Since that day there has been an uneasy peace between Toothbrush and I. My temper flares over the turds, but Toothbrush leaves electrical wiring and Eore's upholstery untouched.
So, sleep soundly in my garage visits fading warmth, Toothbrush. Live and let live...
The grey skies and the rain; Astrid humming to her homework at the kitchen table; the clatter of home heating radiators; and skirts and tanks making way for slacks and knits in Michelle’s closet. This is the time of year I pack away the BBQ and make room for Eore, the Series III Land Rover, in our wooden urban garage.
Today’s post is my virtual post-it note for spring; a list of the attention Eore will require when we’re packing away the galoshes, mitts, toques, and snowshoes.
Am I a wild rover or a fool with a jack-in-the-box toy that spits Land Rover parts whenever cranked? Opinions vary in our family...
We were on the road to my daughters camp this weekend, and Eore died a few kilometres north of a major highway interchange. My wife had just finished reminding me that this was the second year that Brighty, our 110 Land Rover, was on jack stands for the camp drop off. And, despite my assurances of better repair fortunes this summer - here we sat again - cramped and 3 across on Eore's bench seat with wet feet from the pouring rain.
Eore has an intermittent fuel tank contamination problem that cuts fuel flow while running at speed with a full tank; it’s on my repair list. Rain, petrol and highway-spray soaked, I depressurized the fuel system by removing the fuel line from the carburetor to release whatever was blocking the tank pickup. If this fails, I reverse pressurize the fuel system through the complicated process of blowing with my mouth, but I didn't have to do it this time. I also cut my finger trimming the fuel line. Regardless, the repair worked and we sped away from two sedans that hit the concrete divide about half a kilometre behind us.
It was good to stretch our legs for 450 kilometres in Eore; he is only semi-retired, after all. I have posted some @fuel filtration suggestions for travellers in the garage section of our site. Travel safe...
The tale of a silly gringo in his Land Rover running corn fields in the Baja, Mexico norte moonlight. One travelers thoughts on the Drug War @caught in a Baja Corn Field.
Read how "Eore" the 1974 Series III Land Rover became "Eore the Forgiven". Part one finds Michelle and I blissfully honeymooning in Central America when mechanical misbehaviour strikes. Like a Norse weapon of old, our little Land Rover earns a new name through heroic feats @on the drive home.
It’s the time of year when we obsess over any sign of spring in Toronto, Canada’s weather forecast. At my basement workbench, I am busy preparing Michelle’s commuter bike with new tubes, tires, pedals and a pannier rack. Summer commutes in the sunshine are eagerly anticipated after a winter in a crowded, underground subway. Also lubed and ready is the Giant Toughroad SLR2 I purchased last spring - my thoughts @Giant Toughroad.
Winter repairs - I hate them. Laying in the cold snow and using cold tools to fix cold Land Rovers. Do you know what would make this scenario worse? Having to work on the braking system. This post finds us in a Canadian February with no brakes. There is a smile at the end of this story - Copper Nickel Brake lines.. @Copper Nickel Brake Lines.
Here is one who puts up with a lot. Hell, I know I am stubborn and opinionated. More hair's growing in the wrong places, and my smells not improving. I can be grumpy, judgemental and slow to pick up the pieces. I am trudging further to the fringes of civilized. But, I’ll endure anything for your smile and make a total ass of myself for your laugh. There are times I am sure you’re a saint - but we both know you’re a sinner. We’re quite a pair - my valentine.
Having a difficult time finding a way to store vehicle spares kits, bits and pieces for camp stoves and water purification systems or rainy day cards and games? A solution that has worked for us in our Land Rovers can be found at any grocery store - @Kitchen Storage Containers.
Classic Land Rover owners are justifiably concerned that accountants are cutting corners on the quality of our replacement parts. During a recent part search for a 300tdi alternator, I read a number of reports of smoky Magneti Marelli replacements. The Land Rover forums provided @Mahle-Letrika 11203205 as an alternative.
Stripped fasteners - the only thing worse is stripped housing threads. This is the bottom alternator mounting bolt from a Land Rover 300 tdi. There was a time I would have mistaken the rounding of the bolt shoulders as movement. On my back by trouble light, my arm snaked up between the radiator and engine block, I would have braced, reset my wrench, pulled and rounded off any chance of a quick alternator swap.
As a mature backyard mechanic, my curses silenced the nocturnal antics of the neighbourhood stray cats the moment I felt that subtle stripping. I called it a night and soaked the bolt in Kroil penetrating oil. A gentle,progressive application of torque removed it the next evening - very relieved.
Baja, Mexico was the first couple holiday destination for Michelle and I. I had planned two weeks camping Baja's beaches and exploring its rural towns and Missions. It was Michelle's first time camping beyond a night at a campground, and her first time meeting "Eore" - my 1974 Land Rover.
The trip was a lesson in compromise and our ability to work together. Rolling through the desert in a garden shed with no radio, no air conditioning and perched uncomfortably ontop of a smelly mechanical contrivance is not for everyone. Michelle took the good with the bad with her usual grace - like she does with me. It turned out to be @courting genius on my part.
Today Astrid completed her first Triathlon at school - 540 meters swimming, 2 kilometers of cycling and 2 kilometers of running. It is great to see her set goals and achieve them; I am a very proud father. Hat's off to her school as well - this was a great program.
Astrid has really taken to cycling, and Michelle and I hope the bike will add a new direction and dimension to our travels. The problem is, we only have two bikes in the garage. Looking forward to some new bike shopping.
As a kid, no material possession encapsulated my notion of freedom like my bike. It held the potential to travel and expand the world I knew with speed and efficiency. I was in control, and I rode that razors edge between safety and road rash with only my developing understanding of action and consequence to guide me.
June is the month that Astrid has embraced her bicycle. The scooter has ceased to be a form of transportation and joined the pogo stick as a driveway amusement. We’re all looking forward to many cycle miles to come…
Fuel filtration is often overlooked in the preparation of our travel vehicles. One tank of bad fuel can plague your vehicle with misfires, no-starts and power loss for tankfulls to come. Don't be the person sputtering to the side of the road or rocking your vehicle in a parking lot with no-start issues. Take a trip to the Baja legendary @"Coco's Corner" for some thoughts on fuel system preparation...
I have tried plumbed water tanks through heat exchangers, hanging solar showers, and wet-wipe trouble area rubs. In my opinion - the best road trip, overland, expedition shower system is a 3 gallon pesticide spray bottle.@I make my case here...
I have added another mishap story from the road. Youthful exuberance, the military, parasites in my orifices, and diaper rash; all the makings of a classic tale. @Belize Gave me Diaper Rash.
I am wearing shorts today despite the cold, damp spring weather. To further my efforts at keeping vibes positive for sunny skies, I am posting a short video of our Newfoundland 2016 trip with a focus on blue sky horizons.
The clip ends with a cartwheel and jazz-hands aboard the MV Highlander ferry bound for Newfoundland - a favorite from Astrid's "Cartwheel - Anytime, Anywhere" series...
I have added a short story from the road. I made an assumption about a roadsign on a dark, rainy night in Baja, Mexico which resulted in @white knuckle moment.
Fall weather is here in Ontario, Canada; the floor, the toilet seat, my towel - everything is dark, damp and cold when I get up. Eore, our old Land Rover, is also reluctant for the morning routine. The starter spins slow stirring cold 20w 50 while the engine sputters under full carburetor choke. Dressed in an awkward mix of summer and winter layers, I scrape the windshield frost during the high-idle warmup. On the road, headlights chase fleeing exhaust condensation down the street’s painted lines, and I punch the brakes too hard and struggle through gear changes with boots back on my feet.
Driving barefoot in an old Land Rover is a happy place for me. At age 10 a farm fence nail punched through the sole of my All-Stars, and the resulting blood and tetanus shot had a lasting impression. Twenty years later I am pictured in a honeymoon photo on a Belize beach wearing boots rated at 1200 newtons of sole puncture protection. But, the Land Rover’s superheated rubber floor-mats, sprinkled with rust chips and miscellaneous fasteners, I’ve determined is a safe-space for my bare-feet.
I started driving barefoot in 1997 following a sweat and VW bus pot-fume wake induced revelation. Those first few miles of 2 lane Arizona with my boots and socks in the passenger footwell was liberating. I can only compare it to sunrise hours naked and in love on a deserted Baja, Mexico beach - free, natural, and a little bit naughty. But, it’s cold today, and I am wearing boots.
Despite today's cold weather, I am going to share some practical benefits to Land Rover bare-footing it:
There is a two-track road south of Bahia de los Angeles, Baja, Mexico I drove with a girl. It was late in the day, and I was relaxed and contented by the dull thud of full jerry cans, a half-empty Negra Modelo, and the ease of - ocean on the left and desert on the right - navigation. We found our way through an erect, suggestive vegetation of barrel cactus and boojums, and we plunged through summer scraggly Mesquite and Cresote lined Arroyos. Our goal - a campsite on a deserted beach.
She was smiling with her head on my shoulder. Her tank top was brightly coloured and ended at a pair of red bikini bottoms. It was a struggle to keep my eyes off the two long legs that stretched into the passenger footwell, and on the two-tracks that were our path through the desert. The rhythm of the ocean, the stars, and a soft sand beach waited for us. I eased back on the Land Rover’s throttle - there was no rush - I believe that bench seats were conceived of for this unique form of foreplay.
Earlier this week I had been thinking about this trip and stumbled on an internet article about the declining birth rates in Western countries. Following the bench seat and birth rate train of thought, I discovered the US number of children per family peaked at 3.5 through the 1940’s, ’50’s and ’60;s; the heyday of the automotive bench seat. I believe in this case, correlation is clearly causation. Remember you read it at shearpin.org first…
I should also mention the girl is now my wife - I have to keep present day bench seat drives happy.
Series Land Rover half-shafts (axles) are drivetrain failure points of legend. As a new owner, this legend will be imparted to you by the first Land Rover enthusiast you encounter. It is your duty to do the same; sharing the weak axle legend is a Series Land Rover Owners Club secret handshake.
Following my recent half-shaft spline inspection I decided I was long overdue jotting down some of my half-shaft history; my virtual club handshake. The Great Basin Rover axles that I had inspected have been abused in my Land Rover since 2001. With knowledge of the cure for early Land Rover’s #1 failure part literally in my hands - I felt further compelled to write.
I have compiled my thoughts on the subject here - @Series Land Rover Axles & Great Basin Rover's Replacement Solution
I can’t put my finger on when my condition began. For those quick to point at my Land Rover’s, and their reputation for spotty reliability, I can say that my vehihypochondria predated that relationship. As long as I can remember I have been the sort that cringed when my father missed shifts in the family MG or winced as the Kubota diesel in our tractor turned over, and over, and over on a Canadian winter morning. What I have is not simple mechanical sympathy - it is a real problem.
I do admit that the frequent failure rate of Land Rover parts and pieces is not good for my condition; any mental health practitioner would be quick to prescribe me a Toyota. Taking my self-analysis one step further - the various pops, clattering, and bangs normal in diesel engine operation also produce the negative outcomes of anxiety, manic analysis, and stress associated with my vehihypochondria.
The source of this months symptoms has been a rhythmic tick at idle in the Defenders 300 tdi; or is it a bang. A quick internet search of “300 tdi ticks” produced a long list of terminal engine problems. It also provided a suggestion - run some diesel fuel treatment through the engine and reevaluate.
I am happy to report that Royal Purple’s Max-Tane silenced the tick. While at my local Canadian Tire I also purchased an Automotive stethoscope - admittedly a blessing and a curse. All is well again in my Land Rover world, and my vehihypochondria is the worry of my next mechanical problem.
I have for sale a remarkably unmolested and preserved M416 trailer. This trailer was released in the late 1990's from a military storage facility and was never used. The perfect blank canvas to build your military tough adventure and/or utility trailer. For details SOLD - but my For Sale page lives on.
On January 29th, 2016 the last Land Rover Defender rolled off the production line at the Solihull plant in England. The last Defender ended 68 years of a design and engineering concept that remained true to its original purpose - getting work done in difficult terrain. This unwavering philosophy is part of what made the Defender unique; this uniqueness inspired owners to keep 75% of total Land Rover Series & Defender production on the road.
For us longtime enthusiasts - the end is particularly difficult. There have been redesigns and engineering advancements in the past that have tested our faith in Land Rover. I am sure the appearance of coil-springs and disc brakes were cause for skepticism and concern in the early 1980’s; I was too young. I do recall the introduction of computer management in the TD5 engine. Computers in Defenders were unanimously rejected in the enthusiast community as working and expedition vehicle folly. Reliability, an anxiety never far from a Land Rover owners heart, was sure to suffer with the introduction of a component irreparable with the contents of an under-seat toolbox. But this news - the end of Land Rover Defender production - where do we go from here.
Myself, I have decided to strengthen my resolve to travel farther, maintain and repair to a higher standard, and adopt the air of superiority befitting an overlander with a silicon chip free Land Rover Defender. I foresee legions of enthusiasts also adopting this muddy path into an unknown future. By building a vehicle that attracts oily, bloody-knuckled romantics, I think Land Rover has done well to ensure their legacy.
Having reached this inner-peace, my wife sent me reeling back to my garage hermitage with her reaction to the news - “Does this mean your going to have trouble getting the parts you constantly seem to need?”
St. Patrick's Day - as good a day as any to think on my people that called Ireland home. "May love and laughter light your days, and warm your heart and home."
With spring fever setting in, my thoughts have also turned to my long neglected blog. It has always been a goal of Michelle and myself to travel and keep the family Land Rovers going (that goal is, admittedly, more mine); this blog plays a role in forcing us to look up from the daily plow, and make time to plan and get out of the city.
For this post, a bit of inspiration from last summer. This video is a quick GoPro edit from a logging road in northern Ontario, Canada. With the family 3 up on Eore's bench seat, I looked over and had one of those contented moments. Astrid was singing to herself and drawing in the window condensation. Michelle had slipped into a nap; with no Viking blood, Thor's hammer and heavy rain had given her no rest the previous night. Myself, I smelled like wood fire and "night in a tent", and enjoyed the slow pace of the forest and lakes going by.
In the late 1990’s I trusted “The Club” to ensure Eore - my transportation, my weekend home, and my travel companion - was always where I left him.
Peace of mind came from “The Club’s” all-metal construction, extending locking mechanism to fit any size steering wheel, and high visibility red finish. Reaching over the seat and that characteristic “The Club” ratcheting noise was always part of parking.
With time and a better understanding of Eore’s mechanics I developed better anti-theft methods. During these late night, solo repairs I also made a discovery that saved my “The Club” from obsolescence and a landfill.
As a solo mechanic there are times when an extra hand or foot is necessary. Or, something with a rubberized non-marring finish, the capability to extend to various lengths and lock, and possessing sufficient strength to not buckle. “The Club”.
"The Club", conveniently hanging on a nail in my garage, has been invaluable for:
For years I have read favorable reviews of the the various brands of mechanic's gloves available in the marketplace. Being the stubborn sort, I have persisted with the latex variety that bloat with my sweat until they eventually tear apart.
During a recent trip to my local auto parts supplier I could not turn my back on a colorfull sale display for the well respected Mechanix branded gloves. With a cross-shaft O-ring repair to address in my 110's LT230 I purchased the gloves, and I walked out happy.
My hopes for the gloves are four-fold. Firstly, I am hoping the snug fit and glove design will result in a minimal loss of dexterity. Secondly, I hope the strategic padding will offer some protection during those desperate moments when I use the fleshy part of my fist as a soft mallet. Third, I hope to avoid those superstitious moments when a blue latex glove tears when I pull it on; that "is this a bad omen" moment. Lastly, I hope to be able to thrust my hands into ground hamburger beef without worrying about the stubborn grease trapped under my fingernails.
Seized nuts, dirty linkages, and cursing are in my future. Check back for a full review of my new Mechanix gloves in the near future.
It has always been my intention to blog on shearpin.org. Today I am going to start. Shearpin.org is one family’s opportunity to share our travel experiences, Land Rover enthusiasm, and the influence both have on our lives; a quick mission statement. For an introduction to our family and our Land Rovers, please visit the About Us and the Garage sections of this website.
It has been my experience that both travelers and Land Rover owners are a vibrant community. We enjoy dialogue with both and would love to include any comments, encouragement, and criticisms - please email shearpin@shearpin.org with your thoughts.
More to come…