Sunday 17 July 2016

A sting in the tail: Hard reality Saturday 16 July - Day 35




The pictures tell the story. We managed to get about 150 kms north of Lausanne before we ran out of road.

The engine was making rattle noises at higher revs from the outset. At first we were able to do 60-65 kph with controlled rattling; then 55-60; then 50-55 and then we decided we needed to do something. So we consulted various authorities about isolating one of the cylinders and running on only 5. Worked brilliantly for 500 metres then the coil blew. So we fitted the spare coil and it lasted for 5kms. We didn't know (and were not told) that we had to earth the idle spark plug. So the second coil blew and we weren't going anywhere. Only ourselves to blame.

Conclusion: get to Rheims by low loader and consult the sweeps further. So that's what we did and, as you can see, French low loaders are state of the art as compared with Russian ones. (Frankly it's a piece of knowledge I'd rather not know.)

And we borrowed a coil from the friend of a local enthusiast who stopped to help. So we can move the car a bit (we think): four cheers for the local enthusiasts. He wouldn't take payment but he wants his coil back - and he shall have it.

Will we make it to Paris tomorrow? Yes we will. Will Emerald be with us? Let's hope so.




Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear

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