Syncro, visco and the long trip home

Post by **peasant** » 12 May 2007, 15:39

So next weekend I'm heading off to bring home that 14" ex army TD Syncro.

While I have been assured that it is in mint condition and that everything works as it should, I'm still a bit nervous.

I'll test everything 4WD before I hand over my money ...but the real "killer" will be the 1300 kms (in two halves) of mostly motorway between there and here.

My question to others that have done the same before me:

What are the do's and dont's on such a long trip, other than taking it nice and easy and letting the engine cool down before turning it off?

Anything syncro/visco coupling specific that I should keep eyes and ears open for?

And if it comes to the worst and I should find that I've just bougth a totally stiff visco coupling ..how difficult is it to take out the driveshaft at the side of the road?

Thanks in advance for your wisdom.

Post by **bigbluebus** » 12 May 2007, 16:41

I'm a complete muppet, even I managed to drop the prop with the most basic of tools he he he

Post by **KarlT** » 12 May 2007, 17:55

Excuse the bad thread etiquette but..........

How tight can you expect you VC to get after many a motorway mile?

Drove up to Cardif the other week & as I pulled into a service station parking bay it really didn't want to turn & the tyres really scrubbed.

It was a hot day & we were fully loaded.

Post by **bigbluebus** » 12 May 2007, 18:11

good point karl . . watching with interest

mine felt fine when cold, just a little notchy after a long drive. Reckoned on no 4x4 events coming up, no bad weather predicted so dropped the prop as a precaution kinda thing

Might be there's life in the old dog yet yipppeeee

Post by **peasant** » 12 May 2007, 18:32

I've ploughed through several fora with this question in mind and the consensus is that a good visco may stiffen a bit as everyting just gets hot over the long miles, but scrubbing tyres should definetly not happen ...

Provided you've got equal tyres all round and no great differences in tyre pressure.

Post by **syncropaddy** » 12 May 2007, 18:38

Tight VCs are normal on a long trip and can give you a bit of a fright when experienced first time and tyre scrubbing is normal.

Dos and donts of a 1300 Km trip from Germany

Donts
1. Dont fall asleep
2. Dont get caught .....
3. Dont miss the boat

Dos
1. Have fun and enjoy the trip
2. Buy your diesel in Luxembourg its cheapest there.

I brought my DJ Syncro back from Stutgart Airport to Wicklow (30 miles south of Dublin ) in 23 hours 35 minutes. That included a flight from Dublin to Germany and TWO boat trips. 1003 miles door to door in November!!

Have fun and Im dying to find out how good these Ex Army syncros are.

Post by **peasant** » 12 May 2007, 18:47

Paddy

I'm not going anywhere near Luxemburg.
Gonna take the comfy route via Rotterdam-Hull-Holyhead-BAC. Cuts a good 300 km off the trip and gives you a chance for some beauty sleep on the ferry. Plus it divides the trip into manageable chunks.

Well worth the dearer ferry IMO.

(done it three times already with a motorhome ...long story)

Post by **syncropaddy** » 12 May 2007, 18:55

I did the trip in one shot ....its more fun! From Southern Germany the route I took is the quickest in time and mileage.
Are you going from Northern Germany?

Post by **peasant** » 12 May 2007, 19:13

No, I'll start off south as well ...Nuremberg.

Used to do a lot of trips from near Stuttgart to Ireland when I was young (and skint) via Calais-Dover/Fishguard-Rosslare.

But it's a good 10-11 hours from southern Germany to Calais (in a VW camper, anyway) and only 6-7 to Rotterdam.
Ok ..so the total trip may be longer in hours, but those hours are spent relaxing on an overnight ferry. (I'm getting old, you know...)

...and don't forget, my journey doesn't finish just outside Dublin, either. I've still got to get over to the other side

Post by **syncropaddy** » 13 May 2007, 21:36

Ill be getting my free bus pass and pension sooner than you !! When will you get off the boat. Maybe we could meet up

Post by **peasant** » 13 May 2007, 22:37

Monday evening ...but don't know when yet.
Depends on whether I get the slow ferry at 2pm or the fast one at 5 from Holyhead. (Irish Ferries)

They used to have the fast one on at three pm (wich was ideal and easily gettable from Hull in the morning), but the bastewards changed the schedule. So I'm hoping to get the 2pm one, but I can't be sure.

Any meeting would have to be brief though ...still got to get to Sligeach (and to work the next day

)

If you're in the vicinity anyway around that time ...pm me and I'll give you my mobile number

Post by **toomanytoys** » 15 May 2007, 00:45

if all the tyres are the same make and evenly worn, make sure they have the right pressures... if any concern over VC drom the prop, 2 x 13mm spanners are needed..
oil and water checks after a few KM and every so often during the trip..

Post by **KarlT** » 15 May 2007, 07:30

bigbluebus wrote:good point karl . . watching with interest

Why thankyou BBB!

Post by **manxman** » 15 May 2007, 08:21

Having not long come back from doing the same thing my advice would be;

Don't worry about it and it won't be a problem.

Just get in and drive, it will be fine.

and if you start hearing noises that worry you turn the radio up

Post by **peasant** » 15 May 2007, 09:31

manxman

...that's the other thing ....

There is no radio !!

(army-spec

)