The Day the mighty 400 let Statt down
The day the “rack of shame” was removed from Nissan 2 for one of the bikes
After a high fibre breakfast that consisted of baked beans and bread we were all ready for the 2nd half of our journey. All packed up and we were off to the servo and supermarket to refuel and restock for the 2700km leg. While we restocked the engels, nancy boy Norris headed to the post office to intercept his new -15 sleeping bag he had longed for for the last 8 days. We knew it must have arrived by the smile on his face while walking back to the cars. Damn it we all thought. The new sleeping bag also got to ride up front for the day also, out of the dust and abuse from all the other cargo.
Well we got 5.1km from the Ulara turn off when Stat on the ever trusty 400 EXC decided that there was an issue. The bike that opened up this wide sunburned country to the common folk has just shat the biscuit. We started on the most likely causes as the Tasmanian mountain man was all out of ideas why it would just stop? There was a serious lack of spark so we started stripping it down starting with the kill switches, wiring looms, swapped Robbos bits on the Stats bike and still nothing. A long phone call to the nearest KTM shop and we were now checking the resistance across the pulse generator, stator and the primary coil. About 1 hour had gone by and with no help from all the well wishes and horn beeping from the traffic we decided it was time to remove the “rack of shame” from Nissan 2 and load the pile of snot onto it. It is one of those moments that a lead rider has to put his steed onto a tow vehicle and drop his head in shame………..
We wheeled her back into Uluru The fastest it has ever travelled, 100 km/h), luckily only 5.1km and searched for a mechanic shop. The mechanic was on a call out so we went to the servo and started to really get deep into the engine. The stator cover was removed and we still couldn’t be sure what the problem was and as the light was fading we agreed the rack of shame would transport the relic into Alice to get it fixed. Stat thought this was a great idea and would ride up front (with Scotty’s new sleeping bag) all the way into Alice and give his generously proportioned rear end some grace for a day. We all agreed and headed for Erldunda for the nights camp.
We were to turn right at Curtain Springs and get off the bitumen and head down through Mulga Park and come out at Kulgera and through to Finke. We stopped at the Mt Connor lookout just after Curtain Springs and couldn’t believe how big it was and that it doesn’t rate a mention that often unlike Uluru and the Olgas.
After 250kms of bitumen, the sun had set and we pulled into Erldunda truck stop and made camp just on dark. A quick set up and we were over to the tavern to hear how Stat was loving the ride in Nissan 1 and how many beverages he knocked back on the way. Stat was ordered to buy the drinks for the rest of his posse and it was wild turkey and cola all round, the dearest drink we could find. Another hearty truck stop dinner and its back to camp and get ready for the next 200 km of bitumen into Alice.
Sharlene the lucky Emu is mounted
Sharlene
We were horrified to see that Robbo should we say Fabio had a hair brush tucked away in his tank bag with his lip gloss and Paw Paw Cream oh dear!
5 ks into our next leg the 400 stopped and Tony suspected a loss of spark
It only seemed appropriate that we revalue the old girl $400 should cover it
Strip her down
Statt offering no more than humour at this point, could it be that the 400 will go on the Rack of Shame?
Robbo keeps on stripping
Not looking good
Shaymo installs the Rack of Shame on Nissan One
Mounted the 400 is first to get a lift
Pose for the camera Statty
Back to the BP in Yulara for further examination
It seems that the Stator is dodgy!
Lets revalue her again $40
