HEADING SOUTH

Well, we thought we would start heading back south and do some more prospecting. When we got back out to the Highway the speedo decided to pack it in. It didn't really worry Steve as the bus usually sits nicely on 80 to 85 kph. Steve decided to get under and have a look to see whether the cable had detached itself when we stopped at the Sandfire Roadhouse for fuel. When he got under there, he didn't find out what was wrong with the speedo cable but he found fuel squirting out of the fuel pump.




We weren't sure how much we were loosing, but after a quick calculation of how many kms we had done and when we had last filled up, and reckoned we could keep moving as we were still averaging good mileage. We stopped that night at Pardoo Roadhouse caravan park. After some discussions with a mechanic, we decided to go back to Indee Station (the other side of Port Hedland) and we would park there until we could fix it. We got to Port Hedland about lunch time on Thursday and parked the bus at a road train stop and jumped in the car and went hunting for a fuel pump. Now, you would think that in a place as industrialised as Port Hedland that this would be an easy task - But wait, we are in Western Australia. After consultation with our mechanic( Jock )back home, and being shunted from one shop to another, we finally got a fuel pump. I think it was Fifth time lucky.



We had to get an electric one but Jock had told Steve how to wire it up so everything was hunky dory. So, with the grocery shopping done and fuel pump in hand, we headed out to Indee Station (60kms). We got there okay, and Steve set his sights on fitting the new fuel pump. He succeeded with not too much drama, and everything was goiong to plan and we decided we would head off the next day, Saturday. We got everything packed up and the bus started beautifully, and we headed out the gate. And out the gate is as far as we got, the bus just stopped. Steve climbed under the bus again, and he could smell a burning smell. The electronic fuel pump had burnt out as it was a 12Vpump and the electrical system for the bus batteries is 24V. Once we realised this, I went into the homestead and started ringing around and do you think anyone had a 24V fuel pump in stock - NO. After a bit of discussion between everyone, it was suggested that we buy another 12V pump and also buy a voltage converter. So off into Port Hedland we went, Saturday morning, now about 10.30am and it would take us an hour to get there. After shopping around AGAIN, we found a 12V pump and a voltage converter but the converter itself was going to cost over $300 the fuel pumps had already cost us $140 bucks each. We decided to have a cup of coffee and a rethink. Steve decided to ring our boss Tim from the farm at Geraldton and see if he could get one and send it up to us. He came up with the great suggestion to just buy the 12V pump and wire it into the 12V cigarette connection. So that's what we did. Steve got it all sorted and wired up and we were ready to go - once again. But, NO, the fuel wasn't coming through. After much frustration and calling on all people available, a german backpacker who was mechanically minded saved the day. He bled this and that and got all the air out and finally, just after dark, the bus started. ( Feeling the right dick after all these cock ups or should I say lessons on road travel) we turned it around and went and parked it back at the station and we would start again tomorrow.