Recent content by michaelgroves

Any updates on this? :)

Most clutches I have done (but never a TD5, I concede), have been self bleeding. Just put fluid in, pump up and down a few times (not fast, or it aerates the fluid), and it gets rid of all the air. Barkes, I do your method: allowing fluid out on the down strokes, and closing the nipple again...

It's looking very promising, Rob - nice job! Sounds like the syncromesh isn't 100%. If you shift slow, with so little inertia, the output slows a lot, and the syncro has to work. Shift really fast, and they slow down just enough to sync naturally? Proof would be in the downshifts. I think the...

Good to see it's going well, Rob! FYI, Ashcroft make a "new" and improved underdrive with a 2.69:1 reduction. As far as I know, it fits to any ratio LT230. I had one fitted to our 6x6 Defender, and it was invaluable. Mainly, as you point out, for extreme low speed/control. My T-case was the...

If I had to choose, I'd take a full-locker like an ARB over TC any time. But having both is actually quite a benefit. TC works very well on ice and snow, for example, where a locker can quickly get you sideways. And TC is generally kinder to the drivetrain, especially when traction conditions...

FYI, my TD5 Defender 130 CC (2004) gets 12L/100km, unladen, driving "Defender style" (max 100km/h). I think this is typical. Consumption doesn't go up much if I drive faster, but that's because it doesn't go much faster! 14L/100km is about the worst I have measured. With my TD5 110, I had an...

Useful info, thanks!

Come to think of it, my argument above cuts both ways. I guess that if standing idly by, weakens the enforceablility of one's trademark, one is pretty much forced to take a harder line with any infringement, even when it's harmless, or by a business ally. Of course the solution to that would be...

Not sure of the specifics of US law, but I also believe that if the trademark holder has been aware of an infringement for a significant time and not done anything about it, it dramatically weakens their chances of forcing the other party to change things later. If LRNA have been aware of your...

To my mind, the biggest single advantage of carrying lots of rigging is the ability to split the load between multiple anchor points. When you're well and truly bogged down in the real world, often finding a suitable anchor is a much bigger problem than having insufficient pulling power...

You're quite right - other things being equal, a stretchy rope will launch a broken shackle at the same energy, whether it's stretchy or super-stretchy. There is one difference, though - you're forgetting that the vehicle is being powered forward. I think in practice this means that a more...

Nice idea! However, the snag is that a kinetic recovery uses the momentum of the vehicle to impart the force, so there's nothing to measure until it's too late!

While it's important to buy a good quality strap, especially the kinetic type, just remember that the strap breaking is not particularly dangerous, if you are following reasonable safety practices. What is potentially lethal is the strap not breaking, and the huge forces launching your towing...

I'm not quite sure what a Monday morning quarterback is, but I guess it's supposed to refer to someone who doesn't play, but likes to critique those who do? Anyway, no-one is saying it wasn't a job well done, but there are interesting and useful things to analyse and learn from in any situation...

3/8" Amsteel Blue has a breaking strength of 8000kg. The same diameter Amsteel II has a breaking strength of 3800kg, and Amsteel Plus 4700kg. So you lose more or less 50% of your strength, while gaining some protection - though I'm not sure quite how much (bearing in mind it's not a replaceable...