Shut down at Yass for some fuel and a feed. Bromley wouldn't start because of a stuck starter motor.

Went to feel its temperature and broke the capillary for the mechanical oil pressure gauge (right off at the nut in to the block) Result was oil squirting out at a frightening rate (once started).

Caltex at Yass were a great help supplying me with nothing but a couple of spanners and a screwdriver. I did a bit of a dodgy brothers to block the hole using a screw from the dash and a dollop of adhesive. Screwed in to the remaining plastic capillary and covered with adhesive.

The result was a far less scary oil leak. I had to sign a declaration for the NRMA saying they told me not to drive it, topped up some oil and off we went.

We used a total of 5 litres of oil and kept the revs (oil pressure) low. Never took my eye of the warning light and my ears were fixed to the noise of the engine for any signs that the screw may have released.

After the first hour I became a little bit more relaxed with the situation and eventually rumbled in to Wagga about midnight.

My partner (Jessie) didn't complain once and we actually concluded that this drama and impressive display of bush mechanics actually made the weekend most memorable!

Just thought I would share.
Andy.

Ohhh dear...but well done with the repairs Brom...

another idea would have been to fit a short bolt in place of the capillary sender (with goop) or an after market temp sender with the right thread just to block the hole...

Thanks for visting Canberra mate (and Jess)...

_________________
"Show me the Mini!"

We had a simular problem quite a few years ago when out in our Austin A40.

In those things, from the block there is a flexible hose that goes to the line for the oil pressure guage. The hose was old, and decided to burst. We were stuck somewhere between Geelong and Baccus Marsh. We managed to find a farmer who had something close to fitting in the hole in the block, which was a tapered thread bolt thing. By then, a few of my fathers mates had rocked up, so we headed home. Still leaked once going, so pulled over. Once of dads mates works at product development at Ford in the engine department, so he reconed that if we put some electrical tape on the thread (the best thing we could find in the tool kit) then put it back in, should make it home, which it did!

poeee edit/ that was me, damn adeee was signed in!

_________________
Introducing 'LITE'. The new way to spell 'light' with 20% less letters!

I don't know my name anymore.

A Mini with a dramatic trip home, from far distances? NO, Surely not

Good work with what you had, though

_________________
Cheap, Fast, Reliable. Choose two.

hehehe...I assume there is some cleaning of the engine bay now Andy?!?

Barney made the trip there and back no problem. Ran like clockwork- sitting on 4800rpm (115KMH) with 3.64 diff...
USED NO OIL either!!

_________________
DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Now now Kev, that's just showing off!

Good work Bromley! So is the engine bay nice and rust proof now?

_________________
Lillee - 1969 Morris Mini K

Ah I can relate to 'the drive home' where you are stressed as hell that something will go wrong .

Good work .

Shard

Reminds me of a time in my Mk1 escort when I went bush on a fire trail in the blue mountains national park.
After an hour in the track a BF rock punctured a hole in the fuel tank and the little escort was bleeding away,it had gotten dark and I thought of living the rest of my life as a hermit in the bush.
But out of desperation I used my Tshirt and a few twigs and made a damn good bung for the hole that got me back to the servo at Nth Richmond at 9pm in the night.

We bought a black Mini van years ago that had been a bush basher. Somebody hit the sump on a rock and totalled the sump plug area.
Not to worry, they belted a hardwood bung in there and it never leaked a drop!
Gears are now all in our Clubby S... but not the casing!

_________________
DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Thats why its good to keep some chewing gum in the glove box!! (if a Mini had one )

I have heard soap can also be used....

_________________
"Show me the Mini!"

Fixed the problem today with a new "ferret" (funny name for a little brass ring -still learning) 60c in total. Probably would have cost me $60 if I took the NRMA's advice and left the car in Yass.


Yes!!

LOL - I mean Ferral? not Ferret

You mean olive.