Firstly, driving through roadworks last week on the way to Childers, the windscreen sustained two large chips. Checked with my insurance company, I get one free windscreen a year. So they rang O'briens for me. They came out the wrong windscreen, had to order the right one from Sydney. Will ring them in the morning to see if it has arrived and pop into Bundy to get it fitted.
Went in at the weekend as they said it would arrive Monday. When it haddn't arrived I decided to come back to Biggy and wait it out while doing some more gardening.
On the way from Bundy to Childers I had a lady waving madly to me as she overtook me in a passing lane, Door, Door she was mouthing, so I pulled over to get out for a look as I couldn't see anything wrong. Well, know me down with a feather, the door of the outside gas bottle compartment was hanging loose and waving in the wind. Poor Myrtle was falling to bits. Attached it with the key lock and hoped for the best while I made it slowly into Childers to the first mechanic I could find. Luckily they were able to help me.
What was supposed to be two hinges were only 2 pieces of aluminium screwed into place. He went down to the hardware store, got two new brass hinges and fixed it all up for $51.00. Was so pleased to get it fixed so quickly.
Next Wednesday Myrtle is booked in for a full service plus replace the two front ball joints replaced. Another very expensive week but hopefully all will be well when I head south in Mid June.
Les was driving home at night, he missed a kangaroo, but didn't see the young one hoping behind its mother, it died instantly. But the Prado's fog light is smashed and both spot lights are totalled. So more money to repair it. Luckily it didn't damage the body of the car. He blames the town he has to pass through, he wiped out the front fender of a Ford Courier and half the bullbar, in this same town. He even ran out of petrol, with a faulty gauge, in this same town.
Hello Grams, happy to read that your husband was't hurt in his little ( but probablt expensive ) mishap.Does he drive in and out from where he works,? Does he drive for a mineing company or for a private company carrying general goods.
Hello Grams, happy to read that your husband was't hurt in his little ( but probablt expensive ) mishap.Does he drive in and out from where he works,? Does he drive for a mineing company or for a private company carrying general goods.
Hi Herbie,
Les works for Linfox. He drives road trains north to Roxby at BH Billitons mine, from Port Augusta. He also drives B-trains south to Port Adelaide. He usually carries lime, ash and sometimes copper. He works 5 days up in Port Augusta on shift work then comes home for 2. So he might be travelling home during the day or late at night. He always drives through the Wilmington Gorge, which is notorious for kangaroos. But he keeps having trouble in a little town called Wirrabara.
Its cost us a few thousand dollars so far for his troubles...I guess it could have been worse, so we are grateful for what hasn't happened.
Grams - maybe he needs to find a different route home?
Marj (HappyWanderer) - lucky about the gas bottle door, might have done some damage if your gas bottle had fallen out!!! With the new windscreen you will be able to see where you are going - we have had a couple of chips repaired, but noticed another one the other day - and our windscreen is HUGE! so a big target! New ball joints will make a difference, as will a good service. We had heavier duty springs fitted while we were in Tassy, and they make a difference going over bumps, pot holes etc. Worth the money.
See ya soon!
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
Had a phone call from O'Briens about half an hour ago. The windscreen arrived up from Sydney with a 2 foot scratch across it. Now have to wait for another one which will be next Tuesday or Thursday.
Gee what a small world we all live in, i have probably seen Les coming and going from Roxby Downs, as that was one of the mine sites i worked in while i was baded in Adelaide .I was a fly in fly outer from Adelaide,i worked 7 on 7 off though. Gee he has a crap roster not very family friendly at all. Most BHP Billiton sites now are trying to become more family .If that is ever possible doing fly in fly out one will never know in the short turm.I worked for BHP Billiton for over 20 years and loved every minute of it. But i moved on to start my own contracting work in OH&S and Enviro. I still often have to fly out to Roxby from time to time for one reason or another,but normaly for only 3/4 days at a time. I also worked at a mine out of Ceduna called Jycinth,and another one up around Woomera called Challenger,
Regards Herbie. And yep those Kanga's don;t bounce out the way in that area they kind of bounce off and come back at you for another go.
Marj - my son used to fit windscreens, and then he delivered them all over Victoria when he went back there to live - never had one with a scratch - he reckons you should have used Novus!!!
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
My insurance company arranged it Jules.. I just waited for the phonecall after the job was sent to them.
The guys in Bundy were shocked when it arrived like that. I thought it would be wrapped well too.
I read some where that the glass or maybe it was the windscreens come out of China now.Maybe some can clarify this. I also recall that the glass was not as tough as our Oz made galss,that also goes for glass in windows of buildings.
Herbie - that depends on whether it is a "genuine" or "after market" screen - "genuine" are made in Australia by what used to be Pilkington, and are now Veridian!
And it is not that they are not as tough, but sometimes have a "warp" or "ripple", which can distort vision. A good fitter will know the difference, and if you are not happy, don't accept it - ring your insurance company and let them handle it for you if the screen company give you grief.
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
I think the glass in our windscreen must be super tough herbie. It was replaced at least 3 years ago and within a few months had a new chip on the passenger side - but it has not gone any further despite all the kms and bumps and even passed rego inspection because it wasn't hindering the driver's vision.
Mine would be the same NeilnRuth. Both chips are on the passenger side, fairly big, 50cent size, but haven't split anymore with me driving all over this last week. Insurance company made the decision to replace because of the 2 chips only about a foot apart.
Looking at the windscreen it could possibly be the original, looks like it anyway. Maybe not, that would make it over 30 years old.
Mine would be the same NeilnRuth. Both chips are on the passenger side, fairly big, 50cent size, but haven't split anymore with me driving all over this last week. Insurance company made the decision to replace because of the 2 chips only about a foot apart.
Looking at the windscreen it could possibly be the original, looks like it anyway. Maybe not, that would make it over 30 years old.
Our insurance we have covers one windscreen replacment per year with out any no claim bonus loss....A good tip to get you out of trouble if you get a chip and are out of reach of getting it relaced ,just paint some clear nail polish over the crack/chip. it may need doing each morning until you can get it repaced.
I'm exhausted NeilnRuth. Thank goodness for rain today, have been able to rest. Yes Herbie, mines the same. One windscreen a year, no excess and don't lose my Rating 1 for Life, no loss of No Claim Bonus.
