Tom17 Posted July 8, 2013 Share Posted July 8, 2013 Hi all went off roading at hill and ditch quarry the other day was really good! Although I'm now paying the price my car is overheating due to mud being clogged up in the radiator an intercooler and my handbrake is sticking on? Can anybody advise me what to do about both? And how I can prevent this happening again? Are there any guards or covers i can get? Thanks Tom Also some pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aragorn Posted July 8, 2013 Share Posted July 8, 2013 Wash the radiator out with a hose... Handbrake will need dismantled and cleaned out. Fitting an X-Brake would stop you having futher issues with the brake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonr Posted July 8, 2013 Share Posted July 8, 2013 Low pressure hose through Radiator. It's worth rigging up the hose so it can spray on the rad for half an hour or more as it's difficult to get the mud out of the middle of the cores. If that fails, remove the rad and leave it sitting in a bath of water over night - then run water through the fins. It's amazing how much mud falls out! For the Handbrake, the only real solution is to remove the drum and wash out the internals. It's worth dismantling the expander mechanism, cleaning and re-assembling with a load of really sticky waterproof grease (stern tube grease fro example). It also might be worth drilling a couple of big holes in the outside of the drum while it's off. These allow mud to be centrifuged out while it's running and give you somewhere to poke a hose pipe in without having to dismantle. If you have rear drum brakes in the wheels - it's worth doing the same on these. On mine, I made the holes line up with the gaps in my rims - so I could easily get the hose inside without removing a wheel. Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted July 8, 2013 Share Posted July 8, 2013 Just to add don't use a pressure washer to clean the radiator as it is very easy to damage the fins. You could try a wading blanket to keep the mud out ..... EDIT: Si beat me to it with a much more comprehensive answer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom17 Posted July 8, 2013 Author Share Posted July 8, 2013 Low pressure hose through Radiator. It's worth rigging up the hose so it can spray on the rad for half an hour or more as it's difficult to get the mud out of the middle of the cores.If that fails, remove the rad and leave it sitting in a bath of water over night - then run water through the fins. It's amazing how much mud falls out! For the Handbrake, the only real solution is to remove the drum and wash out the internals. It's worth dismantling the expander mechanism, cleaning and re-assembling with a load of really sticky waterproof grease (stern tube grease fro example). It also might be worth drilling a couple of big holes in the outside of the drum while it's off. These allow mud to be centrifuged out while it's running and give you somewhere to poke a hose pipe in without having to dismantle. If you have rear drum brakes in the wheels - it's worth doing the same on these. On mine, I made the holes line up with the gaps in my rims - so I could easily get the hose inside without removing a wheel. Si Right will have to try get under it tonight! How big of a job is it to dismantle the drum etc? Also I've seen on a couple of off readers they have like covers on the grill that clip on and off? Just for use while off roading what are these called Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonr Posted July 8, 2013 Share Posted July 8, 2013 Taking the drum off, servicing and reassembling will take about an hour - maybe two depending how easily your prop shaft bolts are to remove. It's an easy job though. I used to have a sheet of the mesh used for fire guards (very small holes / fine mesh) which I could slip down between the slam panel and radiator. This stopped all but the smallest particles ending up in the rad, but still allowed some cooling. You can often buy the mesh in Garden Centres. Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted July 8, 2013 Share Posted July 8, 2013 Wading blanket, as above, this sort of thing: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DA2161B-Land-Rover-Defender-Radiator-Grille-Muff-Wading-Cover-Blanket-90-110-/110820866626?hash=item19cd703a42 No affiliation, not used, or tested, might be terrible Really need to remember to open it after wading though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diablo Posted July 8, 2013 Share Posted July 8, 2013 The only decent solution to the handbrake problem is to get an X-brake - you'll soon get fed up of stripping the handbrake every time you go through a bit of mud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbs Posted July 8, 2013 Share Posted July 8, 2013 The only decent solution to the handbrake problem is to get an X-brake - you'll soon get fed up of stripping the handbrake every time you go through a bit of mud. Ditto, bought it-fitted it, more or less forgot about it-It's that good I only remember it's there because it works properly and I'm not going to have to do what the original poster has now got to do!! John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Smith Posted July 8, 2013 Share Posted July 8, 2013 Another X-brake here, would never go back to the drum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted July 8, 2013 Share Posted July 8, 2013 & mine, my drum trans brake remove & X-brake fitting post is in our tech archive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejparrott Posted July 8, 2013 Share Posted July 8, 2013 And another, i've had a few issues with mine, but I'd never go back to a drum brake! My 109 is due to get an LT77 and LT230..it'll start life with its drum brake, but as soon as I can afford it it'll be getting an X-brake! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonr Posted July 8, 2013 Share Posted July 8, 2013 Unsurprisingly - me too , but not everyone has the resources to buy one - and there are other, cheaper options, even if they're a bit more hassle long term. Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted July 8, 2013 Share Posted July 8, 2013 I'm sure someone on here had drilled their hand brake drum to allow them to hose it out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discomikey Posted July 8, 2013 Share Posted July 8, 2013 my handbrake hasnt worked in ages and ages. i fix it every MOT and it seems to last a week if that, i could sort it, but i am normally too busy, i just live without it most of the time i know its not useful info, but if you cant afford to buy an x brake the engine will hold it no problem. its just sometimes a little annoying when opening gates as you have to shut it off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom17 Posted July 8, 2013 Author Share Posted July 8, 2013 my handbrake hasnt worked in ages and ages. i fix it every MOT and it seems to last a week if that, i could sort it, but i am normally too busy, i just live without it most of the time i know its not useful info, but if you cant afford to buy an x brake the engine will hold it no problem. its just sometimes a little annoying when opening gates as you have to shut it off. Yeah think that's going to have to be the option for the time being until I can afford the x brake! Anybody know how hard they are to fit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted July 8, 2013 Share Posted July 8, 2013 Yeah think that's going to have to be the option for the time being until I can afford the x brake! Anybody know how hard they are to fit? see my reply above, easily done over a weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbs Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 Yeah think that's going to have to be the option for the time being until I can afford the x brake! Anybody know how hard they are to fit? About 2+ hours If you're taking your time-but worth it-it really is!!, John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejparrott Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 Absolute doddle to fit! I think the worst bit about fitting mine was getting the prop to pull back to get the drum off (slider was stuck), and then I got an oil shower as the felt seal had gone on the output shaft...which meant I had an extra job to do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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