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  #1  
Old 14 Mar 2016
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Mechanical assistance in Darwin
G'day,

Just started my round-the-world trip from Brisbane last week. Currently in Darwin doing some maintenance on my DR 650 before I ship it to East Timor. I've managed to strip the threads on the oil filter case and my attempts to fix it have only made things worse, as usual. Just wanted to know if anyone can give me a hand or recommend a mechanic. Beers will be on me.

Cheers,

Nick
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Old 15 Mar 2016
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Just search the recomendation and found this
Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveSmith View Post
I stripped out my exhaust flange and was referred by several people to John Ottley in Darwin. He's great. He rides a Goldwing and builds hotrods. He's also a helluva machinist.

He takes off with his wife for 6-8 weeks a year riding around Australia, but I lucked out and he was around when I showed up. He fixed up my bike at no charge which was a relief because the shops that referred me to him said, "he's good, but expensive" and I was worried how expensive it would be.

If you're here and need help, try calling him. John Ottley (089) 85 4961

--Dave

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Trying to ride (and work) my way round the world on a 1965 Ducati 250cc. Australia, New Zealand and Japan are first. Drunken Monkey Motorcycle
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Old 15 Mar 2016
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thedurrieking View Post
G'day,

Just started my round-the-world trip from Brisbane last week. Currently in Darwin doing some maintenance on my DR 650 before I ship it to East Timor. I've managed to strip the threads on the oil filter case and my attempts to fix it have only made things worse, as usual. Just wanted to know if anyone can give me a hand or recommend a mechanic. Beers will be on me.

Cheers,

Nick
Suggest you contact Darwinite Nick.

Dave is very friendly and helpful, an avid rider, based just south of Darwin, and hosts a fair few travellers coming from/going to Timor del Este.

Hi Dave.
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Old 15 Mar 2016
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Cheers guys,

Managed to drill the stripped filter case holes out to a larger size, but the thread on the sump drain was a bit stripped as well. Took it to Darwin Motorycles, nice guys, and they said they'd chuck a helicoil in. Turns out the guy I bought the motorbike from must have stripped it before and drilled the hole out to accommodate a Landcruiser's massive sump plug... The motorbike mechanics didn't have a helicoil kit that big but now the thread is properly stripped and I can't get any oil in to it to move it so the saga continues tomorrow.

I'll send Drwnite a message, might have to make a few more posts first. I don't think my rellies are too keen on me doing work on the bike in their garage and I'm trying to get on the next boat out of Darwin.

Nick
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Old 15 Mar 2016
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Old 16 Mar 2016
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thedurrieking View Post
...
Take it to a normal 4wd mechanic, if its a land cruiser sump plug... jut get them to helicoil for a cruiser plug and run with that plug, there should be no reason you cant run the land cruiser plug. you probably will never be able to fit a dr plug again, unless you get the hole TIG welded up and re drilled to the correct size.
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Old 17 Mar 2016
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Darwin Motorcycles managed to track down a kit big enough for it, so all's well. Met up with Drwinite as well, great bloke.
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