Day 35: Repairs in Novosibirsk

Number of tie wraps: 16 (8 added since last post)

Countdown: 4021 miles down, 4564 to go

Quote of the day: “We got spring!”

First, a picture of a nice contrail over our hotel in Novosibirsk. I’m a bit starved for airplanes on this trip!

Contrail over hotel in Novosibirsk

Contrail over hotel in Novosibirsk (Eileen Bjorkman photo)

At 10 this morning, we caught a taxi back to the auto market to put our rear shock plan into motion. The goal was to make a field repair that will get the Roadster to Moscow, where Luke has a friend who can fabricate some shocks if we still can’t get the ones the Roadster really needs.

First, we found a can of “Tire Doctor,” which Luke thought he might use to re-inflate and seal the deflated air bags on the rear shocks. The can holds a foam that can be used to make an emergency repair to a flat tire when a spare isn’t available.

The Tire Doctor

The Tire Doctor (Eileen Bjorkman photo)

Next it was time to look at springs. Lots of springs. Luke’s idea was to put the springs over each shock on the outside and clamp them in place.

Spring display at the auto market

Spring display at the auto market (Eileen Bjorkman photo)

A set designed for a Honda Civic looked like they might work.

Checking out the springs to see if they'll work

Checking out the springs to see if they’ll work (Eileen Bjorkman photo)

After getting some heavy-duty clamps, we returned to the hotel parking lot, and laid out the goodies.

The haul from the auto market

The haul from the auto market (Eileen Bjorkman photo)

First up was the Tire Doctor. Note the label, “For Professional Use Only,” so we let Luke do all the dirty work (not!).

Don't try this at home!

Don’t try this at home! (Eileen Bjorkman photo)

But first the rear of the Roadster had to be jacked up, using this handy brick from the side of the parking lot to help out. The brick is now part of the Roadster toolbox.

Russian brick used to help jack up the Roadster

Russian brick used to help jack up the Roadster (Eileen Bjorkman photo)

Here’s what the collapsed air shocks looked like.

The collapsed rear air shocks

The collapsed rear air shocks (Eileen Bjorkman photo)

Luke hooked up the nozzle on the Tire Doctor to the air valve used to pump up the struts and started spraying. At first, the foam seemed to be going into the tubes and into the shocks, but after about 20 seconds, the white foam started spewing all over the Roadster, the spare tire, the ground, and pretty much everywhere but into the air lines.

The Tire Doctor was a little messy to use

The Tire Doctor was a little messy to use (Eileen Bjorkman photo)

At that point, we thought the Tire Doctor wasn’t going to work, but then Luke checked the struts and found that they had re-inflated a bit, so John started spraying the foam while Luke stayed under the car to watch the progress. After about three more minutes of spraying the foam in a bit at a time, Luke called out, “It looks like they’re holding!”

Luke checking the struts

Luke checking the struts (Eileen Bjorkman photo)

After pumping up the shocks with a bit of air, John tested them, and the patch job seemed to be holding.

Shock test

Shock test (Eileen Bjorkman photo)

After a lot more air, Luke lowered the car back onto the rear shocks, and they now have about 120 pounds of pressure, which four hours later, is still holding steady. The rear of the car looks much better now — you can see the tops of the tires again!

Success!

Success! (Eileen Bjorkman photo)

The springs are now a backup plan in case the Tire Doctor fix doesn’t hold. Luke figures he can put the springs on in about an hour by the side of the road if necessary.

The backup plan -- slide the springs over the shocks

The backup plan — slide the springs over the shocks (Eileen Bjorkman photo)

John and Luke also repaired some damage to the right rear fender of the Roadster shown in the photo below.

A crack in the right rear fender, probably caused by jarring from the bumpy roads

A crack in the right rear fender, probably caused by jarring from the bumpy roads (Eileen Bjorkman photo)

Luke patched the crack with Gorilla tape (a suitable substitution for duct tape, I’m told).

Gorilla Tape repair

Gorilla Tape repair (Eileen Bjorkman photo)

John worked some tie wrap magic to pull the fender closer to the frame to reduce the vibration, adding eight more tie wraps to the total. With a little luck, the fender repair will last until Moscow, where Luke’s friend can spot weld the crack.

Eight more tie wraps -- total is now 16!

Eight more tie wraps — total is now 16! (Eileen Bjorkman photo)

This afternoon, we walked around Novosibirsk for about two hours and watched people enjoying the nice weather in the central square,

People enjoying their holiday in Novosibirsk

People enjoying their holiday in Novosibirsk (Eileen Bjorkman photo)

as well as a celebration in a large park, where there was fun for both young and old.

Young singers in the park

Young singers in the park (Eileen Bjorkman photo)

Older dancers in the park

Older dancers in the park (Eileen Bjorkman photo)

Tomorrow morning, we head to Omsk to try out the Roadster repairs from the last two days.