Monrovia, Liberia
Tuesday 27. November 2007

Day by day in a workshop bay

This is a detailed day by day progress report from my visit at National Service Garbage. My deadline doesnt seam so important anymore as I witnessed the electrican changing a fuse in my gps unit. It took him three days to purchase a 50 cent fuse.

It is now 23 days since I broke down north of Kakata with the "miracle-gearbox" made out of an Isuzu engine. We are now loosing money every single day as I already cancelled two co-pilot and hate to see a delay on meeting up with the third one. In cash that represent close to 1000 US dollars!

Day 23; Gearbox promised to be delivered at 11.00 were they would start mounting immediately. Just got info that they are rebuilding that box as well to fit into my casing (a longer shaft was needed). Sorry to say that this gearbox also got altered with.

LATEST! Delivery postponed by 12.30 due to "something came up..."

LATEST LATEST!!! GB came at 15.30. mounting continues Wednesday

Day 20-22; Waiting for gearbox

Day 19; GB-I breaks down, trying a different transferbox and after testing that didnt help. Stripping the gearbox for the nt...time. Locating a new donor-gearbox (GB-II)

Day 18; During test the gearbox worked fine. Just a few details to fix before takeoff Friday morning. We are ready to go!

Day 17; Fitting of rear wheel shaft / repairing damaged pipe

Day 16; Betsy is is finally starting

Day 15; Doesnt start

Day 14; Doesnt start

Day 13; Day off

Day 12; 30 minutes work without result

Day 11; Takes the whole day to fetch a sensor

Day 10; Moving the car to a professional (!!!) workshop