Trail run #3

Fitted the lunchbox with a lid, onto which was mounted the camera. This stayed shut nicely, but the camera had quite a bit of vertical flopping. The trail was supposed to be easier, but once again proved too difficult. Any downward slope sent it flying down at full speed when the tachometer failed to register any motor speed. Ruts & drainage ditches were impassible. It was too noisy. Slowed it down to 6mph to reduce the noise. Only some flat areas at the bottom of the canyon were passable.

After 5.7 miles, the transmission blew & the motor spun like mad. Carried it the remaneing 0.25 miles. It wasn't a bolt becoming undone. It was melted plastic where once a bushing had been. The melted bushing allowed the mane gear to slip off the pinion gear. Once the pinion gear was far enough off, it melted through the mane gear. The bushing melted because it wasn't lubricated. The reason for the lack of lubrication was this guy: https://youtu.be/p492Viawjw0?t=14m30s

Helas, for someone driving hundreds of miles, lubrication was necessary. The consequence was melting.

A few hours later, the transmission was rebuilt & working again with a few gallons of grease. Realigned the pinion to grab the remaneing gear. Enough was unmelted to keep it going, but ball bearings are a long term necessity. The transmission was damaged enough, it may be time for a new vehicle.

The forest was too dark to get any video. There were occasional frames in which a blurry lion appeared. There is some sensation in the blurry video of trail running.