DFB's Garage
- Thread starter DFB
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Deyon and a nice thing to do.
DFB
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- Aug 12, 2019
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I often slag off where I live, known nationally as the drug capital of Australia...................but like anything, there is a flip side. A 10-minute drive from town and you are passing through the countries peak fruit growing area, and at this time of the year that means a landscape of bare, skeletalized fruit trees. An extra 10 minutes' drive and you are presented with fields of cropping land. Another 20 minutes and you have rolling hills and paddocks full of sheep and cattle.
Considering the atrocious weather today, there was nothing else to do but get in a car and go for a drive. Too wet for the garage queens, so the Ranger it was. The wonderful Table Manners Podcast playing on the radio.
There is a hill not long after the above photos that tests even the most stout of engines. Needless to say, the Ranger at full throttle in 2nd gear struggled significantly. :lol
The photos don't do the landscape justice, the greenery is simply beautiful.
Now compare that to photos taken in the same location nearly 8 months ago at the start of summer...................
The roads couldn't have been wetter today, with plenty of pooled puddles caught in the farmland roads that I traveled along. The precipitation varied from a gentle shower to driving, heavy rain. The Ranger took it in its stripe, only getting a little flighty when ponding through large puddles. She also moves around on those baggy tyres, but then they really helped on the patchy surface and potholes.
Considering the atrocious weather today, there was nothing else to do but get in a car and go for a drive. Too wet for the garage queens, so the Ranger it was. The wonderful Table Manners Podcast playing on the radio.
There is a hill not long after the above photos that tests even the most stout of engines. Needless to say, the Ranger at full throttle in 2nd gear struggled significantly. :lol
The photos don't do the landscape justice, the greenery is simply beautiful.
Now compare that to photos taken in the same location nearly 8 months ago at the start of summer...................
The roads couldn't have been wetter today, with plenty of pooled puddles caught in the farmland roads that I traveled along. The precipitation varied from a gentle shower to driving, heavy rain. The Ranger took it in its stripe, only getting a little flighty when ponding through large puddles. She also moves around on those baggy tyres, but then they really helped on the patchy surface and potholes.
Karl_in_Chicago
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- Jun 9, 2007
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DFB
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- Aug 12, 2019
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I noticed late last week that my original CTEK MXS 3.6 wasn't actually charging the battery it was connected to, the Mustang. I have two chargers, this and a newer MXS 5.0. I connected the new one to the Mustang and it began charging, then pulse cycling as they are designed to do rather than a continuous trickle. The old one wasn't doing this, so I guess it was time for replacement. Looking at my records, I bought this charger in November 2011, so I've had a decent run out of it.
I briefly entertained a switch to a different brand but quickly ruled that out as I already have whip lines fitted to each battery. These quick connect lines eliminate the need for the standard alligator clips, which I'm not a fan of as in some cases it doesn't provide a properly secure grip. The fittings also mean a single connection to the battery, not two separate attachments.
Standard alligator clips..................
At the moment, Amazon has the cheapest price for the MXS 5.0 by a considerable margin, free shipping as well. You can also get them from eBay, but Amazon have a much easier process to follow should a return be needed. Quite often, CTEK will be on sale at the likes of Repco and Autobarn, but I'm impatient and wanted one NOW. Ordered on Sunday night, here Tuesday morning. I paid less for this newer/better version than I did for the original one in 2011.
To be truthful, the old MXS 3.6 had been playing up for a while. After hooking it up, I had to "massage" the mode button to get it to select the correct setting, sometimes it would work instantly, other times it needed quite a number of attempts. The newer MXS 5.0 will automatically select the correct mode setting.
CTEK are probably overpriced for what they are, but I've stuck with the brand as it simplifies a process that I don't like dealing with, for some reason I get anxious working with batteries.
I briefly entertained a switch to a different brand but quickly ruled that out as I already have whip lines fitted to each battery. These quick connect lines eliminate the need for the standard alligator clips, which I'm not a fan of as in some cases it doesn't provide a properly secure grip. The fittings also mean a single connection to the battery, not two separate attachments.
Standard alligator clips..................
At the moment, Amazon has the cheapest price for the MXS 5.0 by a considerable margin, free shipping as well. You can also get them from eBay, but Amazon have a much easier process to follow should a return be needed. Quite often, CTEK will be on sale at the likes of Repco and Autobarn, but I'm impatient and wanted one NOW. Ordered on Sunday night, here Tuesday morning. I paid less for this newer/better version than I did for the original one in 2011.
CTEK MXS 5.0, Battery Charger 12V with Built in Temperature Compensation, Motorcycle and Car Charger, Smart Battery Charger, Battery Maintainer with Reconditioning Mode and Dedicated AGM Mode : Amazon.com.au: Automotive
CTEK MXS 5.0, Battery Charger 12V with Built in Temperature Compensation, Motorcycle and Car Charger, Smart Battery Charger, Battery Maintainer with Reconditioning Mode and Dedicated AGM Mode : Amazon.com.au: Automotive
www.amazon.com.au
To be truthful, the old MXS 3.6 had been playing up for a while. After hooking it up, I had to "massage" the mode button to get it to select the correct setting, sometimes it would work instantly, other times it needed quite a number of attempts. The newer MXS 5.0 will automatically select the correct mode setting.
CTEK are probably overpriced for what they are, but I've stuck with the brand as it simplifies a process that I don't like dealing with, for some reason I get anxious working with batteries.
