Cirque de Cagateille

A wander up into the Cirque de Cagateille with Sheri and Michiel. We hadn't planned on a long day, it's been sub-zero at night and the cirque gets little sun. We had two vague ideas - either head up to the Etang de la Hillette or take the little path that heads left two thirds of the way up the headwall to reach the Etang de Piède. We opted for the latter because none of us had done it before!

Waterfalls all frozen but not enough ice for good climbing

  The steep climb up the headwall

The left path continues to climb steeply through the forest crossing below the arête of Mont Terquet (below the Pointe de la Hillette) before emerging from the trees at about 1600m. Shortly after we hit the snow. 5 cm of relatively fresh stuff on top of iron hard névé or water ice. The path was quickly buried under a slope sat at about 35 degrees. I went ahead with ice axe and crampons and was soon forced to front point up an increasingly exposed and icy slope. I reached the water ice in the photo below, where I decided onward progress was too difficult and dangerous without rope protection, plus we only had two axes between four of us.

We turned around and headed back into the forest for lunch.

A bit of a disappointing sunless day...but snow is coming!!

Tractor day 4

Only a few hours on the tractor today as I had architecture work to do. Some problems trying to get the flywheel off, but in the end I made a flywheel puller from some steel angle and bolts and eventually after some "hammer persuasion" it came off. Engine plate, alternator, starting motor, hydraulic pump, etc removed. Tomorrow I should be able to remove what's left of the engine from the tractor and get it into the workshop to finally remove the crankshaft.

Tractor day 3

 head pistons and cylinders removed

One of the connecting rod shells (cousinettes) had overheated and melted over the crankshaft. Hopefully I can get this machined off to save having to buy a new crankshaft at 1350 euros!

The rest of the engine

Tractor day 2

The morning was spent restocking our firewood in the house, which took longer without the tractor. After finishing the bobbins for Susie's spinning wheel (I've been waiting since Christmas for some brass tube to arrive), it was time to press on with the tractor again.

After checking that the hydraulic pump hadn't seized as this might have been blocking the engine from turning, it was time to attack the main engine. A lot of bits to remove before I could get to the head. The injectors, rocker arms, fuel lines, exhaust manifold (very choked with carbon inside), air intake and lots of other bits of bodywork and support. I took off the first head (it's a 2 cylinder 2 litre engine). Thankfully the cylinder and piston both look OK, the connecting rod bearing was stuck, it'll need to be replaced and after removing it the engine is turning. Still have to inspect the crankshaft for damage but at first glance its looks OK.

Things are looking more hopeful. If I just need to clean and rebuild, replacing gaskets, copper washers, the oil pressure sensor, the connecting rod bearings, oil and filters. I could get away with 150 euros of parts and 4-5 days of work. I'll find out for sure tomorrow.

Tractor problems

The tractor (an Antonio Carraro Tigre 2700) is probably our most useful tool. It transports our firewood, hay, building materials, etc, cuts the fields, makes hay, harrows, pulls cars out of ditches, fallen trees out of the fields, and mulches branches.

On Wednesday it sudden died whilst operating the mulcher. After a couple of tries at restarting it seized.

After removing the sump and some other exploratory work it seems the oil pressure sensor was broken and so I didn't notice it was low on oil - the oil pump may also have failed. Crankshaft looks OK from underneath.  The next step is to take off the head and see how bad the damage is internally. Hoping I can rebuild the engine if the head isn't damaged.

The engine a ruggerini RD220 isn't made anymore, though parts are still available. Haven't been able to find any reconditioned engines on-line.

La Serre, Col du Pause, Cour Vic

Susie's photos