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Victoria University Antarctic Research Expedition Science and Logistics Reports 1978-79: VUWAE 23
Event 12b
Event 12b
Movement on the sea ice was by two Sno-tracs (Nos. 35 & 12) and one OMC motor toboggan (#23). Snotrac 12 was replaced by another OMC (#25) on 6 December in New Harbour. Considering the purpose of the expedition the vehicles (especially sno-tracs) proved immensely successful and practical, although mechanical problems were encountered. Fortunately the expertise of Stew Ross, allied with good co-operation from Scott Base, sorted the problems out, and underlined the need for parties using Sno-tracs to have at least one member with considerable mechanical experience. Each sno-trac could pull two fully loaded Tamworth sledges; the motor-toboggan coped easily with one Nanses. The toboggan proved most reliable till late in the programme (12 December) when soft powder snow on a reconnaissance of the Blue Glacier proved too heavy on a weld associated with the track runners.
| Sno-trac 12 | - | one puncture |
| - | a sheared weld on the rear stub axle | |
| - | a nylon spacer within the inner clutch housing came out of position due to loss of a pin. | |
| Sno-trac 35 | - | had continual fuel starvation problems due to sedimentation and clogging of the carburetor. Only frequent cleaning helped alleviate this problem. |
| Motor Toboggan (#23) | - | Normal starting problems most of the time (i.e. susceptible to flooding) |
| - | a sheared rear tracker weld. |