Itinerant Air-Cooled

Just took ownership of a 75 westy, so be gentle.

I haven't run the bus much since I've brought it home. I'm trying to figure out what is broken and what has been hacked. I spent some time and cleaned the engine bay only to notice a small stain in the drive after running the engine to dry any left over water out of the bay. At first I thought it was just degreaser, but after looking closer I starting to think it's gas. For one it's not evaporating. It's also isolated to an area the size of a dessert dish. When I crawled under the bus the spot is directly under the fuel pump. Did I mention that that engine was swapped over to a carburetor?

Is this normal? Here's a picture of the pump with what looks like a drain tube.

hercdriver wrote:the spot is directly under the fuel pump.

Clean the pump, tighten the screws around its perimeter, snug but not nutso. Clean and dry the fuel hoses. Start engine and look for initiation of fuel wetness. Replace fuel hoses as a matter of course, do not scrimp, get the very best modern 5mm hose that resists the ethanol/oxygenated fuel blends that dry out the old fuel hose recipes.
Colin
(p.s. you do not want that exposed rectangular hole. It will fry the pump and the hoses)

Amskeptic wrote:

hercdriver wrote:the spot is directly under the fuel pump.

Clean the pump, tighten the screws around its perimeter, snug but not nutso. Clean and dry the fuel hoses. Start engine and look for initiation of fuel wetness. Replace fuel hoses as a matter of course, do not scrimp, get the very best modern 5mm hose that resists the ethanol/oxygenated fuel blends that dry out the old fuel hose recipes.
Colin
(p.s. you do not want that exposed rectangular hole. It will fry the pump and the hoses)

Consider it done.

What do I need to cover the rectangular hole?

Colin, I've been talking to the wife and would like to use your services when you come through western Pennsylvania. Let me know when you'll be out this way and we'll sync our schedules.

Dave

hercdriver wrote:

Amskeptic wrote:

hercdriver wrote:the spot is directly under the fuel pump.

Clean the pump, tighten the screws around its perimeter, snug but not nutso. Clean and dry the fuel hoses. Start engine and look for initiation of fuel wetness. Replace fuel hoses as a matter of course, do not scrimp, get the very best modern 5mm hose that resists the ethanol/oxygenated fuel blends that dry out the old fuel hose recipes.
Colin
(p.s. you do not want that exposed rectangular hole. It will fry the pump and the hoses)

Consider it done.

What do I need to cover the rectangular hole?

Colin, I've been talking to the wife and would like to use your services when you come through western Pennsylvania. Let me know when you'll be out this way and we'll sync our schedules.

Dave

A little piece of tin tapped with a baby ball peen hammer to outline the shape, cut nicely and drilled for the screws will work.

August 26th. That is pretty much the "This Is It" date. PM me with details, yaaah?
Colin

Excuse me if this is brief, but I had a good long day under the bus and really need to attend to my funk and my family.

1. Cleaned up the fuel pump
2. found most of the screws could be easily tightened
3. replaced fuel line from pump to carb, and removed filter from eng. bay

Took it for a quick spin and haven't seen a drop under the bus!

Hopefully this was an easy one.

Here's a pic of the after.

That drain hose has always been tucked into that round hole in the bottom tin plate on all the "two" engines i've ever owned.

iwantmybustorun wrote:That drain hose has always been tucked into that round hole in the bottom tin plate on all the "two" engines i've ever owned.

That makes sense. Any extra fuel would be collected and burnt in the tin.

iwantmybustorun wrote:That drain hose has always been tucked into that round hole in the bottom tin plate on all the "two" engines i've ever owned.

Colin told me the drain tube is supposed to drain to the ground. It is a relief drain in the event the pump diaphragm cracks... a catastrophic failure scenario. Would you want gasoline draining into the engine tins? I think not.

herc- I had a similar problem with a wet fuel pump, same model as yours. It turned out to be a cracked fuel line at the T in the engine bay. That's likely your issue too. Glad it's better.

Birdibus wrote:

iwantmybustorun wrote:That drain hose has always been tucked into that round hole in the bottom tin plate on all the "two" engines i've ever owned.

Colin told me the drain tube is supposed to drain to the ground. It is a relief drain in the event the pump diaphragm cracks... a catastrophic failure scenario. Would you want gasoline draining into the engine tins? I think not.

The drain hose does go into the little round hole in the right lower tin. The airflow through the cooling system quickly dilutes it to an uncombustible level.

Amskeptic wrote:

Birdibus wrote:

iwantmybustorun wrote:That drain hose has always been tucked into that round hole in the bottom tin plate on all the "two" engines i've ever owned.

Colin told me the drain tube is supposed to drain to the ground. It is a relief drain in the event the pump diaphragm cracks... a catastrophic failure scenario. Would you want gasoline draining into the engine tins? I think not.

The drain hose does go into the little round hole in the right lower tin. The airflow through the cooling system quickly dilutes it to an uncombustible level.

OH! thanks for clearing that up.

hercdriver wrote:

There is a piece of tin work missing- it will cover the square hole that allows us to see the cooling fins of your head there. I think it's purpose is to route warm air into the carbs up top.

It's shaped kind of like a telephone. The other end of the phone fits onto the front of the big upper engine tin piece, that wide piece that goes across the width of the upper part of the engine.

VWBusrepairman wrote:

hercdriver wrote:

There is a piece of tin work missing- it will cover the square hole that allows us to see the cooling fins of your head there. I think it's purpose is to route warm air into the carbs up top.

Anyone have a picture? Or even have an extra one they'd like to sell?

PM me if you want me to send them to you.

PM sent