Colin visits Oregon72

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Oregon72
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Colin visits Oregon72

Post by Oregon72 » Thu Jun 25, 2009 5:46 pm

Wow - what a day yesterday!! A great day with a great person. My head was spinning in the first hour with a bit of VW Theory. Colin must have thought he was dealing with a guy that got dropped on his head as kid. :blackeye:

On the test drive, Colin got 10 feet backed out of the driveway and my shifting is so outta whack that he pulls back up the driveway
"we can't drive it like this" and I says "what do you mean I've driven it this way for years". His suspicion is correct, my stop plate was put in 180 degrees bass-ackwards. Fixed it right there and my shift lever is waaay better now, but I need to retrain myself on where the gears are supposed to be. Felt like I was 15 again trying for my driving permit.

Dual carb adjustment was a little challenging to wrap my pea-brain around, but I feel like I'm beginning to get a better hold on that now. The day gave me a ton of information to think about, but Colin is a patient teacher and never made me feel like an idiot - I did that to myself :blackeye: .

After three separate and distinct compression tests throughout the day we determined that #1 cylinder is one step from the old volks home, slightly schizophrenic and excitable with a dropper of oil. 60lbs dry, then 150lbs with oil :shock: Colin had never seen a cylinder shoot up that much from oil. Both Colin and I were both scratching our heads and eventually with some very keen diagnostic thought - determined that somewhere along the brake booster circuit there is a very slight vacuum leak. Plugging up the brake booster pipes on each manifold started getting #1 to participate just barely - Colin referred to #1 as anemic and I thought that was a good word for it, test later in the day was 90lbs dry and more head scratching.


Among other things, we adjusted clutch pedal freeplay, adjusted rear brakes and parking brake (now holds the dang bus if you can believe it).

Once the carbs were set and timing verified, Colin revved the crap out my engine while listening to the bottom end and told told me that he hated me because it sounded really healthy down there even with an unknown prior owner history. Eventually I'll need new P&Cs and head work to remedy #1 but all in all, with fixing up that ever so slight vacuum leak, I'll probably be able to baby it for just a while longer and then get crackin' on my first ever rebuild.

My new bright white timing marks Colin painted on are sweet :cheers:

Thanks Colin - just wish we had a little more time. I'm sure all your customers say that. =D>

Snapped this crappy self-timed pic right before I bid him farewell.

Image
-'72 Westy-

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AirCooledNut
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Post by AirCooledNut » Thu Jun 25, 2009 6:07 pm

For those who don't know one from the other, Colin is on the left. I just met both of them for the first time at Maupin. Cool guys!
Toby http://www.aircoolednut.com/
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dhoch14
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Post by dhoch14 » Thu Jun 25, 2009 7:21 pm

where are the cigs & beer?

oh wait...that was at the LAB
:)
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LiveonJG
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Post by LiveonJG » Thu Jun 25, 2009 9:05 pm

Was that your first Colinization Troy? You're head wil be spinning with theory for weeks.

-John
Keep it acoustic.

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satchmo
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Post by satchmo » Thu Jun 25, 2009 9:30 pm

Dude, are you sure you drive a VW bus? That garage there is waaaay too clean. For a six pack some of us will be happy to come over, put some holes in the walls and make you some shelving and hang-up space.

You guys also look way too clean for having worked on a bus all day.

Tim
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First, by reflection, which is noblest;
second, by immitation, which is easiest;
and third, by experience, which is bitterest. -Confucius

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Oregon72
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Post by Oregon72 » Thu Jun 25, 2009 10:39 pm

LiveonJG wrote:Was that your first Colinization Troy? You're head wil be spinning with theory for weeks.
-John
Yes - my first. I think my brain is still in the numb stage. :drunken:
I've gotten used to the Muir way of doing the few things I know how to do. Muir's procedures emphasize that you are not supposed to think, just follow the stinkin' directions you idiot (hence the book title). Colin's way appears to utilize creative and artful thinking along with putting to use some general mechanical physics and math and then lay on a bit of intuition and logic...... and this is exactly why my head is still spinning. :king:
satchmo wrote:Dude, are you sure you drive a VW bus? That garage there is waaaay too clean. For a six pack some of us will be happy to come over, put some holes in the walls and make you some shelving and hang-up space.

You guys also look way too clean for having worked on a bus all day.

Tim
Ha!! The shelves full of rarely used stuff are in the back. Gotta fit the bus and our Honda in there. I try (against the will of my wife at times) to not buy too much stuff that ends up just getting tripped over. Like my brother used to tell me, "first you own your stuff, then it owns you".

Too clean - yes :cheers: We cleaned up the hands a bit and Colin changed out of his work shirt right before he left. I never seem to get too dirty when working on my bus - but maybe that means I'm just not doin' it right :bom: ......, now if you give me a rack of Mark's BBQ Maupin ribs,that's a different story - post-ribs, there will likely be some laundry needing to be done. :cheers:
-'72 Westy-

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Sylvester
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Re: Colin visits Oregon72

Post by Sylvester » Fri Jun 26, 2009 12:09 pm

Oregon72 wrote:Snapped this crappy self-timed pic right before I bid him farewell.

Image
I agree, this looks too good a shot.
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue, I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace. Where never lark, or even eagle flew. And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod, The high untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

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Oregon72
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Re: Colin visits Oregon72

Post by Oregon72 » Fri Jun 26, 2009 1:17 pm

Sylvester wrote:
Oregon72 wrote:Snapped this crappy self-timed pic right before I bid him farewell.

Image
I agree, this looks too good a shot.


Look at the left forearm - Grease!!! Ok- yeah you had to look close, but that is some grease. The grease is clearly there, your Honor. I swear we worked on that bus!! I swear!! You have to believe me ....(escorted out of the courtroom in hand cuffs kicking and screaming)
-'72 Westy-

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spiffy
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Post by spiffy » Fri Jun 26, 2009 1:25 pm

You could totally handle new rod bearings, p&c's, and heads. Especially with the Pdx rescue squad close by.
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Gypsie
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Post by Gypsie » Fri Jun 26, 2009 4:03 pm

My wrench awaits your call, sir (tight three fingers to brow with a brisk sweep)


Everyone together:


"One for all and all for beer...." :pirate:

I'll put some dark greazy marks on that nice white wall....Bwaaahaaahaaa!
So it all started when I wanted to get better gas mileage....

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glasseye
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Post by glasseye » Fri Jun 26, 2009 4:36 pm

Gypsie wrote: I'll put some dark greazy marks on that nice white wall....Bwaaahaaahaaa!
No kidding! Way, WAY too kleen! :drunken:
"This war will pay for itself."
Paul Wolfowitz, speaking of Iraq.

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amishman
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Re: Colin visits Oregon72

Post by amishman » Fri Jun 26, 2009 4:40 pm

Oregon72 wrote: Snapped this crappy self-timed pic right before I bid him farewell.

Image
Very cool. Looked like you had fun. After I work on something all day, normally my face is pale white under the grease marks, my over-alls are all wet, I have a hunched over little frail body, as I drag myself into the kitchen for some orange grainy soapy stuff to clean the grease off. Then I plop on couch and try to figure out what I just accomplished all day. :blackeye:

Looks like you did tons!

Nice job.

tj
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Oregon72
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Re: Colin visits Oregon72

Post by Oregon72 » Fri Jun 26, 2009 11:50 pm

amishman wrote: .... After I work on something all day, normally my face is pale white under the grease marks, my over-alls are all wet, I have a hunched over little frail body, as I drag myself into the kitchen for some orange grainy soapy stuff to clean the grease off. Then I plop on couch and..


tj
Now TJ, you have to realize that Colin and I - ya' see -- are specimens of prime health and vitality. :cyclopsani:


PDX'ers - I know it is a little bit further out to Sherwood for helping but I will make sure the beer flows good and cold for you my generous booze lovin' mechanikin' comrades. :partyman:
-'72 Westy-

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amishman
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Re: Colin visits Oregon72

Post by amishman » Sat Jun 27, 2009 6:39 pm

Oregon72 wrote:
amishman wrote: .... After I work on something all day, normally my face is pale white under the grease marks, my over-alls are all wet, I have a hunched over little frail body, as I drag myself into the kitchen for some orange grainy soapy stuff to clean the grease off. Then I plop on couch and..


tj
Now TJ, you have to realize that Colin and I - ya' see -- are specimens of prime health and vitality. :cyclopsani:


PDX'ers - I know it is a little bit further out to Sherwood for helping but I will make sure the beer flows good and cold for you my generous booze lovin' mechanikin' comrades. :partyman:
Is it the beer that makes you all this way? I will have to start drinking again. I stopped and can barely get bye these days. :drunken:

tj
--------------------------------------------------
"As smart as I can be, the dumber I can become."

tj (the amishman)

Visit my web site if you can.
http://www.vwhippie.com

Come see more pictures and videos of my rides at!
http://www.flixya.com/user/amishman

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