Colin visits justgimmecoffee
Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 7:00 pm
Colin arrived, we got the coffee going and got down to brass tacks in short order.
Started off with a bit of conversation & the plan of attack. I am by no means a morning person, so I tried to keep up.. but he moves pretty fast.
Fueled up the the requisite caffeine, we got to work. We were lucky to discover permatex on only one valve cover. The exhaust valve on #3 was acting more like a solid lifter than hydraulic. Wouldn't bleed down. Not good. I checked the other valves while Colin pulled the lifter. Got it in a C-clamp and got it compressed while it vveerrry slooowwwly drained oil. Pulled it apart but didn't find anything unusual. Hmm..
Removed the pushrod tube that had permatex (Why? I dunno, but if you're reading this Bill, it was not a happy moment). Lifter reassembled, we reinstalled it and fired her up. LOUD! but it got quiet quick. A little clacky, but not bad. Later on during the day, sometimes it would clatter for a moment, then quiet down. Probably why all the valves had been backed off.
We tuned it as best we could considering I have no timing dial. At least until Monday or Thursday, when it will mysteriously reappear, all freshly painted ESPECIALLY WITH THE RED DOT SINCE I DON"T HAVE ANY NAIL POLISH. (Or else Guiddo... you know.)
While we were spending so much time under there, we found a few other minor exhaust leaks. Got them fixed, too. Later on, they weren't so minor- its remarkably quiet to drive now.
Buttoned her up and took her on a four block test drive. Is that gas gauge accurate? Colin asks. Lets go get gas, I said.
Spent the rest the the afternoon fixing all those little issues that never got addressed. The intermittent horn, the wipers that park upright, the off-kilter steering wheel. and Heat! Well, some semblance of it anyway.
There's a BN6 heater installed in the bus, but I have not turned it on for fear that said bus would explode. Safety interlock, Schmaftey interlock, its a spark plug thats sprayed with gas. Well, Colin took a look at it, re-attached the cables both heater flaps and we gave it a shot. Meaning he stood outside with a fire extinguisher while I turned the knob.
While the BN6 itself doesn't appear to be working, its auxiliary fan and the rest of the heater system are.. meaning I"ll be able to drive the bus past October. Sweet.
Got all squared away and gave him directions to the freeway. I wanted to shout "Shane! Come Back!! " as he left, but I didn't.
This morning, I got up and continued with the cleaning. Got the glove box back in, cleaned out all the extra tools and camping leftovers and took her for a spin. Yow, what a difference! There used to be a flat spot at ten mph that made her stumble... gone. Took her up Sylvan hill here in Portland and she tore upstairs. Its like having a new bus.
Thank you Colin.
Started off with a bit of conversation & the plan of attack. I am by no means a morning person, so I tried to keep up.. but he moves pretty fast.
Fueled up the the requisite caffeine, we got to work. We were lucky to discover permatex on only one valve cover. The exhaust valve on #3 was acting more like a solid lifter than hydraulic. Wouldn't bleed down. Not good. I checked the other valves while Colin pulled the lifter. Got it in a C-clamp and got it compressed while it vveerrry slooowwwly drained oil. Pulled it apart but didn't find anything unusual. Hmm..
Removed the pushrod tube that had permatex (Why? I dunno, but if you're reading this Bill, it was not a happy moment). Lifter reassembled, we reinstalled it and fired her up. LOUD! but it got quiet quick. A little clacky, but not bad. Later on during the day, sometimes it would clatter for a moment, then quiet down. Probably why all the valves had been backed off.
We tuned it as best we could considering I have no timing dial. At least until Monday or Thursday, when it will mysteriously reappear, all freshly painted ESPECIALLY WITH THE RED DOT SINCE I DON"T HAVE ANY NAIL POLISH. (Or else Guiddo... you know.)
While we were spending so much time under there, we found a few other minor exhaust leaks. Got them fixed, too. Later on, they weren't so minor- its remarkably quiet to drive now.
Buttoned her up and took her on a four block test drive. Is that gas gauge accurate? Colin asks. Lets go get gas, I said.
Spent the rest the the afternoon fixing all those little issues that never got addressed. The intermittent horn, the wipers that park upright, the off-kilter steering wheel. and Heat! Well, some semblance of it anyway.
There's a BN6 heater installed in the bus, but I have not turned it on for fear that said bus would explode. Safety interlock, Schmaftey interlock, its a spark plug thats sprayed with gas. Well, Colin took a look at it, re-attached the cables both heater flaps and we gave it a shot. Meaning he stood outside with a fire extinguisher while I turned the knob.
While the BN6 itself doesn't appear to be working, its auxiliary fan and the rest of the heater system are.. meaning I"ll be able to drive the bus past October. Sweet.
Got all squared away and gave him directions to the freeway. I wanted to shout "Shane! Come Back!! " as he left, but I didn't.
This morning, I got up and continued with the cleaning. Got the glove box back in, cleaned out all the extra tools and camping leftovers and took her for a spin. Yow, what a difference! There used to be a flat spot at ten mph that made her stumble... gone. Took her up Sylvan hill here in Portland and she tore upstairs. Its like having a new bus.
Thank you Colin.
Sounds like a great day, Barry!