IAC in Anaconda Montana (formerly "worried about Colin")

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Amskeptic
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Re: worried about Colin (again)

Post by Amskeptic » Mon Aug 11, 2014 5:19 pm

BellePlaine wrote:The 13th is just fine by me, better even.
See ya then!
Colin
(grifftenstein is tomorrow, the 12th)
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

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whc03grady
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Location: Livingston Montana
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IAC in Anaconda Montana (formerly: worried about Colin)

Post by whc03grady » Wed Aug 13, 2014 10:45 am

The morning started off with an extended discussion among the adults in the house about hospital birth (our first daughter) vs. home birth (our second daughter). Details were shared, eggs were eaten, coffee was dranken. Drank. Drinked.

Ludwig's old fuel pump, one of those boxy CLACKITYCLACKCLACKITYCLICKCLACK types, fell off its perch toward the end of our last trip. Luckily I had a spare whirrrrzwhirrrrywhirrwhirrz pump, which after some contemplation we mounted high up in the crook where the rear seatbelts mount, except, you know, on the outside of the car. Someone (unclear who) mounted one of the fuel filters backward, which provided necessary comic relief (especially since we'd just been over that).
Image
We had to use two fuel filters, actually, because the nipples on the pump are too big for the hose that runs from the tank, and to the carbs. So it goes 5mm out of the tank to filter A, big 'Mrcn hose from filter A to pump, big 'Mrcn hose from pump to filter B, 5mm out of filter B to carbs. Okay.
Love that new pump sound. That is, lack of sound.
Along with the new pump, we installed a relay such that the pump only runs when the engine runs, and not merely when the key is on as it had been before. Being morbid, I like the idea that after I roll the damn thing, as I lose consciousness my thought will be "at least the pump isn't still pumping gas all over the kids in the back seat". Yeah, that's how my mind works.

An unresolved mystery is why the heater tube on the passenger side was half melted but there was no evidence of fire. Scary stuff. (Sorry, no picture.)

Image
We moved on to some minor carb tuning, mostly to accommodate the lack of a working brake booster (I still have one Satchmo graciously gave me and which I ungraciously have yet to install). We also green loctited all three solenoids to the carbs, as they were having backing out issues.

Image
Ludwig's front tires, the overly vaunted (formerly by me as well) Hankook RA08s, have worn in a way that indicated (now watch me get this wrong) too much negative camber; wear on the insides. They also had (now watch me get this wrong) too much toe in, which we also adjusted. I had no idea these adjustments were so relatively simple. Colin also explained in much-needed detail how I will install a new center pin.

Lastly we did a cursory investigation of the brake lights' anomalous behavior. Headlights off, everything's copacetic. Headlights on, and on the pass. side the parking light and reverse lights light up, dimly. Time was short and I have to do things myself anyway, so I got Colin's best diagnosis.

And then a little after 7, I think, he made his way toward Minnesota--with us, he's always coming from or going to Minnesota.
Ludwig--1974 Westfalia, 2.0L (GD035193), Solex 34PDSIT-2/3 carburetors.
Gertie--1971 Squareback, 1600cc with Bosch D-Jetronic fuel injection from a '72 (E brain).
Read about their adventures:
http://www.ludwigandgertie.blogspot.com

Lanval
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Re: IAC in Anaconda Montana (formerly "worried about Colin")

Post by Lanval » Fri Aug 15, 2014 12:51 am

lovely, all-too-brief glimpses of small-town Montana. Yours is glorious country, sir. Now, ahem... keep to bus and diagnose those electrical issues. Easy to do with patience and a decent voltmeter.

ML

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Randy in Maine
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Re: IAC in Anaconda Montana (formerly "worried about Colin")

Post by Randy in Maine » Fri Aug 15, 2014 8:21 am

I wonder if Colin's alternator was still under warranty?
79 VW Bus

Jivermo
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Re: IAC in Anaconda Montana (formerly "worried about Colin")

Post by Jivermo » Fri Aug 15, 2014 9:31 am

Last month...it expired last month.

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Amskeptic
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Re: IAC in Anaconda Montana (formerly "worried about Colin")

Post by Amskeptic » Sat Aug 16, 2014 8:21 am

Jivermo wrote:Last month...it expired last month.
It sits in pieces in the back of the BobD, just above Silty The AutoCrossed Alternator. Its diode plate shall be harvested as the need arises. So shall the other bearing which is FINE. So may the stator, who knows what the future may throw my way when it comes to failure.
Ridiculously, the utterly mangled pulley, the yanked and bent and beaten and viciously filed pulley, just spins away imperturbably back there, it has given the belt no grief in the past two thousand miles.
Last night, Silty reminded me that it has had a life long before I met it, the headlamps did a dizzy dimming deal that spontaneously cleared up. We're all on probation here in the BobD . . .
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

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Amskeptic
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Re: IAC in Anaconda Montana (formerly "worried about Colin")

Post by Amskeptic » Fri Nov 23, 2018 3:47 pm

Update!
Silty The AutoCrossed Alternator now has an additional 8,990 miles and is running fine.
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

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