Date:         Tue, 2 May 2000 14:01:39 -0400
Reply-To:     Richard C Welsh <welshcu@PB.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Richard C Welsh <welshcu@PB.COM>
Subject:      A rod bender?
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

So lets say my fuel pressure regualtor burst its internals and opened the way
for fuel, under pump pressure, to fill the intake, heads, and eventually
cylinders.  Lets also say that in the process of troubleshooting the crisis I
cranked the engine over a few times too many, heard things like
"...crank....crank...clunk....",  "...crank....crank...clunk...." while,
unbeknowst to me, liquid fuel was being compressed in the cylinders.  Is it a
safe bet that I now have some bent rods?  Hopefully I'll have things back
together thursday, so what might i listen for? do bent rods sound "bent?"  Might
things run for a while, get out of balance, and then eventually let loose at
random somewhere far far from home?

BTW, i did something really stupid last night and I'm glad i didn't burn my face
off:  I was doing a compression test with the plugs and injectors pulled. (i
didn't yet realize the fuel pressure regualtor was letting gas into the intake
tubes).  after cranking the first cylinder i didn't see any reading on the
gauge. (hadn't been used lately, maybe the needle was stuck?)  with my drop
light in hand i depressed the pressure relief button on the gauge head.  I had
the injectors pulled and un plugged, so no fuel could be compressed in the
gauge, right?  wrong!  I hit the button and shot myself in the face with a
stream of half vaporized/half liquid fuel!  had anything sparked or had the hot
lightbulb been in the spray path,  I'd be Mr. Blister in the head wrap right
now. Yikes.  It was one of those stupid, scare the hell out you because you
where out there late and ovelooking things kind of scares.

-Curt
-'87 wolfie "Damnagon"