Date:         Fri, 14 Jul 2000 18:00:59 -0400
Reply-To:     The Gunnings <ngunn@landmarknet.net>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         The Gunnings <ngunn@landmarknet.net>
Subject:      Mooncaps

Due to questions about my new/old mooncaps, I think they look pretty good.
When I refer to "mooncaps", for those of you who might be tempted to do this
at home, it is the older style with the embossed VW logo stamped in the
centre.  Technically, for those nit-pickers out there (and you know who you
are), I believe there is another older style hubcap with a higher dome angle
and maybe without the VW logo.  And to further complicate matters I think it
is known as the official older VW "Mooncap".  In any event, in order to get
these to fit on all wheels, you may have to do a minor adjustment on one of
the mooncaps,  the one where the speedo cable juts out of the end of the
(what is it left front wheel?) at the hub terminal. You do not do anything
to the cable, or anything to the vehicle. Just to the mooncap.  Because of
the small protrusion of the speedo cable end, or whatever, the exact centre
of the mooncaps needs to be gently persuaded in an outward direction (out is
out) prolly bout 3/16".  I did this with "Maxwell", my silver hammer, but
any small ballpean hammer should do the trick.  Place the hubcap on your
workbench, or other solid object, upon which has been placed a large socket,
or other circular devise, with the big opening end in the up direction (up
is up) facing the sky.  Place the mooncap on top and in the centre of the
large socket.  Hold your hammer, and using the ballpean end as the striking
surface, tap as steadily and comfortably rapidly, or however you want to for
about a minute.  Try it and see if it will stay on the wheel without wanting
to pop off.  Repeat this step as many times as necessary.  Think I may have
done if half a dozen times.  Don't whack the thing too hard   The trick, if
there is one, is to try to keep all of your hammer strokes centred within
the area the size of a dime, or so.  If you whack the thing too hard, or in
a larger area, you will put a noticeable dent in the moonie.  Try to avoid
doing that, if you can.  The trained human eye, which is capable of
discerning a 1/16 " discrepancy over a twenty foot span, will be hard
pressed to detect the slight amount of hammering you have done on your
new/old VW Moons, if at all.  Works for me.

David Gunning
Lovell, ME 04051

"The Mechanical Arts are the Swords of the Mightly."

                                                             Anon