Date:         Mon, 2 Sep 2002 17:22:21 -0500
Reply-To:     Jeremy Speer <jspeer@POBOX.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeremy Speer <jspeer@POBOX.COM>
Subject:      Fridge FUBAR - WORKING!!
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Hey Folks,

Let me start with a round of thanks for everybody who replied regarding my
refrigerator problem which was caused by my own carelessness.

I was in the middle of trying Alfred Bagdan's suggestion of soldering the
errant piezo wire back into the ceramic electrode when my apartment building
manager happened in. He was formerly the chief engineer for the Minneapolis
downtown YMCA.

His first question, said looking over the top of his glasses, was, "why are
you at my workbench?"

I showed him the problem and in true engineering form, he attacked the
problem with gusto.

Within an hour i had a new run of high-temp, heavy-duty wire running from
the piezo to the electrode. He cleaned out the ceramic and then gently
heated it with a propane torch. Once it was good and hot he inserted the
pre-soldered wire and it stuck like glue.

I steelwooled the electrode back to bare metal and reassembled everything. I
popped the piezo a couple of times while looking in the firebox glass. A
bright blue spark was clearly evident, so, with a fierce number of
mosquitoes sucking on me, i reinstalled the fridge.

It lit on the first try!

There was a couple of detours where i though i'd cross-threaded the brass
propane line nut... and much straining of back and cursing of mouth. But,
it's back in... and at this moment chilling some beers for my brief
celebration to commence after i send this off.

I sent email to RVMobile on Sunday night on the recommendation of Mark
Drillock, and proprietor T.J. Gillmore replied within a short time... saying
that he'd check on the part first thing Tuesday. That sure wins the prize
for fast service. If he can find the OEM wire and electrode i'll buy it for
a spare.

Thanks again to everybody who replied.

Best,

-jspeer
'89 Westy GL, "Mystery Machine"