Date:         Mon, 22 Dec 2003 04:30:41 EST
Reply-To:     JeromeAPerkins@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jerome Perkins <JeromeAPerkins@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Slave cylinders, fuel lines and coolant lines.
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Usually by the time I get around to reviewing the postings the topic has long
gone but I'd like to contribute to the above.

I got my carburetted 1.9 '84 bus in Jan '97 and before buying it I had it
checked over by a local non-dealer VW garage that I had used before and was
pleased with. The bus had had an MOT, a government required safety inspection, the
previous November and had also had some head work done at the same time so I
was reasonably sure that it was okay. The mechanic's verdict was that the
engine alone was worth the asking price, so I bought it and drove a couple of miles
home.

I then started to do all the usual checks, replacements and put right things
that had been spotted at the garage. I replaced the antifreeze and then
discovered that the coolant pipes were leaking from the outside in. Replacing them
was a story in itself but during the work I discovered that the fuel line was
actually cracked open where it goes into the carb! I have no idea how the
engine was able to work and why the engine bay didn't catch fire on the way home.

I replaced all the fuel lines with hose I got from one of our specialist
dealers but I could only get the braided type which I am not keen on.

Three years later, after it's latest MOT, the mechanic (a new one!) suggested
that the problems I was having in shifting could be due to the slave clutch
cylinder being faulty and suggested I change it.

I found changing it to be fiddley but not too difficult (The fact that I am
left handed helped!) but I noticed that the fuel line into the engine bay way
weeping. I replaced this with some new (non braided) line from the dealer. A
day later another section went and then another. I ended up replacing all the
hoses. I had bought enough from the dealer to replace the lot but I was suprised
the way it all went sequentially.

As an aside the mechanic recommended bleeding the slave cylinder by opening
the bleed valve and leaving it for 15 minutes or so. I tried this and found it
successful and it did improve the shifting!

Jerome Perkins