Date:         Sun, 25 Jul 2004 17:43:32 -0230
Reply-To:     Phil Menchions <pwmenchions@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Phil Menchions <pwmenchions@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      What snaps? Was: Passing another Westfalia
Comments: To: Sglw@AOL.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

Yes, from what I understand cruise control is illegal in most if not all of
Europe.

I was wondering what is it that is prone to "letting go" in the chain of
components under the circumstances I described? All the bits and pieces are
shown in Bently section 20.31. Could be something as simple as one of the
pins or bolts.

I am now safely at home and do not intend any further use of my "hand
accelerator".

Phil
'89 Westy


>From: Sam Williams <Sglw@AOL.COM>
>Reply-To: Sglw@AOL.COM
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: Passing another Westfalia
>Date: Sun, 25 Jul 2004 12:26:20 -0400
>
>This reminds me of an option I saw on a British split-window bus in Bad
>Camberg during the 1999 show.
>They had a hand accelerator cable on the dash. It was working off the front
>of the accelerator pedal and was used to drive on the autobahn while
>relaxing one's feet!
>
>In a message dated 7/25/2004 11:47:22 AM Eastern Daylight Time, Edward
>Maglott <emaglott@BUNCOMBE.MAIN.NC.US> writes:
>
> >Yes, this passing should not be attempted at any time.  The van you tried
> >to pass obviously had more mojo power than your van and usurped it in
>order
> >to go even faster up the hill.
> >
> >The something that snapped was between the pedal and the arm on the trans
> >that connect to the linkage on the throttle.  I have found this is pretty
> >tricky to get adjusted just right.  You want the pedal to hit the floor
>at
> >the time that the lever on the trans is all the way forward, which
>triggers
> >the kickdown into lower gear.  At the same time, the linkage is pulling
> >against the spring on the throttle, which should already be at wide open.
> >
> >Sequence of events as pedal is pushed to the floor is:
> >
> >throttle is wide open, you feel increased resistance on pedal
> >pushing past this resistance, trans goes into kickdown
> >pedal hits floor (before or at the same time lever on trans hits its
>stop)
> >
> >Often, in order to assure the trans lever goes to kickdown,  it is
>adjusted
> >so that the pedal is not on the floor when trans lever hits its stop.  So
> >pushing the pedal further at this point means you are pulling against an
> >immovable object.  Not good.  Something will give at some point.
> >
> >Edward
> >
> >At 01:07 AM 7/25/2004, you wrote:
> >>I must have broken some sort of unwritten Vanagon rule.
> >>
> >>Three days ago I attempted to pass another westfalia (they were towing
>some
> >>sort of small trailer).
> >>
> >>As it turned out I never got a good look at this rare sight. When I
> >>uncharacteristically floored the accelerator something snapped between
>the
> >>pedal and the throttle linkage and I watched as the mystery Westfalia
> >>disappeared over the next hill.
> >>
> >>Back in the engine compartment everything was working fine. It didn't
>take
> >>much of a brainstorm to realize all I had to do was tie a 1/4" line to a
> >>bungee cord hook and attach this to the throttle linkage. Running the
>line
> >>forward I was able to pivot my elbow on the armrest and tug on the line
>to
> >>give some power. It took a while to train myself not to reach for the
> >>accelerator pedal.
> >>
> >>I wouldn't recommend this for anybody with a manual shift.
> >>
> >>Phil
> >>'89 Westy
> >

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