Date:         Mon, 13 Sep 2004 09:27:40 -0500
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject:      Re: Billy Bones Returns
Comments: To: wlail@OU.EDU
In-Reply-To:  <494701542e14.414558e0@ou.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

In the old days as I was training in aircraft maintenance I was taught
by some very experienced old timers about a condition  called "an
intermittant short to ground."

This was a gounding fault that caused all sorts of problems, from rough
ignition to faulty radio operation. The starting point for a solution to
the problem was to clean and inspect all grounding points. Number one
problem point was battery terminals, which often corrode and create so
much resistance as to reduce or block current flow. Grounding straps
were often culprits as well. Next we worked back through all cables and
wires, checking all connecting points, junction boxes, connections to
accessories, etc. Usually this was sufficient to eliminate the problem.

I recommend that this is where you start your efforts on a solution.

Best of luck in your search.

Regards,

John Rodgers

. Warren Lail wrote:

>Greetings everyone,
>
>By the powers!  Ole Billy Bones sailed the high deserts of New Mexico all summer long,
>from May 28 to August 14th, and had nary a problem after more than 5,000 miles of driving,
>including many many miles on washboard roads.  I am happy to report that I did not
>pull my toolkit from under the seat the entire summer!  Yep, from back in April when
>me and Ole Bill Bones signed articles, we've gotten along real gentlemen-like.  He's
>kept his side of the deal and I've kept mine (he likes running that synthetic oil).
>
>I owe a great deal of thanks to you all for the help I received when I was rebuilding
>Billy Bones back in the spring of this year.  I could not have done it without you.
>
>After a summer of hard work, I cleaned Bill's engine after I got home.  He bucked a little
>on startup, as expected, but now after several weeks he still bucks.  So I was thinkin'
>that I knocked a wire or vacuum line loose someplace, but I cannot find a thing
>wrong.  I pulled the distributor cap, etc. - no water anyplace.
>
>Symptoms - he starts fine, then after about a minute (whether the engine is warm or cool)
>the rpms begin to drop and if I do nothing it will die.  If I rev the engine to full throttle, it
>clears up again.  If I rev to full throttle between lights it eventually clears up and runs fine.
>
>If I turn the ignition off and retart it, it runs fine.  After a few minutes of initial start up problems
>the bus runs great out on the road, around town, etc.  It is just during the few minutes after
>initial start up that I have problems.
>
>Does this sound like a throttle switch problem to anyone?  Any ideas?  Could I have washed
>sand or grit into the throttle switch area and caused this?
>
>Many thanks,
>
>Warren
>88 Westy "Billy Bones"
>87 GL "Long John" (going to a new home this week)
>
>
>