I'm back on the road! There's a great auto recycling yard in Arlington, WA (http://www.findusedparts.com). I picked up the PS pressure and return line nuts and bolts that I needed. If anyone is interested in the procedure:

http://wiki.vanagabond.com/bin/view/Vanagon/PowerSteeringHowTo

On another note http://vanagabond.com is running Twiki, software for creating and editing web pages. Notice the "edit" link on the page. You can click on that and edit the content. Every time a page is edited and saved, a new version is created and the old version is archived. I'd like to invite anyone who finds this useful to take a look at vanagabond.com and add content. You can upload pics of your van, keep a journal of your trips/maintenance, or write How To's. Feel free to edit any content you find on the site. TWiki software is meant to encourage open collaboration. To learn how it works, see this page: http://wiki.vanagabond.com/bin/view/TWiki/WelcomeGuest

Regards, Matt

On Fri, 11 Feb 2005, Matt Barclay wrote:

> From: Matt Barclay <mbarclay@OPENFBO.COM> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Subject: Re: Replacing the Power Steering Lines > Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2005 06:44:10 -0800 > > In the final steps of completing this job, I believe I confused the > pressure and return lines. Pictured here is the return line, correct? > > http://gallery.openfbo.com/powersteering/IMG_3438 > > If so, that's what I was afraid of. Right after taking that picture, I > removed that stub of a line and took it to an aviation mechanic friend of > mine who used a torch to heat it up and separate the coupler from the > line. In the process, the threads on the nut and coupler were destroyed. > I thought it was just the pressure line, so I ordered another coupler and > installed it last night. To my horror, I found that the new pressure hose > would only fit the forward port on the rack. So basically, I could have > just clamped the return line onto the stub in the picture and installed > the pressure hose without ordering any new parts. Now I have to find a > new nut to use on that line so I can clamp to it. Anyone have one to > spare? > > Sigh. > > Matt > > On Fri, 11 Feb 2005, Frank Condelli wrote: > >> From: Frank Condelli <RAlanen@AOL.COM> >> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM >> Subject: Re: Replacing the Power Steering Lines >> Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2005 06:25:40 EST >> >> In a message dated 10/02/2005 4:14:53 PM Eastern Standard Time, >> LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes: >> >> The hardest part has been finding the >> leverage to turn the old, rusted parts, and having the patience to see it >> through. >> >> >> Matt, you hit the nail on the head with that statement. It just keeps >> getting worse. Some days I keep asking why I want to work on these old >> rusted >> junkers. I just got done cleaning up the mess I found behind the leaking >> gas >> tank of my '87 Westy. If you think there's no rust on your Westy, remove >> the >> tank and take a look. You won't believe what's hidden on the other side. >> Hydraulic clutch and brake lines so rusted that touching them made them >> leak and >> they were not leaking before lowering the tank. Lucky me got to replace >> some >> hydraulic lines ! Every try using a flaring tool under the van with >> hardly >> any space to move ? Also thought it a good idea to remove and clean the >> brake equaliser that's stuffed up on the frame near the rack. Bet some of >> you >> didn't even know you had one of them. Wanna see how much crud I found >> inside, >> no, I bet you don't. Anyways, that got cleaned up and replaced. Then I >> spent the pretty much the rest of the week scraping, prepping and POR-15ing >> the >> space and components behind the fuel tank. Nice job tying to get liquids >> to >> go up ! Ha ! Well, I've not got myself and work clothes pretty well rust >> proofed anyways. But, it sure looks nice all shiny black waiting for the >> new >> tank to arrive. It too will get POR-15ed before installing. No more >> visits >> to the fuel tank and beyond for this Westy ! Just as a side note this it >> this Westy's third fuel tank. The original was replaced under warranty >> back in >> Edmonton, AB when owned by the original owner ! >> >> BTW, glad you got through the power steering hose repair. Yes, that >> coupling on the rack can be a PITA. Heat and two long handled tight >> fitting >> wrenched seem to have worked for me so far as I've not wrecked one yet but >> I'm >> sure my turn is coming. >> >> Maybe we should go buy one of them there brandy new Sprinters with no >> rust ?!!? >> >> >> Cheers, >> >> Frank Condelli >> Almonte, Ontario, Canada >> _BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm) a VW Camper >> camping event, Almonte, ON, June 09 ~ 12, 2005 >> '87 Westy, '90 Carat & Lionel Trains >> Member: _Vanagon List_ (http://www.vanagon.com/) , _LiMBO_ >> (http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/) , _IWCCC_ (http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/) & >> _CCVWC_ >> (http://www.ccvwc.ca/) >> Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley >> _STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel Mufflers_ >> (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm) >> _Frank Condelli & Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html) >> or http://frankcondelli.com >> >