Date:         Sun, 12 Jun 2005 16:20:30 +1200
Reply-To:     Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Subject:      Re: near tragedy on shakedown cruise - FIRE!
In-Reply-To:  <001c01c56eb2$f0d6f320$640fa8c0@ttower17def>
Content-type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=us-ascii

>You were VERY lucky!
>That is the most popular fuel leak point on the vanagon. EVERYBODY
>shoud either eliminate that plastic fitting entirely or MAKE SURE
>they have checked it as it is a ticking time bomb

Don't bother checking it... get RID of it. You won't be able to tell
if it's ready to snap.

Replace the entire line from the tank to the engine with a
single-piece hose, run through the hole the fitting used to occupy...
and fit a grommet in the hole to prevent chafing of the hose.

Solvent (including fuels) tend to weaken plastics, and this is not
visible. The plastics become brittle and fail without warning.

I use solvents & other chemicals a lot at work. I have had 5-liter
photodeveloping chemical bottles of hydrogen peroxide sitting on ther
floor, and the bottom failed just sitting there. I also use
polyethylene bottles made specifically for storing solvents become
brittle when used for 2-propenone (acetone)... I had no idea they
were failing until one day I pressed with a fingertip and the plastic
starred. These are current plastics... just think how good a plastic
made in the 80s will be!
--
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin
New Zealand
Fossil preparator
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut

HUMANITY: THE ULTIMATE VON NEUMANN MACHINE

DEMOCRACY: RULE BY THE LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR