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Date:         Tue, 4 Dec 2007 09:02:11 -0800
Reply-To:     neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: So thar I was (Engine wouldn't start)
Comments: To: Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <47558065.7030403@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Hi Mike Off the top of my head in a hurry.....

a remote starter

99% methyl hydrate to add to gas tank. (did water get in your fuel?..... sideways rain)

I doubt sideways rain *at a standstill* would have done the deed to any ignition parts, but any big puddles? Water could get onto/into ignition parts that way. (not likely if all "tin" in place)

Gotta go!

Neil.

Neil.

On Dec 4, 2007 8:29 AM, Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@gmail.com> wrote:

> All adventure tales should start with, "So thar I was . . ." This alerts > the listener that some old codger is about to embark on a long, rambling, > and ultimately pointless tale. > > This alerted, the smart listener knows that it time to leave the room, > mumbling some excuse about needing to check the mail or get a lung > removed. > > But anyways. > > So thar I was last Friday, camping at 6,000 feet in the mountains east of > San Diego. We were having a record storm: 40 mph winds, several inches of > rain, and lows in the middle 30's (F). By many standards, that ain't much > of a storm, but around here it's notable. > > Mellow Yellow was parked broadside to the wind and while the gusts shook > the van, the poptop showed no sign of stress. However, the force of the > wind pushed water right through the fabric on the weather side. Things got > a little damp in the spice rack. > > The rain blew horizontally. All day and all night. > > In the morning, the rain had stopped, but the wind continued. Easily > Beaufort 7 (moderate gale). I packed up and went to start the engine, but > it didn't want to cooperate. > > Cranked and cranked and cranked. But there was no indication of > combustion. I paused, thinking, "I don't want to have to call for help! I > just want to go home to Mrs Squirrel." > > After waiting a bit, I tried again -- lots of cranking, and after a bit > the engine caught -- grudgingly, it seemed -- and shortly thereafter I was > on my way home. > > Here's the thing: I am scheduled to go up that mountain every month and > spend a couple of nights. December, January, and February. If the engine > didn't want to start this last time, I worry that it might be worse next > time. it might not start at all. > > I don't know what the problem was. There was gear covering the engine > hatch, my fingers were cold, and I didn't have an assistant to crank the > engine while I checked for spark or other stuff (actually, checking for > spark is about the limit of my skills, anyway). > > Cold, altitude -- those both cold affect starting, I reckon. I wonder also > whether a full day and night of sideways horizontal rain might have gotten > the ignition parts wet. I don't have enough information to hazard a guess. > > So my question is: if you had just had this experience, what would you > have done? What might you bring along the next time to help get the darn > engine started, in the snow or rain, with no one to assist? > > -- > Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott > 71 Type 2: the Wonderbus > 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana") > 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano > KG6RCR >

-- Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia - "Jaco" (Bustorius) http://web.mac.com/tubaneil

Engine swap beginings: http://musomuso.googlepages.com/home


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