Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2007 10:29:14 -0700
Reply-To: Tom Buese <tombuese@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Tom Buese <tombuese@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: So thar I was (Engine wouldn't start)
In-Reply-To: <47558065.7030403@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
Great story, Mr. Squirrel!
Since I am in about the same boat as you mechanically wise,here's
what I would do: A cell phone & AAA RV+? Satellite phone if no cell
coverage in them thar hills? How did the BZ shelf do in the winds/rain?
Tom B.-heaven forbid any diagnostic work in them thar conditions
On Dec 4, 2007, at 9:29 AM, Michael Elliott 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
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