Date: Sat, 9 Aug 2008 11:59:24 -0700
Reply-To: Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Stupid pays off, plasticwise.
In-Reply-To: <20080809181719.6C85A2331C7@pop2.cfu.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
That's the plan. I'm heading out right now.
Stephen
--- On Sat, 8/9/08, Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@CFU.NET> wrote:
> From: Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@CFU.NET>
> Subject: Re: Stupid pays off, plasticwise.
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Date: Saturday, August 9, 2008, 2:16 PM
> While you wait for that fuel line kit, RUN,
> don't walk to your local hardware store and buy a
> 4-6" long brass or copper piece of tubing that
> will fit the inside diameter of the hose(5/16"? )
> and do the temporary fix NOW!! Plan B would be
> to piece together a brass union with two NPT
> female threads(one on each end of the union) and
> then thread the 5/16" barbed hose ends in there
> and seal them with either teflon tape or Loctite
> threadlocker. Find a rubber grommet while you're
> there that fits the old plastic part hole and
> maybe pamper your van with two new hose
> clamps. We're talking maybe $10 for the whole
> works. The auto parts chains seem to stock the
> rolled edge fuel hose clamps now these days(that
> don't have the edges cut into the hose), but they
> aren't usually stainless steel like you'll get in
> the kit you're ordering. You don't have to do
> this if you won't be driving it for a while, but
> you never know when you might have to put the van into
> service in an emergency.
>
> Off the soapbox
>
> DM&FS
>
> At 12:09 PM 8/9/2008, Stephen Grisanti wrote:
> >The new fuel pump arrived this week along with a
> >couple of filters, and even though I was able to
> >repair (I think) the old plastic pump part that
> >I broke, I decided to wait and put the new one
> >on and keep the old for the spare. Shaking my
> >head ruefully at breaking the thing in the first
> >place, I got that done this morning and fired it
> >up to check my work. Nice. Pump purring away
> >and engine running smoothly, I got out to check
> >for leaks and spotted something dripping at the
> >rear of the van. Damn, is that the dreaded coolant
> leak I’ve been fearing?
> >
> >It was then that my remaining hair stood up as I
> >realized it was gas, and it was dripping onto
> >the exhaust header. Yeow! Switched everything
> >off and got out the fire extinguisher, just in
> >case. Crisis averted, I got back under and
> >could not see anything, so pulled the engine
> >cover and assorted airbox components until I
> >could pinpoint the source; it’s the spot where
> >that infamous plastic firewall fitting is
> >located. Back under the van I could see that
> >the drip was on the forward side of the firewall
> >and coming off the bottom of the fitting and hose.
> >
> >I’ve been pretty cocky in the two years
> I’ve
> >owned this Westy, confident that I got a good
> >one and that its charm would hold
> >forever. Folks, I’ll be ordering the fuel
> >line replacement kit this week, and if you are
> >not CERTAIN that your van’s fuel lines have
> >been replaced from tank to engine I would advise
> >you to do the same. I like my van, my life, my
> >wife and our dog too much to do otherwise.
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