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Date:         Sat, 9 Aug 2008 13:16:28 -0500
Reply-To:     Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@CFU.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@CFU.NET>
Subject:      Re: Stupid pays off, plasticwise.
Comments: To: Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <150876.44441.qm@web51412.mail.re2.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"; format=flowed

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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