Date: Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:49:23 -0400
Reply-To: pdooley <psdooley@VERIZON.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: pdooley <psdooley@VERIZON.NET>
Subject: Re: Friday - Disaster averted
In-Reply-To: <5BA8EE5395AE48FF8F5D95EEAA420606@mike2d93581d7f>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Holy crap, that's scary.
Batteries generate hydrogen gas; which my friend found out about when
playing too close with a spark plug rigged to a coil. The battery did the
same thing- blew up in his face.
Fortunately he wore glasses so no major damager done.
I always wear safety glasses when working around batteries now.
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Mike
Sent: Friday, July 10, 2009 7:19 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Friday - Disaster averted
Awesome, Jeff!
I too, averted disaster today, but of a different sort..........
Today while working at a customer site, a diesel truck battery blew up in
my face, spraying both of my eyes and my entire upper torso, face, sinuses,
arms, etc. with battery acid/ water. The whole top of the battery
shrapnelled, a few pieces even poked my forehead and nose. I couldn't see
through the acid haze in my burning eyes.
Quick thinking, and a gallon jug of clean water within arm's reach saved
both my eyes, and the guy that was with me topping off the almost empty
battery cells.
Needless to say, I spent the entire afternoon in a clinic and then an
opthamoligist's office to sort out the damages. Luckily, the water rinse
for a half hour or so, limited the injuries to minor, with no expected
long-term consequences, but now I need to prevent infections. No fun, I'll
tell ya!
Grateful to still see with both eyes now,
Mike B
----- Original Message -----
From: Jeff Lincoln
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Sent: Friday, July 10, 2009 3:50 PM
Subject: Friday - Disaster averted
Well, I was heading back to work from taking my lunch break - waiting at a
stop light when I suddenly noticed White smoke Billowing out of the side
vents of the bus. HOLY S*@t!
I got off the road as quickly as I could, pulling into a party store.
Turned
her off and took a look - coolant pouring out of the rear of the van. My
heart sank and I feared the absolute worst.
I got the engine lid off and was looking from above and underneath - I
couldn't find where it was coming from - but everything was soaked. Again
I
feared the worst.
I went in the store and purchased a couple gallons of water (I have
coolant
at home used water just to get by) - I started filling the coolant tank
hoping the leak would make itsef' apparent - sure enough, water started
pouring after about half of the second gallon was in. So I found it. Turns
out there is a rather large coolant line above and just forward of the
engine - this line had a plastic coupler (close to the center) that had
broken. I was relieved to find it actually.
So happens there was a local mechanic right next door - he was kind enough
to loan me a screw driver and some needle nose pliers so I could get the
coupler out. When I showed him what had happened - he just happened to
have
a coupler the same size in his tool box. I put in the new part clamped it
up
- started the bus and checked for leaking. All is well.
The guy charged me $2 for the part - I gave him a total of $10 for his
kindness. Nice old guy - seemed to know a bit about VW buses too.
So there you have it - scary at first but no catastrophic failure. I
noticed
the coolant light and the smoke (steam) quickly enough nothing over
heated.
All that and I was only 10 min late back from lunch. I guess if something
is
going to break that's the kind of problem you want. The Vanagon Gods were
good to me today.
have a great weekend everyone :)
--
Thanks,
Jeff
'90 Carat (Grover)
'86 (We call this one Parts)
'78 Bus (Melissa) Patty's Bus
