Date: Sat, 9 Apr 2011 09:00:01 -0500
Reply-To: Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@CFU.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@CFU.NET>
Subject: Re: Why We Keep Odds & Ends (bolts etc.)
In-Reply-To: <BANLkTinZwcqOSoyFGxPCgxBa+u47CH-ZAQ@mail.gmail.com>
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Precisely why I keep one of those like 12x18" Plano type fishing lure
organizers(mine is blue and has flat storage in the lid for pull
ties, Q tips and heat shrink tubing) in the van with all sorts of
metric screws, bolts nuts hose clamps, washers, etc. It prolly weighs
15# or better, but I consider it "comfort food" on the road. While
driving to the Rec Center a couple of weeks ago, I had to slam on the
brakes to avoid hitting someone that pulled out in front of
me. Unfortunately, I had left the box on top of the rear seat and it
went flying down to the floor and belched its entire contents on the
plywood. After some choice words, I got to scoop it all up and spent
a couple hours re oraganizing it all. This time I put a zip tie on
the handle so it won't open quite so easily in the future, although a
velcro cinch strap will likely replace it at some point.
For those that don't have a stash of old metric nuts and bolts, I
find old junkyard German vehicles are quite the source for such nuts
and bolts and an afternoon of collecting them will pay mega dividends
down the road. Not only are the German fasteners higher quality than
what you buy at the hardware store these days, but the net cost will
be much cheaper too. Wonder if the recycle yards sell that stuff by
the pound???? Might be worth asking next time you visit the establishment.....
DM&FS
At 12:31 AM 4/9/2011, neil n wrote:
>My Westy recently started to bog intermittently starting from a dead
>stop. Redid my grounds, cleaned a couple parts then finally got around
>to double checking a few things via the ECU connector. Thankfully all
>the grounds showed the same battery voltage, but the TPS tested quite
>a few Ohms below spec, throttle closed position. The upper screw is a
>little fussy to get at. My spare TPS uses shorter screws with goofy
>sort of Torx heads. Didn't have a bit. Figuring I'd find screws with
>more standard heads......
>
>Off to the usual haunts. Box-o-rusty nuts & bolts #1. Nope. Old cookie
>tin-o-rusty nuts & bolts. Nope. Electronics bench full of cut off
>plugs, orphaned hardware, and a ton-o-small screws. All were too
>short.
>
>I mumbled various well worn phrases.
>
>Box o rusty bolts #2. Bingo. Of all things. A screw from an old FI
>hose clamp fit my Jetta throttle body. Bonus: standard hex bolt head.
>Much easier to install.
>
>This is why we keep crap.
>
>Neil.
>
>--
>Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"
>
>http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>
>http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
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