Date: Fri, 6 Apr 2012 08:13:42 -0500
Reply-To: Tom Hargrave <thargrav@HIWAAY.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Tom Hargrave <thargrav@HIWAAY.NET>
Subject: Re: Quality? of "New" parts
In-Reply-To: <AA367018A12C4557A8CE84907F81134C@rogerfbae513f9>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
The real issue isn't new verses old, it's "aftermarket".
The aftermarket companies are all trying to produce parts as cheap as possible and in most cases, not up to the same standards as OEM.
The best way to actually see this in action is to go to your local McParts store and ask to see a Gates fan belt and the same store brand fan belt, then compare the two.
The only similarity between the two will be that they are belts and they will be about the same length.
The same comparison won't work for serpentine belts. Aftermarket is forced to build quality serpentine belts because of the load that's put on them. In other words, they build quality when they have to, even in China!
Thanks, Tom Hargrave
www.stir-plate.com
www.towercooler.com
www.kegkits.com
www.grow-sun.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf Of Roger Barkley
Sent: Friday, April 06, 2012 7:40 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Quality? of "New" parts
84 1.9 Westy, Just replaced the front heater valve, again. The original was leaking internally. The 1st replacement begin to leak externally in October during our 8k mile west trip, (temporarly bypassed it). 2nd replacement started leaking externally about a month ago. Beginning to believe these plastic POS are junk. Ordered and installed #3 last week.
This got me to thinking that maybe the coolant tank cap may be faulty, building too much pressure, so I ordered a new one with heater valve #3. In the meantime I put together a contraption to test the tank cap. (existing and original from PO). They both begin to bleed off near 20#'s, (think Bentley says 18 or so). Figured that was close for my home made Harbor Freight gauge. Thought I should test the brand new, still sealed in plastic cap, (prd. of China). Surprise, it went to 40#'s before it started to bleed off! Left the old cap on. Between the heater valves and cap I'm beginning to think used parts are the best bet. Sad that you can't relay on "new" being good.
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