Date: Sun, 20 May 2012 11:16:07 -0700
Reply-To: Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Okay, now THIS is embarrassing!
In-Reply-To: <4FB5E319.5090604@turbovans.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Hey Scott, I don't mind being teased.
Just returned from a three-day camping trip. There were no mechanical
issues although the first morning it was about 25F (-4) in the van when
I woke up, and I had to wait a couple hours for the water system to warm
up enough to unfreeze and start working again. Luckily I had a 5-gallon
tank of water along to make my morning coffee with.
--
Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
Bend, Ore.
1984 Westfalia. A poor but proud people.
1971 "Ladybug"-brand utility trailer ca. 1972 from a defunct company in
San Clemente, Calif., now repurposed as The Westrailia.
On 05/17/2012 10:50 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:
> yer a fine example of a sincere good vanagon and westy-loving Gentleman,
> Jack.
> hope you know I was just teasin' ya a little.
>
> and no kind of Dodge van or whatever could ever replace a vanagon, in
> many ways.
>
> smiles,
> scott
>
> On 5/17/2012 7:16 AM, Rocket J Squirrel wrote:
>> Scott said this about me:
>>
>> "[...] there are some people ( not you ) the only care that it works..
>> they are not actually interested in how to accomplish that technically,
>> or what actually made something work again . .. they only care that it's
>> working. But then they are not as well equipped when something does go
>> wrong either."
>>
>> While I admire those who practice the manly art of working on cars, my
>> primary interest is keeping the thing running and from breaking down in
>> the backcountry. To that end, I do the work I can and give the work I
>> can't to a shop.
>>
>> I know, I know, if I want a reliable vehicle for camping I should get
>> something other than a Vanagon, but it's the camper I have and there is
>> so much to love about the Westfalia as a camping vehicle.
>>
>> Murphy's Law says that whatever breaks will require tools or a part that
>> one didn't bring, but I figure that the more I understand, the better my
>> odds for diagnosing the problem and knowing /exactly/ which tools or
>> parts I didn't bring.
>>
>> --
>> Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
>> Bend, Ore.
>> 1984 Westfalia. A poor but proud people.
>> 1971 "Ladybug"-brand utility trailer ca. 1972 from a defunct company in
>> San Clemente, Calif., now repurposed as The Westrailia.
>>
>> On 05/16/2012 04:51 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:
>>> Yes you would.
>>>
>>> all right ..enjoy your trip !
>>>
>>> understanding and mastering it technically is part of the fun.
>>>
>>> and true ...there are some people ( not you ) the only care that it
>>> works..
>>> they are not actually interested in how to accomplish that technically,
>>> or what actually made something work again . ..
>>> they only care that it's working.
>>> But then they are not as well equipped when something does go wrong
>>> either.
>>>
>>> be careful of course..
>>> since you are driving a relatively untried whole new set of parts ...
>>> perhaps a couple hour local shake down run is a good idea.
>>> It's just amazing how many things ..after they are 'done' ...need more
>>> yet, quite often.
>>> I find that all the time..
>>> I spend as much time fine tuning as I do on the repair job itself, quite
>>> often.
>>> it's all in the details.
>>>
>>> scott
>>> www.turbovans.com
>>>
>>> On 5/16/2012 3:14 PM, Rocket J Squirrel wrote:
>>>> If I was working in your shop under your direction I'd have a much
>>>> better-maintained Mellow Yellow.
>>>>
>>>> But I don't /wanna/ have to figure it out. I just want to go camping!
>>>>
>>>> Out of here tomorrow until Sunday afternoon. All by myself in BLM land.
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
>>>> Bend, Ore.
>>>> "Mellow Yellow," 1984 Westfalia. A poor but proud people.
>>>> 1971 "Ladybug"-brand utility trailer ca. 1972 from a defunct company in
>>>> San Clemente, Calif., now repurposed as The Westrailia.
>>>>
>>>> On 05/16/2012 02:57 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:
>>>>> hi..
>>>>> if you were here in my shop working under my direction ..
>>>>> I'd make you figure it out ..
>>>>> it really is very, very simple.
>>>>>
>>>>> tip ..hook the forward upper ends first....... hinge area 2nd.
>>>>> tip 2 ..one bar is for the left side, one the right.
>>>>> it's impossible to put them in wrong even, at least that I've ever
>>>>> found.
>>>>>
>>>>> you just wanted an excuse for more attention !
>>>>>
>>>>> I don't think there's a picture in Bentley .
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On 5/16/2012 10:42 AM, Rocket J Squirrel wrote:
>>>>>> (I reckon I should be used to asking simple questions.)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I'm doing the final reassembly after installing the radiatior. Last
>>>>>> thing: spare tire carrier.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> It consists of three (3) parts, excluding the bolt. One (1)
>>>>>> clamshell,
>>>>>> and two (2) curvy metal arms. Oh yeah, also two (2) little clippy
>>>>>> things
>>>>>> to keep the curvy metal arms from falling out of the hinges.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Trouble is I can't figure out how to orient the two curvy metal
>>>>>> arms. I
>>>>>> know they don't go under the clamshell, but the only other way I can
>>>>>> fit
>>>>>> them is up from the hinges, through the notches at the rear of the
>>>>>> clamshell, and above the tire. But the hooky things at the leading
>>>>>> edges
>>>>>> bang into the frame when I lift the clamshell to lock it in.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> There's probably a picture in Bentley but I'll be darned if I can
>>>>>> figure
>>>>>> out what Repair Group the spare tire holder assembly might belong to.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
>>>>>> Bend, Ore.
>>>>>> 1984 Westfalia. A poor but proud people.
>>>>>> 1971 "Ladybug"-brand utility trailer ca. 1972 from a defunct
>>>>>> company in
>>>>>> San Clemente, Calif., now repurposed as The Westrailia.
>>>>>>
>>>>
>>
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