Date:         Tue, 11 Dec 2012 19:59:51 -0800
Reply-To:     Tom Carchrae <tom@CARCHRAE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Tom Carchrae <tom@CARCHRAE.NET>
Subject:      Re: You know how just when you think you're wrapping up,
              the radiator bleeder screw head shears off?
Comments: To: Mike South <msouth@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <CAN483vfCgZcz-nkB6QZmraR=9bZyHzX8DtSAbqK_brQgFfR=kA@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

> I just gave this a try, and I was able to turn it about a half turn with
> this method.  I think I got a little eager/careless and ended up destroying
> the bit I was pushing against, though.
>
> But this is good information--I think it would be possible to continue with
> this route if nothing else was available, and if you hadn't suggested it,
> it wouldn't have occurred to me to try.


You might keep trying that route - it is much easier than lowering the
rad (and draining coolant).  Try just turning with just your finger
tip or perhaps a bit of rubber over it.  If it is rough at all, it'll
keep spinning - there is not much pressure on it, unless the threads
got mangled.


> So, to lower the radiator, is it just unplug the fan and the sensor at the
> front bottom driver side, then undo the four bolts on the little
> "mini-shelfs" (I looked it up, that's what they call them in the Bentley)
> that it rests on?  It looks like the hoses will have enough play that I can
> move it a significant amount without taking them off.

Yes, dropping the rad is pretty easy - as Scott said, you probably
want to disconnect the coolant pipes (and have buckets ready to catch
it) - you might be able to do it without that, but it is probably
easier to remove the rad all the way.  You probably want a helper to
hold the rad while you go underneath and loosen the bolts.  My dear
wife helped steady it (and was ready to witness the execution by
radiator guillotine).... but it all turned out ok.  My old rad was
pretty heavy - the new one not so much.

Tom