Date: Sat, 9 Apr 2016 00:15:11 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Replacement of coolant
In-Reply-To: <CANEuo0hzyqebjw9SPuKL=XHryGsHMk9dPtbEp2nXS03oAFTOpw@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
If the ends are popping out the tubes are already broken. The ends won’t slide as long as the hose barb is still there as it was molded around the step in that tube. Without that hose barb or raised edge no matter what you only have the friction to hold the connection together. It may work for a while or maybe even a long time. I find it amazing that even folks that have invested in engines will still take the risk of this future failure. As a though if no one invests in the replacement pipes that are offered when you really need it we shouldn’t expect them to be available.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of kenneth wilford (Van-Again)
Sent: Friday, April 8, 2016 10:03 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Replacement of coolant
The best and easiest way to drain most of the coolant is by pulling the two hoses at the front behind the spare tire. Just mark them so you know how they go back. Then you can inspect that end of the pipe as well and see if it is separating. There will still be coolant in the pipes and the rear of the system so after that is drained go to the back and pull the hoses off of that end of the pipes. Now inspect them. You will have drained about 90% of the coolant at this point but there will still be at least half a gallon sitting in the pipes that there is really no way to get out other than pulling them out completely (just did this job yesterday). So if the pipes look good on the ends I would just leave them alone and don't bother installing that Go Westy snake oil fix kit thing. I have no clue what it is supposed to do but if you were grabbing a bar of soap in the shower and you tried to stop it from popping out by blocking it with your other hand, what good would that do? It would still slip out even if you tried to block it. That is how I see their kit.
If the ends are popping out but not broken then you can heat them up and tap them metal back inside like I just did. However eventually they will work their way out again due to the heat cycles and pressure on the system. That is why I am considering putting a rivet through the plastic into the metal sleeve to keep it from moving. Eventually the plastic may crack up and the metal may rust and swell but that will probably be many more years and thousands of miles into the future. If you want a more permanent fix then the stainless steel pipes are the way to go.
Ken
On Fri, Apr 8, 2016 at 8:53 AM, Dennis Jowell <dennisjowell@gmail.com>
wrote:
> Ken,
> I think that may be the way to go. Still my fear is losing all the
> coolant when I drop the pipes to check for or correct for any loose
> connections. I don't understand how to drain the coolant through the
> provided 3 air vents on my 88 Westy
>
> Dennis Jowell
> Scotch Hollow Farm
> Newbury, Vermont
>
>
> > On Apr 8, 2016, at 8:28 AM, kenneth wilford (Van-Again) <
> kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET> wrote:
> >
> > I usually replace the pipes with stainless ones if the ends are
> > breaking up. However I recently had a van where the ends weren't
> > rusty or
> breaking
> > up but that the steel was just pushing it's way out of the ends of
> > the plastic pipes. I decided to try to heat up the pipes with a
> > heat gun and just see what happened. The plastic got to a certain
> > temperature and
> got a
> > wet look and then I could just tap the metal ends all the way back
> > in
> like
> > they were when they were new. I am thinking about drilling a hole
> > and putting a stainless steel rivet near the end to keep the metal
> > sleeve
> from
> > moving again. If they don't move that should keep the ends from
> > coming apart in the future. What do you think?
> >
> > Ken
> >
> > On Thu, Apr 7, 2016 at 5:23 PM, Dennis Haynes
> > <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> If you are referring to the kit to keep the hoses attached to the
> coolant
> >> pipes don't bother. As much as I like many Go Westy products and
> >> designs this is not a sound solution. Replace the coolant pipes
> >> with one of the replacement alternatives and be done with it. Keep
> >> in mind that one of these hose failures on the highway will mean
> >> some level of engine damage and
> if
> >> really unlucky some possible cost for environmental or the vehicle
> behind
> >> you clean up. With some care these pipes can be replaced without
> dropping
> >> the fuel tank.
> >>
> >> Dennis
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf Of
> >> Dennis Jowell
> >> Sent: Thursday, April 7, 2016 4:32 PM
> >> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >> Subject: Replacement of coolant
> >>
> >> I thought I would install GOWESTY' s coolant hose repair kit by
> >> myself before we head out to Northwestern Canada in a few weeks.
> >> Reading my Bentley I got concerned on wether I can accomplish this
> >> work in the
> current
> >> weather here in Vermont.
> >> I work behind my barn, ground is somewhat still frozen /muddy so I
> >> can't jack the our Westy up. This would make it a lot easier to
> >> install the
> kit.
> >> When draining the coolant I didn't want to lose any on the pasture.
> >> Is there a safe and easy way to do this. How can I be sure that no
> >> coolant will
> get
> >> on the ground from me spilling it.
> >> Any thoughts would be great and helpful.
> >> I also have the GOWESTY bike pump for the coolant air problem and
> >> to
> check
> >> for leaks which I have a small one at the rear heater. No surprise
> Thanks,
> >>
> >> Dennis Jowell
> >> Scotch Hollow Farm
> >> Newbury, Vermont
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Thanks,
> > Ken Wilford
> > John 3:16
> > www.vanagain.com
>
--
Thanks,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com
