Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2021 20:12:07 +0000
Reply-To: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: Maintenance thoughts!
In-Reply-To: <CY4PR0801MB37313403E4A677E195F386FCA09B9@CY4PR0801MB3731.namprd08.prod.outlook.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Labels....labels....excellent tip. I got smart about a year ago, and with a Sharpie wrote on my oil filter the mileage when changed; now there is no searching around for paper or computer records. It's all right there under the motor!
Yeah...front wheel bearing lubrication is my particular pet peeve. I was hearing it...but had to make it 40 more miles. Barely got into a motel. Did the flatbed towtruck ride of shame the next day. What a mess! Not only were bearings gone, but so was Spindle. And, you need to keep everything balanced on front end, right to left, wear wise. Genius mechanics were able to source a used Spindle for my 85. Total job cost me about $800 or so as I recall. They asked me about how long I planned to keep my Vanagon; I said Forever; so we got it all squared up; all the proper parts. Very happy every since, and that was 12 years ago.
But I was on a roadtrip, 1500 miles from home, and another 8,000 miles to go. Lived to tell the story. But....lesson learned.....be VERY proactive regarding maintenance.
On Sunday, February 28, 2021, 11:45:20 AM PST, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:
Overall the Vanagon really little in required preventive maintenance. Beyond fluids the rest is affected by a lot of variables including environment, how it is used, and for many parts, the quality of the part it self and method of installation. Don't forget the ability of bad parts to destroy other parts.
From both my industrial and automotive experience the goal is to maintain some level of reliability at the most reasonable cost point. There all sorts of approaches, planned maintenance, preventive maintenance, corrective maintenance, Schedule maintenance and of course Emergency maintenance. Supporting equipment at work approaching 40 years of age I have come up with a different approach, "Condition Based Maintenance".
This approach relies on regular, frequent inspections and operational observation. The tracking history will allow for tuning maintenance frequencies to optimize cost and reliability. Fluid analysis is also helpful. Is there a benefit to 3,000 mile oil changes? Driving through construction zones or salted and sanded winter roads that may not be enough. Wheel bearings, how often to service? A single downhill brake overheating event can ruin the grease in the front wheel bearings. So can driving or parking in deep maybe contaminated water. (Inspection, observation).
Records and spread sheets are great for putting things in one place and tracking costs. Labels put everything in your face every time you look and also help when you need to hand things over to someone else. There is room for a lot of labels driver's door jam, brakes and suspension work. License plate door great for oil and belt changes etc.
Many of the repairs we've done are beyond normal maintenance. Hopefully some are once only but we know better.
Dennis
| 
