Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2023 19:58:56 -0700
Reply-To: Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Subject: Re: Blam! Bleeder valve destruction and some other thoughts!
In-Reply-To: <CACvdLxNA_PYedwB6eOyn5mKbRqdwMtYJwjM1x5cMrvJrbJaRCA@mail.gmail.com>
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Dave, you can’t be anti capitalist …. No, you’re in the USA :-)
Sorry, hard day at work, stupid silly and stressful mod to a customer supplied part… I’m punch drunk ….
Ab
> On Mar 29, 2023, at 7:56 PM, David McNeely <davmcneely40@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Repair something? Jeesh! Isn't that contrary to the modern capitalist way
> of life, where things are made to break and be discarded?
>
>> On Wed, Mar 29, 2023 at 7:52 PM Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>> No, back to the bleeder,
>>
>> My clever friend took the actual bleeder apart and found two o rings to
>> replace the broken ones. I happened to talk to a experienced vW mechanic
>> and told him we planned to try replacing the o rings rather then use the
>> new unit if possible. He said he had done that in the past and it worked
>> fine.
>>
>> So, fingers crossed we have good O rings and the old original plastic has
>> a few more years in it.
>>
>> New bleeder plastic unit will be in my spares if needed.
>> I’ll keep the list posted, but surprised no one mentioned the option to
>> repair the bleeder rather then replace it.
>>
>> Eric Caron
>>
>>
>>
>>>> On Mar 29, 2023, at 10:41 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hey just putting my 2 cents in
>>>
>>>
>>> Last summer , on a trip well beyond help, my stock and original blue cap
>> failed .
>>> I mean failed as in I could blow thru the thing….
>>>
>>> Anyway, meant that planned destination to a high steep spot I wanted to
>> camp at was nixed.
>>>
>>> Still had good trip and made it home.
>>>
>>> Got a new cap from Vw dealer local . Was cheap, somewhere around 25
>> bucks Canadian . It’s the real one.
>>>
>>> But since then I’ve worried about my original pressure tank . I’d like
>> to make an aluminum one. Have made fusion model. Got no further.
>>>
>>> Thing is, there is no reason why the aluminum replacement tanks should
>> be any worse than stock. The cap is pretty well a common cap. A sight glass
>> in the tank would be nice but I’d go without if need be.
>>>
>>> The level sensor though. That’s a weak point. I’m suspicious of the
>> stock after market ones.
>>>
>>> Jeeze , I’m just rambling now.
>>>
>>> Ab
>>>
>>>> On Mar 28, 2023, at 10:21 AM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net>
>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Hi Mark,
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for that info and sharing that experience.
>>>>
>>>> Despite the advantages of the new metal tanks, they clearly are not
>> perfect.
>>>>
>>>> And, good to be prepared with information and experiences. Once
>> I get my 84 running for a few thousand miles this will be high on my list
>> of prevention upgrades.
>>>>
>>>> Eric Caron
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> On Mar 28, 2023, at 11:29 AM, Mark McCulley <mark@MARKMCCULLEY.COM>
>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> In an effort to make my van's coolant system more robust I got one of
>> the GW aluminum expansion tanks about a year ago. Shortly thereafter I
>> replaced most of the hoses and the radiator. My coolant system was anything
>> but robust at this point, I had several leaks. After working on this for
>> many hours I discovered that the pressure cap that came on the new
>> expansion tank was defective, it didn't release pressure as it was supposed
>> to and my system was over-pressurized. It was a frustrating experience,
>> just want to relate this and recommend that pressure caps be tested
>> whenever they are replaced and when there are issues around coolant leaks.
>> Some parts stores like Autozone loan out pressure testers for free that
>> will test the cap as well as pressurize the system to check for leaks.
>>>>>
>>>>> -Mark
>>>>> '87 syncro Westy
>>
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