Date:         Mon, 17 May 1999 17:48:59 -0700
Reply-To:     Mark Drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mark Drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: Westy Fridge Project
Comments: To: SPENCERVW@aol.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

The pump we are referring to is the left most knob in the fridge
control  panel. The same knob is also the ignition button or lighter. If
you pull it out and push it in it will pump air into the pilot chamber.
The pump is only used in the lighting process and ideally should not be
needed. The reason it is used is that the pilot light is in a very small
chamber. If the chamber fill up with propane before the pilot lights,
there will not be enough oxygen for the flame to occur. This means that
the chamber is "flooded" and you need to release the safety button to
stop the gas flow and then pump the air pump several times to add oxygen
and dilute the propane. Then push the safety button in and quickly push
the ignitor button repeatedly until the pilot lights. Learning this
procedure is the key to getting the fridge to light at will. The
procedure works better on some fridges than on others. One of the causes
for this is that the pump loses its seal and very little air is pushed
into the chamber as a result. I fix this when the fridge must be pulled
out of the cabinet for any reason. I disassemble the pump and lubricate
it with a little Vaseline on the piston. It is possible to get to the
pump in a fashion by removing the fridge door and then the fridge
cabinet front. 3 screws need to be removed then pull gently on the right
edge of the cabinet front. About all you can do from here is look at it,
but you could put a couple drops of oil into the pump vent hole with the
right oil can nozzle. The pump has proven to be inadequate over time and
VW lists a retrofit kit and procedure to improve it's performance. I
have never tried one of these myself. Has anyone?

Mark

SPENCERVW@aol.com wrote:
>
> OK, I'll bite, What is the pump up device everyone is talking about? Where is
> it on an 85? The owners manual doesn't mention it. Am I missing something or
> pump challenged
> Spencer