Date:         Fri, 3 Sep 1999 08:34:59 -0400
Reply-To:     Southard <southard@GIS.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Southard <southard@GIS.NET>
Subject:      Vanagon Diesel Radiator Bleeder Nipple
Comments: To: "Diesel VW List (E-mail)" <diesel@vwfans.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

I'm planning to pull Reinhardt's radiator for a good cleanup.  The bleeder
nipple on the top has been frozen for a while.  This is the diesel radiator.
 The bleeder looks a lot like a brake bleeder nipple.  It is not a screw with a
washer, as I believe the gas radiators have.  There's a good picture of it on
Bentley, page 19.6, Fig. 2.  Since it has been stuck, I've simply loosened the
radiator hose clamp just below it in the past to bleed (again, I think this
location is specific to the diesel vanagon.)

Before I take a pair of vicegrips and risk destroying it, I have a few
questions.

Any suggestions for how to remove this nipple without destroying it?  Will it
possibly break off and then I have a bigger problem?  Should I ask the guys at
the radiator shop to deal with it?  Will they screw it up worse than I?

Is there a source for replacement bleeders or a better alternative?

Thanks,

Maynard
'82 Westy Diesel "Reinhardt"
'93 EV GL "Klinger"