Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2005 10:11:40 -0600
Reply-To: Al and Sue Brase <albeeee@MCHSI.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Al and Sue Brase <albeeee@MCHSI.COM>
Subject: Re: Toughest job on a Vanagon, was Re: Secrets of exhaust nuts
In-Reply-To: <00f301c5129f$face95f0$b784e2d1@PC134051997625>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
Aw, that's what they make test lights for. Sometimes it's a problem to
find a good one though! The bulb is burned out in my Snap-on one. I
guess I need to track down the Snap-on man! Trouble shooting auto
electric stuff is not too hard with good schematics. I kind of miss the
old realistic type schematics like they have in the old Bentleys for the
72 and earlier buses. The current track ones have their use, but
sometimes make it more difficult to relate the circuit to the actual
vehicle.
Actual troubleshooting is pure logic. For instance, the rear window
defrost on my 87 doesn't work. First I check the hot wire at the window-
dead. Then checked the fuse holder and then the switch. turned out to be
hot on one side of the switch but not the other. Bingo. Bad switch.
Piece of cake. Certainly easier than seeing inside of an engine or tranny!
Oh, I happen to be a journeyman electrician. Same concept- use a tester.
But 12 volts is a little less dangerous than 480 volts!
Al Brase
Karl Hartmut Filc wrote:
> The reale piXX of is the electrical thing. No problems with things I
> can see
> or feel where it's going. Electrical there is no waaaay for me.
>
> Hartmut
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Robert Fisher" <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Sunday, February 13, 2005 :13:49 PM
> Subject: Toughest job on a Vanagon, was Re: Secrets of exhaust nuts
>
>
>> --clip--
>>
>>> This is one of the toughest jobs on a Vanagon. (Maybe we should
>>> start a new thread: what is the toughest job on a Vanagon?) the only
>>> thing I'd rate tougher is putting the piston/ cylinder assemblies
>>> into a
>>> Waterboxer.
>>> Al Brase
>>
>> --clip--
>>
>> The only time I've done the exhaust or the pistons, I had the engine
>> on a
>> stand. I found the pistons to be fairly straightforward and didn't
>> really
>> have any problem with them, at least after I made a tool for the wrist
>> pins.
>> With the exhaust system, I wound up putting the pieces together (more
>> like
>> 'forcing' some of them) and just putting the nuts on one turn or so
>> until
>> I
>> had it all hung together and then went around more-or-less in order
>> tightening them up until it was tight. I do this with many things
>> that are
>> of dubious fit, keeps you from having to go back and loosen things to
>> make
>> later things fit.
>>
>> I can tell you from experience that putting in the auto tranny by
>> yourself
>> is tough, mostly from a strength/leverage and alignment standpoint.
>>
>> Personally, I hate chasing electrical problems. I know how to do it well
>> enough but it's time consuming and I always seem to end up upside-down
>> under
>> the dash, which, while it might be great comic relief for others,
>> doesn't
>> do
>> much for me.
>>
>> I also have a problem with aligning/re-hanging doors (if doing it by
>> myself)
>> for some reason- at least, I'm never much satisfied with the results,
>> but
>> that may come from trying to get a perfect fit and not getting it.
>>
>> 'Course, I don't have a Westy or a Syncro, so I haven't had to deal with
>> some of the more esoteric crap y'all go on about.
>>
>> Cya,
>> Robert
>>
>
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