Itinerant Air-Cooled

I had a brief conversation with Colin about this when he was here. What back up parts ought to be carried for a long trip in my '78 Westy? Double relay? Fuel filter and pump? Clutch and accelerator cables...What is the thinking out there about this? I'd appreciate the benefit of others experience on this subject...a checklist.

Plugs, points, cap, rotor, alt belt, gas filter, fuel line, some 16g wire, connector kit with assorted connectors, fuses, assortment of new nuts & bolts & washers, CHT.
This what I carry.

LIght bulbs, rocker arm cover gaskets, oil, AAR elbow (or two or three), temp sensor II, spare AFM (okay, that's just me. I'm a classic belt-and-suspenders kinda guy).

The list of spares reduces with the amount of confidence you have in the state of your ride before the trip, so it's best to make sure as much as possible (or feasible) is in ship-shape beforehand.

Most important: Senses of humor and adventure, in equal measure.

Thank you for these recommendations.

yep, be prepared and fo' sure stuff will happen as its all part of the trip.

I, on the other hand, subscribe to the talisman theory.

I carry a spare distributor, fuel pump, headlight, bulbs, voltage regulator, and other gadgets. This reduces the probability that any of these articles will break down.

I also carry a great number of tools. The box must weigh forty pounds. The greater the variety of tools I carry, the lower the probability that I will actually use the more exotic ones on a regular basis.

However, I am reasonably sure that the next component that will break down will be one for which I do not carry a spare. To fix it will require a tool that I do not have with me. It may be in my garage, but my garage will be five hundred miles away.

I also carry a box of nuts, bolts, screws, and washers. The last time I needed a machine screw, I could not find it in the box. So I bought it at a hardware store. In fact, I bought two of them, and the other one went into the hardware box, thereby ensuring that I will never need that particular part again.

JLT wrote:I, on the other hand, subscribe to the talisman theory.

A most prudent theory, and one which I am all too guilty of subscription. Ask anyone who's gone bike riding with me. And as far as toolbox weight goes, mine is close to needing a two-handed lift.

As applied to life in the more general sense, though, one runs into little conundrums. For instance: if subscribing to the talisman theory, is it worth one's while to carry a condom?

For long trips in Frito (say more than 5k miles) I usually take a spare headlight bulb.

OhhhhhYouuuuuuWhyIoughta.....

I go over everything carefully and only bring along my tool box. Never had the need to haul along items such as distributor, fuel pump, engine etc...

I do have an extra clutch cable & accelerator cable (toolbox) but have never had to actually install either of them on the go. I replaced my bowden tube (fall 2011). The previous one was at least 15+ years old and I last had it out in April 2006. Upon inspection of the cable I found no issues with it. So I installed the new bowden tube and the old cable. I did not need to replace the clevis pin either.

Everything greased up and reinstalled including the dust boot at each end.

What I've done recently:

Rebuilt front end
Brake hoses (front & rear) replaced (fluid flushed replaced with Super ATE blue)
Rebuilt calipers (front) new pads installed
New AMC reworked (42x36mm) heads from HeadflowMasters
New Biral AA P/C's 96mm
Porsche swivel foot adjusters
Rebuilt the 40mm Weber carbs
Rebuilt the fuel pump
New oil pressure switch (German)
All new VR seal kit installed while installing new heads & P/C's
New T/O bearing and pilot bearing.
New front seal
New rear seal
New plug wires (Bosch)
New plugs (NGK B5ES)
New T-stat & cable

Most importantly...doesn't leak a drop. I detest oil leaks of any kind.

Ready for a road trip!

Jivermo wrote:I had a brief conversation with Colin about this when he was here. What back up parts ought to be carried for a long trip in my '78 Westy? Double relay? Fuel filter and pump? Clutch and accelerator cables...What is the thinking out there about this? I'd appreciate the benefit of others experience on this subject...a checklist.

Greatly depends on your current familiarity with your car.

Plugs, for example, I do not bother with, nor distributor cap nor rotor, no need for an air or fuel filter if you changed them recently (if your trip is longer than 18,000 miles, then yes a change is called for).
A spare fuel pump is good, they are princesses when they fall ill. A double relay does have a pesky diode set up that can strand you, but I do not carry a spare, I stay away from that stuff and it works (you can hotwire a double relay to work to get you back to civilization).

In the cheep new world, a length of fuel hose is good if yours are not fully new and fresh to the tank in/outlets. Starters my god, new ones are failing at the solenoids after only a couple of years, so a spare hotstart relay and some wire and some duct tape. Your spare cables are a good idea, but better yet, lubricate your currently installed ones from the clutch and accelerator pedals on back, be thorough.

Spare fuses 8a and 16a.

Bring your own comfort tools and supplies. Mine, of course, is a full toolbox, but I feel unprepared with anything less.
Colin

Wonderful suggestions, all. Thanks for the valuable input. I will also have my map of Aircooled support staff around the United States. That is one great idea.