crisis averted
Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 6:04 pm
Colin saved me from disaster in so many ways this week that I can't hope to remember them all. Most importantly, he saved both my buses from a likely firey end, gas dripping next to the coil in one, and a gallon of gas in the oil in the other bus. He came to my rescue by finding a brake booster at a VW yard that was functional, but he had to expend quite an effort and endure brake fluid baths for the cause. The more he helps me, the more I realize how ignorant I am and poorly prepared for the task of buying used, and even new, parts. Pitfalls abound for the unwary, so many little bits and pieces auxiliary to 'the part' that one must know about, so many people willing to charge high prices for incomplete, abused, and deteriorated merchandise. I am deeply appreciative of everything Colin has done to pull back my buses from the brink of crisis. I will try to do better to take care of my vehicles. I am saddened to be told I am not a car person and want to prove otherwise.
The lower brake fluid reservoir of the 71 bus broke at the neck when Colin removed it from the master cylinder. With astute foresight, Colin had already procured an extra reservoir when he picked up the booster at a yard in Hesperia. He also procured a number of small rubber and plastic connector bits vital to our project, and concocted a make-do replacement for rubber fittings (which had deteriorated to black goo) in the upper brake fluid reservoir by wrapping the outlet nipple with electrical tape. We made a trip to the next town in Colin's bus to buy a master cylinder, (oy vey, more money I must spend). I feel very unaware that I did not know this might be required.
I taught Colin a new trick, or at least he let me believe so, and that is to clean bottles with small openings or internal crevices with rock salt and a small amount of water or alcohol, (other liquids I suppose), and shaking the slurry as a liquid abrasive . Unlike using sand, if any salt becomes lodged it is easily dissolved. This would not be a good method to use in tanks made of metal I would caution to add, lest salt cause corrosion to the metal.
Colin assembled and installed the brake booster, master cylinder and upper reservoir. All my cleaning efforts to date proved futile since he was now dealing with gunk that had been hidden behind the booster. I heard muffled noises of distaste as crumbs and goo rained down upon his face. I filled the fluid reservoir, and it took nearly a quart of fresh fluid. I learned Saturday that brake fluid is hydroscopic (is that right?), that it attracts water to itself once the seal on the bottle is broken, so one must never use old brake fluid. You will introduce water to your brake system if you do, and all your expensive and vital brake parts will rust.
more later
The lower brake fluid reservoir of the 71 bus broke at the neck when Colin removed it from the master cylinder. With astute foresight, Colin had already procured an extra reservoir when he picked up the booster at a yard in Hesperia. He also procured a number of small rubber and plastic connector bits vital to our project, and concocted a make-do replacement for rubber fittings (which had deteriorated to black goo) in the upper brake fluid reservoir by wrapping the outlet nipple with electrical tape. We made a trip to the next town in Colin's bus to buy a master cylinder, (oy vey, more money I must spend). I feel very unaware that I did not know this might be required.
I taught Colin a new trick, or at least he let me believe so, and that is to clean bottles with small openings or internal crevices with rock salt and a small amount of water or alcohol, (other liquids I suppose), and shaking the slurry as a liquid abrasive . Unlike using sand, if any salt becomes lodged it is easily dissolved. This would not be a good method to use in tanks made of metal I would caution to add, lest salt cause corrosion to the metal.
Colin assembled and installed the brake booster, master cylinder and upper reservoir. All my cleaning efforts to date proved futile since he was now dealing with gunk that had been hidden behind the booster. I heard muffled noises of distaste as crumbs and goo rained down upon his face. I filled the fluid reservoir, and it took nearly a quart of fresh fluid. I learned Saturday that brake fluid is hydroscopic (is that right?), that it attracts water to itself once the seal on the bottle is broken, so one must never use old brake fluid. You will introduce water to your brake system if you do, and all your expensive and vital brake parts will rust.
more later