Bus, Microbus, Transporter, Station Wagon, Vanagon, Camper, Pick-Up.
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Amskeptic
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by Amskeptic » Thu Aug 30, 2018 5:04 pm
busboytom wrote: ↑Thu Aug 09, 2018 2:28 pm
I'd gather many of you do this stuff in your sleep but for me much of this is first time /learning kind of stuff. My point is I thank you all for sharing tips, pointers, experiences and encouragement here and elsewhere.
CV's are locked and loaded. Ball joints and tie rods?
Only if necessary. You LIKE slightly loose steering, not from poor adjustments or worn center pin bushings, but low friction ball joints and tie rod joints. Then you have easy return-to-center which makes windy days half as stressful.
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
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busboytom
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by busboytom » Sun Sep 02, 2018 4:12 pm
Oh, it's necessary. All 4 are split wide for all the gooey goodness the escape. But we did manage a short trip to town for some fresh petrol. Got the attention of the dude behind the counter who controls the pumps..."pump 15, you have an awesome van"
The local Constable also
wanted a word with us as our cardboard rear window display warranted closer inspection. I flashed the title as he pulled along side...."cool ride, man....yeah, you're good". She'll be sporting blue collector plates shortly.
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busboytom
71 Squareback
77 Westfalia
68 Westfalia
Sears Allstate trailer
Appleby popup camper
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Amskeptic
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by Amskeptic » Tue Sep 04, 2018 9:29 am
busboytom wrote: ↑Sun Sep 02, 2018 4:12 pm
Oh, it's necessary. All 4 are split wide
I get that the boots are split. So replace them. But keep the ball joints if they have less than .030" play.
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
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asiab3
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by asiab3 » Wed Sep 05, 2018 2:49 pm
Those look like the factory early early bay joints with holes for M6 zerk fittings ready to go! The joints themselves are likely fine if they are original; this bus didn't seem to be too worn out anywhere except for the window seals and lichen on the paint…
Just did two buses worth of ball joint boots this morning before lunch… Start hitting the joint nuts and base of the boots with PB'laster NOW if you plan on tackling the boots this fall; It turns a grueling job into a slightly dirty puzzle.
Robbie
1969 bus, "Buddy."
145k miles with me.
322k miles on Earth.
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skip
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by skip » Mon Sep 17, 2018 5:39 am
I may have to do this next year so what is a good brand / product of replacement ball joint boots?
This task will be on 2019 to do list..Colin let's plan for a whole day in the urban utopia that you despise.
Complexity is the enemy of reliability.
76 Westfalia
74 Type 181
RinTinTin in Waldorf Astoria 1956
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busboytom
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by busboytom » Tue Sep 25, 2018 10:59 am
Sweet baby Jesus....50 yr old ball joints ready for another go around. Already tapped..did not know they did this back then. Removed new boots from new joints (my mistake in rushing to replace what was there) and installed boots on old, very nice joints.
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busboytom
71 Squareback
77 Westfalia
68 Westfalia
Sears Allstate trailer
Appleby popup camper
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asiab3
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by asiab3 » Wed Sep 26, 2018 10:36 am
Yeehaww glad you have that "coated aspirin" for the pain of having beautifully easy steering… :)
Robbie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8NM3V9QK4g
1969 bus, "Buddy."
145k miles with me.
322k miles on Earth.
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Amskeptic
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by Amskeptic » Sat Sep 29, 2018 12:52 pm
busboytom wrote: ↑Tue Sep 25, 2018 10:59 am
Sweet baby Jesus....50 yr old ball joints ready for another go around. Already tapped..did not know they did this back then. Removed new boots from new joints (my mistake in rushing to replace what was there) and installed boots on old, very nice joints.
Well Tom, you sure do wade in and git er dun. How did you get the blue retainer wires on the large diameter ends?
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
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busboytom
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by busboytom » Mon Oct 15, 2018 3:40 pm
How did you get the blue retainer wires on the large diameter ends?
Actually reused the old ones....way more flexible and much easier to push into place. New retainer wires will work well on key rings
busboytom
71 Squareback
77 Westfalia
68 Westfalia
Sears Allstate trailer
Appleby popup camper
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Amskeptic
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by Amskeptic » Tue Oct 16, 2018 10:06 pm
busboytom wrote: ↑Mon Oct 15, 2018 3:40 pm
How did you get the blue retainer wires on the large diameter ends?
Actually reused the old ones....way more flexible and much easier to push into place. New retainer wires will work well on key rings
That's what I did too .... using the nifty spring retainer special tool that only works on tie rods and drag links.
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
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busboytom
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by busboytom » Mon Mar 04, 2019 1:32 pm
The temp finally reached 23* and despite sans jalousie windows, I had to go for a drive. -5* today so Saturday's neighborhood drive was timed nicely. The jalousies are refreshed and ready just need some warmer temps so the soapy water doesn't freeze on contact
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busboytom
71 Squareback
77 Westfalia
68 Westfalia
Sears Allstate trailer
Appleby popup camper
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Amskeptic
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by Amskeptic » Mon Mar 04, 2019 6:13 pm
busboytom wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2019 1:32 pm
The temp finally reached 23* and despite sans jalousie windows, I had to go for a drive. -5* today so Saturday's neighborhood drive was timed nicely. The jalousies are refreshed and ready just need some warmer temps so the soapy water doesn't freeze on contact
That snow shot and no windows just chills my soul.
Did you replace the gearboxes on the jalousies?
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
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busboytom
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by busboytom » Tue Mar 05, 2019 8:22 am
Did you replace the gearboxes on the jalousies?
Colin
I just did all the window gaskets and polished the unending surfaces of pitted aluminum framework.
The rotational action of the gears seems quite good for a 50 year old. No binding or dead spots. Added a few drops of IAC approved glucosamine to all
exposed moving bits.
busboytom
71 Squareback
77 Westfalia
68 Westfalia
Sears Allstate trailer
Appleby popup camper
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busboytom
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Amskeptic
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by Amskeptic » Wed May 08, 2019 7:14 am
busboytom wrote: ↑Wed Apr 10, 2019 6:32 pm
Dropped the "no serial number" engine last week. A dealer replacement motor ? and at this stage unknown mileage. Odometer reads 63,700. Compression was 120/120/110/115. Cleaned up the ample oil deposits on the tin & heads, resealed, stand tested and tuned it. Sounded great. Removed gas tank to replace a suspected bad sending unit and found a collapsed in-tank screen and black fuel filter which was new in September or 300 miles ago. Danced a clean chain around the inside to dislodge remaining rustiness, rinsed and repeated. Then set about replacing all the cables....accelerator, clutch, heater, ebrakes. Pulled a set of decent heater boxes from the parts stash and put her all back together. Then removed the top (of course it had to start to rain...tarped it and pushed outside) and worked on old tent removal to ready top for a BusDepot 3screen tent. On the way home stopped at the place I rescued the bus from. Had to give the guy a ride who was mightily impressed at our progress. My speedo needle broke off shortly after the cable replacement so found a new dash unit. 170 miles back home across the state and she ran and drove wonderfully. Still have to work out a few 'gremlins'
You are a Master Mechanic now. I bestow upon thee the Spring Plate Sword Of Wolfsburg, go forth and smite the enemy of entropy and rust and bring back their flakes on a platter.
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles