[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: [T2] misadventures of a vw mechanic wannabe



Had a roommate that insisted that cigarettes couldn't start fires with gasoline. These were 'goodolddays' when we were in the Navy and beer was generally involved.
He would always insist on proving it when he had a few and I hadn't and I 
was cleaning parts (hands in gasoline sometimes).
This led to many hot conversations!!! (no pun intended).

Another episode, another friend, BMW that had sat for a long time.

I am cranking the engine over with the key, pumping, some popping through the carb. Friend thinks more gas from bottom will help. It popped again and lit the carb, the bottle, and him. He dropped the bottle, gas/fire everywhere, and ran away.
We were in Italy and I quickly realized that I did not know the Italian 
words for fire (Fuoco). Couldn't ask for a fire extinguisher at the shop we 
were working beside. Grabbed a mechanic who saw the situation and threw me 
an extinguisher. The BMW was gridlocked between other cars so now we had 
several cars with fire under them.
Got the fire out, got my friend out. No damages beyond soot and some 
blisters on his right side - head to toe.
Took him to the Navy hospital. They took a complete report. Navy gave my 
the Navy Achievement medal. I didn't want it (for that), told them, and 
then slept through the ceremony (worked 12 hours night before).
Department was very pissed, several other guys got retirement and 
advancement certificates but no me. Wanted to write me up but they decided 
the paperwork would read a little funny.
<grin>





At 08:32 AM 9/10/01 -0400, you wrote:
Must be written somewhere - "You own a bus, you drink gas." Had the same thing happen to me a few years ago while trying to get one started for a friend of mine.
After dumping what seemed like a full tank of gas on my head, chest and 
driveway. My buddy leaned down - cigarette in hand - and asked if 
everything was alright. Never in my life have I moved so fast....
David
1972 Campmobile



From: "Chris and Kell" <midwestbass@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <type2@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [T2] misadventures of a vw mechanic wannabe
Date: Sat, 8 Sep 2001 15:37:16 -0700

some days, I feel like im getting somewhere, and with my manual by my side I
can do anything.
that is, until I don't have my manual by my side, and try to do something I
assume can only be just as easy as other projects I have taken on.
The project : replace fuel filter
The mistake : not reading my manual first
The outcome : lots of gas all over the place
I really hate to admit it, but damn this was a dumb, and rather dangerous
move on my part. I am trying to get ready for my trip to the grand canyon
from san fran, so I went to change the points/condenser/rotor/oil/oil
filter - I set the timing, and decided to change the fuel filter since I had
an extra one and some spare time, after all it couldn't be that hard, or
take much time.
I crawled under the bus, found where the old one was and pulled off the
hose. damnit, the CLAMPS, the CLAMPS!!! ahhhh, grab bucket, place under bus,
contemplate if the gas will continue to pour out, or just stop when however
much is in the hose comes through. I realized it was going to continue, so I
wrapped a towel around my face to help with the fumes, found the hose
spraying gas, and bent it in half. I tied a rag around it to keep it
pinched, and grabbed the garden hose. I doused the gas that had spilled onto
the ground with water, hoping to some higher power that nothing would ignite
it. I decided to play it safe (sure, now!) and call the FD. They came and
just decided there wasn't really that much, and hosed the rest of it away
for me, instead of using any chemicals to spread around on it. I watched
from the side, my head hung in shame. I now reeked of gas, and had half a
bucket of it that I don't know what to do with. How do you dispose of
gasoline properly? I don't think I want to use it, since the bucket had
little dust and stuff sitting in it when I put it under the bus. I'll figure
something out, for now, its covered and placed out of the way.
For future reference, what would have been a good clamping devise? I locking
pliers perhaps?
I will never ever make that mistake again.
My Lesson : RTFM (read the freaking manual)

Christopher
76 westy "jasper"


Some interesting tidbits about my bus :
chassis number # 62 137 055
Production date : May, 1976
export destination : Picked up by first owner at the factory in Germany,
meant for US-market
model 231
VW campmobile de luxe

Paint :
9156.. L20A marinogelb aka chrome yellow
Specifications for the USA (1976)
Westfalia interrior type P22
Pop-up roof campmobile
Detachable headrest in cab




----------------------------------------------------------------------
  To UNSUBSCRIBE send any e-mail to: type2-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  To email the admin for list help only: type2-admin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
 For additional commands send any e-mail to: type2-help@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
----------------------------------------------------------------------

_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp


----------------------------------------------------------------------
 To UNSUBSCRIBE send any e-mail to: type2-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
 To email the admin for list help only: type2-admin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
For additional commands send any e-mail to: type2-help@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ciao!

Chris M. <Busbodger>
Cookeville, Tennessee

ICQ# 5944649
scm9985@xxxxxxxxxx

'78 VW Westfalia (67 HP -> that is...67 Hamster Power)
'65 Beetle - Type IV powered
'99 CR-V station wagon
'81 CB900 Custom moto-chickle
2.5 Corvair engines for my Trans-vair Conversion

FOR SALE: Early model Corvair engine - needs bell housing, otherwise complete (make offer)