November 14, 2013
Anaconda, MT
132,674.6 (20.5 miles)
So today was about getting Sandy running good again. Yesterday we did some troubleshooting and ruled out a bunch of things. Today I was going to learn how to check and adjust the valves under the guidance of Mitch G.
We started with a cold engine and got to it right away with Mitch giving me a lesson in basic engine principles. (You’d be very proud of your student Colin – he even made some drawings for me) From there it was under the bus I went. Armed with my coveralls I brought with me – coveralls I have had since I was 16! – I got right to work opening up the valve cover and checking the gap on the #1 cylinder. WOW, they were way off. I found the Exhaust at .003 – and Intake at .009. Next one was about the same. In fact all of them were well outside of range. According to the engine builder, Adrian at Head Flow Masters in CA, he wanted my valves at .008 for Exhaust and .006 for Intake.
Once the valves were set, gaskets replaced and everything all buttoned up, I fired her up. Sandy came right to life and only issue was a high idle. Mitch adjusted the idle while I kept an eye on the Tach and I let him know once we were at 950 RPM (x100). Then we checked the timing and BINGO, 7.5 BTDC is was. Dead On! I then made a decision to change the oil, even if it was a 1,000 miles too early, it was just a good day for it. We were prepared, dirty and it wasn’t raining or snowing. I pulled the drain plug and then we walked to the local NAPA store and got some fresh oil. I already had a filter in the buses Store. (it’s a boating term 😀 ). When we got back, the oil had finished draining and the new filter went on and then after an adjustment to the filler tube (Mitch told me the VW logo must always be facing up 😀 ) I added new oil to Sandy.
Now it was time. Did this fix it or will we need to do more adjusting? In the bus I climbed and down the road Lexie and I went headed for the big hill North on MT-1. I got Sandy heated up and then pulled off into Warm Springs State Park. She stayed running. She actually was idling much better than before too. 😀 Back to Mitch’s house we went pulling over frequently to test idle and she held each time. Now confident we found the problem, Mitch returned to work and I got busy checking the battery drain issue. I traced the drain to one of two or perhaps a combination of both problems. 1) I was only seeing 1.1 v coming off the Relay’s power wire. 2) Even when off, I was still seeing .1v which could be enough to keep the relay open. Then there is 3) Relay might be stuck open, but until I address 1 and 2, there is no sense in testing 3.
By now the sun was starting to set and it was getting cold – for me. Mitch, on the other hand is use to these temps and can handle it. I am not, so I packed it up for the night and left the relay issue for another day as its easy enough to disconnect the wire overnight.
Lexie and I joined Mitch, Melissa and their daughter for dinner and we talked about buses, trips, travels and life. Thank you Melissa for the delicious homemade soup and bread and stealing your husband for two days. Thank you for the use of your house and putting up with us camped in your front yard.
I have forged a new friendship and I hope to see Mitch, Melissa and family (including the new baby) sometime in the near future. I’d love to show you all around Vermont!
Tomorrow we are off for Billings, MT to see my old Motorcycle Buddy, Michael Turley.
It’s great that it worked out for you to swing by Anaconda and get some things adjusted on Sandy. There’s not much of a VW community here, so it’s really nice when we get to meet fellow bus owner passing through. Safe travels to you and Lexie!
Thank you Melissa and Thank You for letting me steal your husband for a couple of days and the homemade soup. I was perfect for a chilly night. Sandy is running so well now, I am thinking we will do a Coast to Coast with her and get back just in time for dinner on Thanksgiving.
It was nice having you and Lexie by–be sure to stop if you’re ever out this way again. I’ll be tracking you religiously on your map.
Go Sandy, go!
Alright,
Mitch.
p.s. Deb Fiero–“Anaconda” was the second choice for this town’s name: it was supposed to be “Copperopolis” but, amazingly, that name was already taken by another (now gone) town in Montana. So the postal clerk named it “Anaconda” after the mining company that was then the town’s biggest employer and raison d’etre. Why the ming company was called “Anaconda” is another story.
OMG. I love that town. The hills, the houses, the name especially. PS I think you found your ass pants.
Yes, you would love this town, especially since its cold! Actually snowing right now. They are as crazy here as you Rochesterites are and I guess as crazy as the people in Seattle WA who work outside int he rain because its always raining in the winter.
Me, I’m dreaming of Sunny Southern California to get me through the chilly nights. Well that and a heater and a dozen blankets 😀 That’s really how I’m getting through the chilly (23 degree) nights.
As for the jeans…(blushing)