TheSamba.com :: View topic - Accelerator Pedal rod broke off..new part available?

Mon Apr 23, 2012 5:21 pm

I was cleaning out my 77 bus over the weekend and happened to knock the accelerator pedal with the vacuum....the rod that attaches the pedal through the floor of the van and into the accelerator linkage broke at one end (it was badly rusted), and my local parts guy says that that rod (shaped like an "S") isn't available...I see all sorts of kits online that have the hinge and the return spring (which I also need to replace), but no "S" shaped rod...any suggestions where I might get one? I saw one that looked a bit different for a 73-76 bus, (shorter)? I'm guessing the one I need fits 77-79?
thanks...

Mon Apr 23, 2012 7:56 pm

find someone who is parting a 1977 or get a hold of someone like Ken Madsen at Busco or Avery's in Woodland Washington.

Mon Apr 23, 2012 8:08 pm

You might try WayOut salvage in Kingston Arkansas. They helped me with some parts I needed...very patient, professional and willing to answer questions. www.wayoutsalvage.com (479) 665-4126.

I've also heard good things about busted bus. They also have used parts available. Hope it helps. Let us know how you fare. :)

Mon Apr 23, 2012 9:20 pm

There aren't many bay buses in the wrecking yards around Portland anymore...Avery's included. There's supposedly a place over in Boise that has some Bay buses...anyone know the place?

Mon Apr 23, 2012 10:44 pm

Bays show up in the local pick-n-pulls sometimes. There's also the stash behind Trafton's shop out on SE Stark, possibly Ashley @ Always VeeDub on SE 50th has one .. maybe.

Who've you been going to for parts..?

Tue Apr 24, 2012 3:53 am

I've got one on my '77 I can give you - PM me.

Tue Apr 24, 2012 4:28 am

Years back mine failed from wear and sort of rebuilt it with an arc welder. Amazingly it held up until a few years ago. No idea where it is now unfortunately now I have th efar more delicate MIG. To replace it I made a plate steel sandwich like an "H". Two long bits on the outside and two shorter pieces on the inside to make enough width. they were bolted together in the middle and also had holes on the ends where I put bolts for the pedal and linkage.

Mine worked because I'm pretty sure my pedal hinge baseplate was replaced at some point because I could twist the whole assembly so the pedal pivoted in line with the bottom linkage.

Oh... Did i just waste my time? My S linkage went from the pedal to the linkage on the floor. Does the LHD S linkage go through the floor?

Tue Apr 24, 2012 6:49 am

Will check out the stash behind that place on Stark...I usually have gotten parts from Discount Parts in Beaverton, and some at Averys over the years, although that's a bit of a drive for odds and ends.

Yes...it's the S rod that goes through the floor...good old German engineering!

Tue Apr 24, 2012 2:47 pm

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1231858

http://www.busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=J11118

Jeff

Tue Apr 24, 2012 3:23 pm

If I remember I'll take a photo of what I did. A variant of it might keep you going until you get the correct part. If you find someone that also has the pedal spring, please let me know! The only springs I've seen come in a pedal kit for LHD vehicles. So useless. Add to that the insane shipping to Australia for some companies which I figure must be paying a mule to smuggle the parts in their anus. No way I'm paying nearly $100 postage for something in a box the size of a pack of cigarettes.

Tue Apr 24, 2012 3:39 pm

jeffsbugs wrote: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1231858

http://www.busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=J11118

Jeff

Totally different style on my '77. It's not an S-shape; more just a rod with holes on either end for clevis pins. But my '77 started it's life as an automatic...

67ghiapdx let me know if you want mine... I started to take it off but the clevis pins are totally rusted in there; I hit it with PB and expect in a day or two they'll come off. Or I'd be happy to cut up my floor and give you the whole assembly - that '77 is a rustbucket!

Tue Apr 24, 2012 3:42 pm

ccpalmer wrote: jeffsbugs wrote: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1231858

http://www.busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=J11118

Jeff

Totally different style on my '77. It's not an S-shape; more just a rod with holes on either end for clevis pins. But my '77 started it's life as an automatic...

So did mine. Different layout being RHD. My pedal is different to the manual pedals too. it has a switch built into it which I'm assuming is triggered when it's flat to the floor for the kickdown.

Tue Apr 24, 2012 8:43 pm

You can see that at one point I had to replace the arm on the rod too because it wore through about 12 years ago. I'm not sure but I think it may have been aluminium. It would explain the flames when I welded the steel to it. Still it works so who cares.

Tue Apr 24, 2012 9:33 pm

That's quite a set up ratcamper! Looks like the ad that you posted jeffsbugs has the part that's identical to mine...no clevis pin on anything holding that rod on either...

Wed Apr 25, 2012 8:05 pm

RatCamper wrote:

You can see that at one point I had to replace the arm on the rod too because it wore through about 12 years ago. I'm not sure but I think it may have been aluminium. It would explain the flames when I welded the steel to it. Still it works so who cares.

And the best part is no-one will know you did it yourself! :shock:

Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:00 pm

looks don't bother me. If someone is obsessing over what lies under my accelerator pedal I have to worry about them.

Because the hinge sits so high I would occasionally have a horrible problem. The S linkage causes a little side load. If I perhaps put my foot down a little crooked and maybe the weather was a little cool it'd put a little too much side load on the whole assembly and the pedal would twist sideways leaving me with no accelerator until I bent the pedal back and put the linkage back together. Very unpleasant to have happen on an uphill intersection. The way I have it now the hinge pin has even escaped and I still have use of the accelerator. Yes I know it's appalingly ugly. I threw it together in maybe 10 minutes with a hacksaw and drill.

I'd also like to add that stuff around the pedal is dirt, not rust. All under the front mat has been painted with epoxy enamel to keep the moisture away.

Wed Apr 25, 2012 11:13 pm

If you plan on using the parts from Bus Depot use some E-clips to hold everything together. The springs have a tendency to pop off at the worst times :shock:

Thu Apr 26, 2012 12:30 am

udidwht wrote: If you plan on using the parts from Bus Depot use some E-clips to hold everything together. The springs have a tendency to pop off at the worst times :shock:

I used to have string tied around the springs and a convenient spot on the underside of the pedal so when they popped off they didn't get lost :lol:

Thu Apr 26, 2012 11:57 am

RatCamper wrote: udidwht wrote: If you plan on using the parts from Bus Depot use some E-clips to hold everything together. The springs have a tendency to pop off at the worst times :shock:

I used to have string tied around the springs and a convenient spot on the underside of the pedal so when they popped off they didn't get lost :lol:

I replaced the Eclip by drilling a small hole near the end of the linkage and using the spring with a washer and cotter key. No more popped Eclips,, flying springs or dropped linkage.

Aloha
tp

Fri Apr 27, 2012 9:41 pm

Mine required no drilling whatsoever...(2) E-clips installed 180 degrees opposite each other with small silicone o-rings against the linkage to ease side slop/wear.