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Mon Aug 25, 2003 9:25 am

I was thinking this weekend about all the stupid things I did while working on aircooled vws over the years. I only needed to do them once then learned my lesson... the hard way.

1. "Pump those brakes":
Always remember to put ON you drum before you check pedal pressure. boy that was a mess.

2. "Always be a stud":
while putting on a new 'high volume' oil pump, always use the studs and not longer bolts. It doesn't take much pressure on the cam gear to break your cam shaft in two.

3. "Rotor is as a rotor does":
When gapping your points, always remember to put you rotor back on. You'll spend and hour trying to figure out why it doesn't start.

4. "Voltage drop my ass":
Never assume semiphores can take 12volts.
They go up really fast... once.

I know I have some more. but these are the 'good ones' that sure bring back the memories. :shock:

Mon Aug 25, 2003 7:45 pm

oh yeah...

5. "that shiat don't wash off"
and I got a vw tattoo back in college. Now, when I take off my shirt, I feel as if VWoA is going to sue me. :wink:

Mon Aug 25, 2003 10:05 pm

I'll add one to that.

6. Forgetting the fuel cut-off position on the reserve valve. Actually had my car towed to a shop because of that...

Wed Aug 27, 2003 6:10 pm

7. Once owned a Ford.

Wed Aug 27, 2003 6:36 pm

8. Asking my son to turn the ignition switch to the on position to check for 12v at the backup lights without disabling the starter. It fired, ran, and launched off the hoist into the tool box, but nobody got hurt. Totally my fault too.

Thu Aug 28, 2003 9:07 am

I second owning a Ford.

Fri Aug 29, 2003 6:36 am

8. Not realizing the car was going to tilt off the jacks and into the wall of the garage while I was stupidly pumping away at the lift handle while staring off into space.

Fri Aug 29, 2003 6:37 am

10. Not knowing that after 8 comes 9, not 8.

Fri Aug 29, 2003 6:57 am

10. Starting an engine without a carburetor by putting some fuel down the intake to see what happens.

Fri Aug 29, 2003 9:58 am

adjusting throttle on a running engine while wearing a tie- the air cleaner leaves a funny bruise on your forehead when you get pulled in at 3500 rpm.

Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:58 pm

that's what you get for wearing a tie.

Fixed a starting problem, got in, turned the key, freaked out when nothing happened, then realized that I forgot to hook the battery back up.

Fri Aug 29, 2003 6:10 pm

Running out of gas and then forget to put the air cleaner back on after priming the carb, car backfires and spews burning gas all over the engine compartment, including behind the fan shroud. 5 minutes later no more car.

Sat Aug 30, 2003 12:10 pm

bljones wrote: adjusting throttle on a running engine while wearing a tie- the air cleaner leaves a funny bruise on your forehead when you get pulled in at 3500 rpm.

dude you did not really do that did you ?

hooking the oil breather line from the filler to the port on the fan shroud then wondering why my engine leaks oil from all over the place

Sat Aug 30, 2003 6:11 pm

Cranked the engine for a good 20 minutes, trying to figure out why it wouldnt start. Well I figured out that the Distributer needs to be seated and the rotor installed before spark will reach the plugs.

Also I drove a good 2 miles befor I remembered to tighten the lug nuts. That one I have to say is the worse one yet.
Andy Rattley

Sun Aug 31, 2003 2:38 am

Tried to downshift into first gear after losing the clutch pedal, thinking I could try to shift down with rpm`s as you can with a broken clutch cable (it was an old trick VW`s people did when losing clutch cable`s back in Germany, rpm`s up and down, and gas on and off kinda as you would double clutch a crashbox).........

Well, it was`nt the clutch cable :cry: it was the throw out bearing....I lost 1st gear and reverse in my 56 Oval :cry:

Now anytime I get that clutch probs or transmission, it`s coast over to the side of the road and let it rest for a while :) keep your kool and check it all out :wink:

Lesson learned

Der Winkermeister

Vintage Square Window Owners Society 1958-61 VSWS
President

Sun Aug 31, 2003 3:21 pm

Trusting a friend when he says he knows how to install the flywheel and clutch. Stupid me not making sure its done right. Then we take it for a drive and when I get on the gas theres a loud thumping sound and vibration. When we got back I tried to figure out whats up as I put my tools away, what do you think I find next to the socket? Why its the gland nut washer. You guys know then what happens when theres no glasnd nut washer? Try it and see :x :x

Sun Aug 31, 2003 4:32 pm

yeah, i actually did that. happened on my way home from a job interview many years ago. since then i reserve ties for weddings, funerals, and important anniversaries.

Sun Aug 31, 2003 6:48 pm

Turned into a black tie evening did it?

Sun Aug 31, 2003 9:23 pm

damn near a black eye evening

Mon Sep 01, 2003 5:54 pm

Last time I had to wear a tie was at my wedding-June 1985!
Heres a dumb ass move -- left my 72 vertble. Bug in reverse when dick'en around with the flexi heat tubes- heater box to car area- the big screw driver I was useing touched the starter- BOTH terminals, Yep the sucker stared lurching bacwards- OFF the floor jack- acrossed my chest and out into the driveway, lucky I moved fast to miss the front tires crushing my head, scared the hell out of my wife when I came in the house with tire track across my jacket !!!!!
Tom #-o ](*,) [-X