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wardvwracer
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Joined: July 19, 2002
Posts: 405
Location: Packer Country, WI
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 Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 6:56 pm Post subject: Thing Service Manual |
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Anyone have any experience with the following service manual?
http://www.thethingshop.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=181SM
Just curious about your opinions or experience using it. I have a rather "involved" Thing project and while I can refer to my assortment of Bentley manuals for such things as engine, transmission and some suspension stuff, I'm looking for a source specific to the Thing for such things as wiring, servicing the gas heater, and other Thing-specific stuff.
Is it a worthwhile investment to get this manual?
Thanks. 
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1962 Beetle
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vws-microcars4jim
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Joined: September 25, 2005
Posts: 304
Location: Chicago, West suburbs
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| Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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The color wiring diagram is worth it. I found the wiring diagram from them very helpful.  |
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Fun 181
Zu Geil!
Joined: October 20, 2006
Posts: 991
Location: Connecticut
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vws-microcars4jim
Samba Member
Joined: September 25, 2005
Posts: 304
Location: Chicago, West suburbs
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| Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 7:36 pm Post subject: |
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dang it, money wasted.  |
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Ian Epperson
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Joined: January 12, 2005
Posts: 2252
Location: Alameda, CA
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| Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 8:08 pm Post subject: |
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| vws-microcars4jim wrote: |
dang it, money wasted. |
No way! When you're on the side of the road trying to figure out why one of your fuses keeps blowing, nothing replaces a dead-tree manual.
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Captain Spalding
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Joined: February 19, 2005
Posts: 2011
Location: . . . in denial.
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| Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 8:10 pm Post subject: |
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(Almost) all the information is available online. You're paying $75 for the convenience of having it all concatenated into one document.
| Fun 181 wrote: |
| The 73 heater manual can be found online as well. |
Fun, you'd be my hero if you could point me to that.
I have a couple of BN4 PDF manuals, but none specifically for the BN4 as configured for the Thing. |
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Fun 181
Zu Geil!
Joined: October 20, 2006
Posts: 991
Location: Connecticut
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| Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 9:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Captain Spalding wrote: |
| I have a couple of BN4 PDF manuals, but none specifically for the BN4 as configured for the Thing. |
While compiling info for the BN4 sticky I remember coming across several references to heater manuals. I'm assuming that the manuals mentioned here aren't Thing-specific then?
| Fun 181 wrote: |
VW Workshop Maual: Fresh Air Heating
"This manual covers Eberspacher gas heaters installed in several types of air-cooled Volkswagens. These units are relatively unsafe if not well looked after, so hopefully owners of these heaters will find this information useful."
Found here...
http://oacdp.freeweb7.com/ebersp.html
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Seems like the link is temporarily out of commission. I remember seeing more than one reference to a heater manual, but can't seem to find any others now. If it exists then I'm sure it's out there somewhere.
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| Ian Epperson wrote: |
| Holy poop, that's full of awesome! |
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yellow73kubel
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Joined: August 17, 2008
Posts: 800
Location: Aiken, South Carolina
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| Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 6:33 am Post subject: |
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I think that manual Fun linked to is the same one I downloaded a while ago, it is a zippered file of individual pictures. I had put it on Vee Wiki at one point, not sure what happened. It has a full explanation of the BN4 as used on type 2's, and gives notes on the specific parts used in the 181. The only thing missing is a 181 service install guide for new installations, but existing install is self-explanatory with the parts diagram.
If anyone wants it, I could post the parts relevant to the Thing somewhere. |
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Fun 181
Zu Geil!
Joined: October 20, 2006
Posts: 991
Location: Connecticut
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| Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 7:16 am Post subject: |
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Maybe post it in the technical section under Thing manuals, if it isn't there already for Type 2s? I gave a quick look, but didn't see anything.
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| Ian Epperson wrote: |
| Holy poop, that's full of awesome! |
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Captain Spalding
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Joined: February 19, 2005
Posts: 2011
Location: . . . in denial.
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| Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 9:19 am Post subject: |
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| yellow73kubel wrote: |
| I think that manual Fun linked to is the same one I downloaded a while ago, it is a zippered file of individual pictures. I had put it on Vee Wiki at one point, not sure what happened. It has a full explanation of the BN4 as used on type 2's, and gives notes on the specific parts used in the 181. The only thing missing is a 181 service install guide for new installations, but existing install is self-explanatory with the parts diagram. |
I have that one. It's 127 pages of .png images, right? I was hoping for something more Thing specific. The BN4 that it covers is different from ours in a few ways. It's still useful, though. If that's the best option we've got I'll clean it up (a little) and make it into a single .pdf file rather than a gaggle of .pngs. Then I'll submit it to the tech section. |
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yellow73kubel
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Joined: August 17, 2008
Posts: 800
Location: Aiken, South Carolina
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| Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 9:52 am Post subject: |
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| Captain Spalding wrote: |
| I have that one. It's 127 pages of .png images, right? I was hoping for something more Thing specific. The BN4 that it covers is different from ours in a few ways. It's still useful, though. If that's the best option we've got I'll clean it up (a little) and make it into a single .pdf file rather than a gaggle of .pngs. Then I'll submit it to the tech section. |
Yup, same one.. I don't see any differences between the manual and my heater, but I haven't dug into it. Only pictures 38-71 really apply to us, and a few of those can be cut out (early T2 with a different heater).
Came across a post on VZi where someone talked to Eberspacher UK and was able to get a factory manual on the heater, sounds like sometime 2000-2001. Maybe they can hook us up with an official PDF or something for the forums? |
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kubelmann
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Joined: April 13, 2003
Posts: 2962
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| Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 12:22 pm Post subject: |
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| All the stuff mentioned and way more is located on the RoMTOC Thing Data CD. Check it out at www.romtoc.com/datacd.html |
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Captain Spalding
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Joined: February 19, 2005
Posts: 2011
Location: . . . in denial.
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| Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 2:09 pm Post subject: |
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| yellow73kubel wrote: |
| I don't see any differences between the manual and my heater, but I haven't dug into it. |
Differences: thermostat, fuel delivery system, no fuse on overheat switch, etc.
| kubelmann wrote: |
| All the stuff mentioned and way more is located on the RoMTOC Thing Data CD. Check it out at www.romtoc.com/datacd.html |
Does your CD include a Heater manual written specifically for the BN-4 as implemented in the Thing? Because I've only seen ones pertaining to Type 2 installations.
BTW, as I type this I'm sending a PDF version of the pages you suggested, including color wiring diagrams, to Everett for inclusion in the technical section. |
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SilverThing 
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Joined: July 19, 2004
Posts: 652
Location: Boise/Seattle
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| Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 2:48 pm Post subject: |
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The service manual also includes info on body (dimensions and such) and info pertaining to suspension and some of the differences from other models (wear tolerances for example). I think it is well worth the money. I put all of the pages from mine into clear plastic protective sleeves to protect them from my greasy fingers. At some point in the future I might break it down into the individual sections because flipping through a big binder can be a pain at times (had to put it into a larger binder after using the sleeves). I also tend to print of other info I find on the web and add it as an appendix (military service manuals and the like).
IMO the wiring diagrams that Captain Spalding developed are better than what is available anywhere else.
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kubelmann
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Joined: April 13, 2003
Posts: 2962
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| Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 9:50 am Post subject: |
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Yes the RoMTOC Thing Data CD contains the Thing gas heater manual. Also Ron Ness' document The BN-4 demystified Installation and removal procedure for a BN-4 in the Thing..
Also, Captain S' most excellent wiring diagrams and much much more. |
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Captain Spalding
Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2005
Posts: 2011
Location: . . . in denial.
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| Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 11:41 am Post subject: |
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A PDF service manual for the BN-4 is now available in the Technical Section.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/thing.php
It pertains specifically to a Type 2 installation, but those of us with BN-4's in our 181's might find it useful.
I wish I had K-mann's version though. |
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xavi_242
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Joined: May 06, 2005
Posts: 1419
Location: Barcelona (SPAIN)
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| Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 6:42 am Post subject: |
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| Captain Spalding wrote: |
I wish I had K-mann's version though. |
x2
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Ian Epperson
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Captain Spalding
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Joined: February 19, 2005
Posts: 2011
Location: . . . in denial.
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| Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 9:03 am Post subject: |
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| Ian Epperson wrote: |
| Quote: |
| RoMTOC VW Thing Data CD Price: $18.81 shipped |
Cheaper than almost any other part for the heater... |
The Thing is, I already own a RoMTOC VW Thing Data CD. I bought it many years ago. The majority of the files wouldn't open. I emailed K-mann and he tried in good faith to help me, recommending this version or that version of Acrobat. Nothing seemed to help. I'm not trying to badmouth K-mann. He's a huge asset to the community. I'm just saying that I won't buy another CD on principle. |
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kubelmann
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Joined: April 13, 2003
Posts: 2962
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| Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 3:01 pm Post subject: |
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| I have not heard that complaint before about the CD. Although it is now in its 11th edition and is much more organized and has much more content than it did years ago. Capt. If you sent me your mailing address [email protected] I would send you an updated disc as a way of thanking you for your service to the Thing Community. Also in hope that the files would open for you. The files are pdf. jpg and word files so they should all open easily. |
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