TheSamba.com :: View topic - vanagon doesnt trip the fuel pump auto-shutoff in time

Sun May 09, 2010 12:15 pm

I just got the part from a guy who was parting out a '90.

It looks identical to the one on my '85, part number 251 201 129, same as the old one. I'm thinking that if it doesn't have the "a" suffix, then it's probably doesn't have the ball float. I can't tell any difference between this one and the one I already have. Which sucks. I might just install and see if there's any difference.

Sun May 09, 2010 12:25 pm

joetiger wrote: I might just install and see if there's any difference.

Don't waste your time. The float is externally mounted - very visible if present. If you don't see it, it's not there.

I have pics of both models - will edit the post when I get a chance.

Edit: ok, here are the pics:
251 201 129 (from my 87):

251 201 129A (from a 91 I believe):

Reckless Amateur wrote: Comparing the one from the 87 I had and the one I got from a 1990, I think, the newer one had a ping pong ball float at the end which I don't thing the 87 did. If that helps. :D

I almost answered "D'oh" to that, but now that I've seen the actual parts, well, that description is dead on :D

JM

Sun May 09, 2010 2:01 pm

Awesome. Anybody need an extra gas-vometing filler tube?

Tue Nov 13, 2012 6:01 pm

Thread resurrection...

I was out at a pull-it yard this afternoon (the one at US36 and Broadway) picking bits and pieces off of an '88 Wolfsburg. It was pretty picked over, but I was lucky enough to pull a good lower grill and a decent heater cover.

I pulled the filler neck just for kicks to see if I'd get lucky and find a ball float valve at the other end.

Well, the cage is there, but the ball is gone! D'oh!

The little cage has a part number, though, 191 201 207. I've checked a few of the usual sites and haven't had any luck yet.

Tue Nov 13, 2012 6:06 pm

Looks like the ball inside a can of Guinness. Wonder if that one is fuel-proof?

Wed Nov 14, 2012 6:47 am

Luckily, I had Guinness in the fridge. Tore up the can and tried it out on your advice--too small. I've got an email in to Van Cafe to see if the part is NLA or not.

Wed Nov 14, 2012 7:07 am

looks very near a regular ping pong ball

they sell orange ones in the beer & red solo cup isle at your gas station (nothing like a manufacterer promoting beer drinking games :roll: )

Wed Nov 14, 2012 10:45 am

danfromsyr wrote: looks very near a regular ping pong ball

they sell orange ones in the beer & red solo cup isle at your gas station (nothing like a manufacterer promoting beer drinking games :roll: )

Does gas dissolve a ping pong ball? It is nitrocellulose.

Wed Nov 14, 2012 10:47 am

I'm no chemist, but I'm thinking that dissolved ping pong ball might be bad for the fuel system. :D

Thu Nov 15, 2012 6:49 am

Ball float valve NLA. On the positive side, I'm building up a nice collection of worthless fuel filler necks.

Thu Nov 15, 2012 7:55 am

I'm curious if the Orange ones are nitrocelluouse and will have to conduct my own garage experiment..

just have to make sure not to mix up the gas cup for the beer cups.. :!:

Fri Mar 14, 2014 3:40 pm

I just bought a filler tube but as everyone else has noticed, there was no ball with it. Believe it or not, I did a quick search on Amazon and found this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005GFT4O2/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 These fit but looking at the picture posted previously maybe a little small. Sure you could find them in 1.25" though.

Fri Sep 19, 2014 10:29 am

Just tossing these into the mix. As I recently repaired (yesterday) the vapor system on my 89 Vanagon Westy, I found the plastic ball inside the tank. It had been pushed out or fallen out of the cage at the end of the filler tube.
I was able to reinstall it, but while doing so I pulled one out of an 84 parts Vanagon to compare the filler tubes.
Here is what I found fyi.
Without ball in the cage.

Upper is the later model filler with cage.

With ball reinserted into the cage. The cage had no tears and was very solid.