Fourteen States in Seven Weeks?

[SGKent]

if I was going thru brushes that fast I might concern myself that solder would be next. Considering why the brushes would be wearing so fast it is either mechanical or electrical. While there are many causes of each, most involve heat as part of the process, and that eventually melts solder. Once a generator starts throwing solder it is over. I'd figure it out fast before that happens because one does not walk into an O'Reilly or NAPA and ask for a 38 amp over the counter exchange any more. That probably means taking it apart and growling it to be sure there isn't a winding that is shorted. Other causes like too much load on it can also be an issue - bad battery cell, too many electronics etc.. 38 amps is 500+/-watts max. As I recall, brushes used to last about 40,000 - 60,000 miles on my 1971 bus.
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[telford dorr]

A good thing to do on any brush replacement is to clean the crap out of the slots between the commutator segments. A sharpened piece of hardwood dowel works good. (Many) years ago, one used to be able go into a drug store and buy an "orange stick", used for cleaning under fingernails. You could also buy disinfectant that contained mercury. But I digress. The orange stick has a chisel tip cut on one end. This edge fit nicely between the commutator segments and safely dug all of the carbon crap out. Being wood, it couldn't hurt the commutator segments themselves (e.g., don't use a knife or small screwdriver - leaves sharp segment edges). Between that cleaning and sanding the commutator smooth, the brushes would last a long, long time.
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'71 panel, now with FI
'Experience' is the ability to recognize a mistake when you're making it again - Franklin P. Jones
In theory, theory works in practice; in practice, it doesn't - William T. Harbaugh
When you're dead, you don't know you're dead. The pain is only felt by others.
Same thing happens when you're stupid. - Philippe Geluck
More VW electrical at http://telforddorr.com/ (available 9am to 9pm PST)

[Tcash]

Bamboo cuticle pusher
https://www.amazon.com/MASH-Reusable-Cuticle-Manicure-Pedicure/dp/B005MYYE6U

Or busdaddy's favorite, a chopstick.
Can be used to Open that AFM flap for fuel pump testing.
File to a chisel and clean in between those commutator segments.
Used to open and close the points without sparking.
File to a point and chisel for cleaning under those nails and push cuticles back.
Got a loose screw in wood, a touch of glue, drive one in cut it flush and start a new screw hole.

[telford dorr]

That's them.
_________________
'71 panel, now with FI
'Experience' is the ability to recognize a mistake when you're making it again - Franklin P. Jones
In theory, theory works in practice; in practice, it doesn't - William T. Harbaugh
When you're dead, you don't know you're dead. The pain is only felt by others.
Same thing happens when you're stupid. - Philippe Geluck
More VW electrical at http://telforddorr.com/ (available 9am to 9pm PST)

[airschooled]

Wrapped up my time in Minnesota with a stark change of plans... Drove though North Dakota in one sitting, and now...

Third gear on an interstate! That means I’m officially in The West.

Robbie

_________________
Learn how your vintage VW works. And why it doesn't!
One-on-one tech help for your Volkswagen:
www.airschooled.com

[andrewtf]

Westward Ho.

and by that I just might mean....

"Look! There is a Ho going westward!




Just kiddin' Robbie
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'75 Riviera - 'BIG EMMA' (Pan American highway trip paused for a make over)
'77 Riviera - Murphy' (being reborn.... slowly)
'63 Austin Healey

[AlmostHeavenWV_VW]

[Tcash]

Ya, haven't heard from you in a few days. What's going on.
Hope all is well!
Tcash

[AlmostHeavenWV_VW]

[Xevin]

I know where he his And it’s the only place I can’t get service with Verizon. More to follow I’m sure.....,
_________________
Keep on Busin'

[Xevin]

"I spy with my little eye ..." Two familiar buses

_________________
Keep on Busin'

[AlmostHeavenWV_VW]

[Stuartzickefoose]

_________________
Stuart Zickefoose

2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDi 6 speed manual

206-841-7324
[email protected]

[Tcash]

Hey Stu who's the old man in the stocking cap?

[airschooled]

Stu, was I sleeping in that pic?

Yeah we’ll see you all at the Lucky Lab tonight!! Then I’m spending some time with family stuff here, flying to LA for more of it, then coming back up to continue my travels in July.

Life gets in the way of living sometimes, but I’ve had some great moments these last few months and I don’t intend for them to stop- just postpone. All is good though, see y’all tonight. Hawthorne location.

Robbie
_________________
Learn how your vintage VW works. And why it doesn't!
One-on-one tech help for your Volkswagen:
www.airschooled.com

[airschooled]

2,379 miles since the generator light went on, and the used brush has no discernible wear with a depth micrometer, and the surface looks identical to when I installed it. Case closed- bad brush.

Ran out of gas in Wisconsin...

Raced a vintage fire truck, and a vintage fire truck converted to a race car.

Found a side highway through North Dakota that didn’t suck.

Had a colassal meltdown in Montana- left speaker didn’t sound just right. Found some corrosion in the wire and made it right. Repair bill is now a towering $22.94.

Pulled off to Beartooth Pass, which opened a few hours before and some skiers and snowboarders jumped the roads.

Came into Yellowstone on theee hubcaps. Drove back a bit. Came into Yellowstone on four hubcaps.

Went to my first RendezVW and this guy didn’t break my bus this time.

Met up with some crazies.

Picked up some more bugs.

Packed up and stored it. On a plane to LA right now to learn bass guitar, play a show on bass guitar, and hitch a ride back to Portland to pick up the bus.

Robbie

_________________
Learn how your vintage VW works. And why it doesn't!
One-on-one tech help for your Volkswagen:
www.airschooled.com

[Clatter]

Congrats.
The bass is by far the BEST instrument of them all.
_________________
Bus Motor Build

What’s That Noise?!?

[Spike0180]

[Xevin]

[TomWesty]