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nemobuscaptain
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 3874
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Sodo
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007
Posts: 9600
Location: Western WA
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 Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2022 11:30 pm Post subject: Re: The Piano Swivel seat modification |
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Those barrels look kinda expensive.
I cut 1.25 inch sections of a thick wall pipe that I had in my junkpile.
Here's some on Amazon. They're 1/8" thick, which would weld reliably.
I see some with 1/16" wall, that could be dicey to weld.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009YLWO0K
\Lyn-Tron, Steel, Zinc Plated Finish, 1/4" Screw Size, 1/2" OD, 0.252" ID, 3/16" Length (Pack of 5) for $11
You can boil the zinc off in a few quick seconds with Muriatic acid (available at any hardware store).
_________________
'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb |
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calsurf
Samba Member
Joined: June 28, 2022
Posts: 124
Location: SoCal
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| Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2022 8:43 am Post subject: Re: The Piano Swivel seat modification |
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| Well done, very ingenious. Could you add a photo of the seat/lid fully closed and "locked"? Is the locking pin noticeable? Cheers. |
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?Waldo?
Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2006
Posts: 9752
Location: Where?
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| Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2022 1:10 pm Post subject: Re: The Piano Swivel seat modification |
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| Sodo wrote: |
...The only thing I disagree with, that someone said MIG weld not strong enough.
Every weld you see, on the entire van is a MIG weld. MIG is good... |
Assuming someone knows how to weld, MIG welds can be as strong or stronger than the base metal they are joining. I have both TIG and MIG and would choose TIG for a very different reason. TIG doesn't put out the sparks/splatter that MIG puts out. Any glass nearby (and there is quite a bit) will get little fisheyes in it if any splatter hits it. I also started a small fire in one Vanagon of mine when MIG welding in a swivel. One of the cloths I draped to prevent the splatter from hitting anything actually caught on fire from the splatter!   |
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Sodo
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007
Posts: 9600
Location: Western WA
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| Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2022 3:25 pm Post subject: Re: The Piano Swivel seat modification |
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"Flux-core wire feed" is often referred to as MIG.
It's not MIG. (Metal Inert Gas)
Flux-core must have 5x the spatter of a gas MIG.
TIG is so civilized. A tiny, quiet little orb that makes no spatter.
But MIG "gets it done". (a gas MIG)
I have a $20 glass-fiber welding blanket from Harbor Freight that I wrapped around the weld area to contain the spatter.
Spatter melts into glass and sticks hard.
_________________
'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb |
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Sodo
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007
Posts: 9600
Location: Western WA
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| Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2022 9:52 am Post subject: Re: The Piano Swivel seat modification |
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| puchfinnland wrote: |
upgrading my battery cables is only as good as the ground wire so that was upgraded also |
Note that the upgrade can only be as good as the "unknown, aged, outdoor, daisy-chain of dissimilar metals". (the gearbox)
This type of ground path (aluminum-to-steel-to-magnesium-to-steel-to-magnesium-to-steel-to-magnesium-to-steel-to-copper) will inevitably degrade over time outdoors.
Typically only the groundstrap end is maintained, the upstream portion is not maintainable except perhaps by total gearbox disassembly,
and intentional reassembly 'as a fresh, but degradable groundpath'.
But who would do that?
Degradation can cause slow starting (perhaps intermittent), un-reliable diagnosis, because it's difficult to diagnose while replicating the high-current faults.
It should be understood that electricity using gearbox shafts in its rush to get to the fwd ground....
erodes precision rolling elements inside,
thus "protecting" the old gearbox from electricity with a direct starter ground is more sensible.
Deleting this ground and adding a dedicated, direct groundpath deletes all the possible problems listed above, in one simple operation.
These vans aren't ten-year-olds anymore.
Everyone with a ~35 year old gearbox should be bypassing the gearbox case groundpath.
Replacing the starter's groundpath with a direct cable could be a more certain solution to starting problems, than replacing the positive cable.
It makes similar sense to add a ground cable from the alternator case
direct to the van chassis.
When your two highest producer/consumers (starter, alternator) have guaranteed ground paths, thats half the battle to retrieve 'lost volts'.
And it reduces current demands on the other ground paths.
That’s 50% of the old-van-volts battle (with old-man-time)
The other 50% being the positive current path.
_________________
'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb |
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4Gears4Tires
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2018
Posts: 3004
Location: MD
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| Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2022 5:03 pm Post subject: Re: The Piano Swivel seat modification |
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The TL;DR of the above post is ground from the alternator to the chassis. 
_________________
'87 Syncro
Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition |
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fxr
Samba Member
Joined: December 07, 2014
Posts: 2315
Location: Bay area CA
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| Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2022 5:13 pm Post subject: Re: The Piano Swivel seat modification |
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| 4Gears4Tires wrote: |
| The TL;DR of the above post is ground from the alternator to the chassis. |
Or better still - ground the starter directly to chassis, NOT via the transaxle. Or Sodo will come and sort you out... 
_________________
Jim Crowther
1984 1.9l EJ22 Westy Wolfsburg Edition
Vespa GTS 300 |
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Sodo
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007
Posts: 9600
Location: Western WA
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| Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2022 5:21 pm Post subject: Re: The Piano Swivel seat modification |
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| fxr wrote: |
| 4Gears4Tires wrote: |
| The TL;DR of the above post is ground from the alternator to the chassis. |
Or better still - ground the starter directly to chassis, NOT via the transaxle. Or Sodo will come and sort you out... |
This is a tough one, because most people seem to think that if VW put a fwd ground on the gearbox that its OK forever.
But it has so many totally valid strikes against it.
And so many vans have lost volts, slow starters and eroding gearboxes.
And its such an easy DIY.
It takes a good bit of explaining what has changed in 35 years and how it was OK on a new car but no longer OK for the antiquer.
Plus most people’s vans are starting OK (for now) and the gearboxes haven't ground to a halt.
This should be standard practice on every restoration.
_________________
'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb |
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tencentlife
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Joined: May 02, 2006
Posts: 10075
Location: Abiquiu, NM, USA
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jimf909 
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014
Posts: 7455
Location: WA/ID
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| Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2023 11:53 am Post subject: Re: The Piano Swivel seat modification |
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^^^ Neato!
Tilt-a-Seat is now available to the masses, not just the creative few who can create a piano hinge with a welder with their eyes closed.
I like it (but don't have a use for it yet b/c that space is currently occupied by stereo components now, although it would be nice to easily access the space for changes, etc.).
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- Jim
| Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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Sodo
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007
Posts: 9600
Location: Western WA
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| Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2023 12:11 pm Post subject: Re: The Piano Swivel seat modification |
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That danged Puch-Finn feller who led us down the path of the side-lift.... !!!
Well I guess it depends what you put in there.
It's somewhat appealing to access the underseat storage from inside the cabin.
But currently I have jumper cables and outside stuff in there, so side lift works for me.
But a 'bolt on' kit is super-valuable for many owners.
Cutting the westy swivel out, is not simple for most people, but the tool can be a a $20 harbor-freight angle grinder.
And some angle-grinder 'skills" of course, which is 'not trivial'.
| jimf909 wrote: |
| I like it (but don't have a use for it yet b/c that space is currently occupied by stereo components now, although it would be nice to easily access the space for changes, etc.). |
Jim you could move your boom-boom-box to the driver seat and then you'd have this accessible storage.
_________________
'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb |
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vanagonjr
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Joined: October 07, 2010
Posts: 3430
Location: Dartmouth, Mass.
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Rorke
Samba Member
Joined: August 04, 2016
Posts: 255
Location: Traverse City, MI
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| Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2023 4:55 am Post subject: Re: The Piano Swivel seat modification |
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| Since my start battery is in the back, this will open the space up big time. Christmas list topper. |
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snuf
Samba Member
Joined: April 15, 2008
Posts: 237
Location: TN
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| Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2023 5:33 am Post subject: Re: The Piano Swivel seat modification |
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Great work on swivel seat tilt.
If only I had swivel seats, I would get a set.
Something like that for Non swivel seats would be useful, especially when the seat does not slide in the track very well.
_________________
1986 Wolfsberg Limited Edition Vanagon.
AKA: Poptop with rear corner cabinet, fold down side table, rear-facing jump seat and a 12v fridge/cooler. |
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tencentlife
Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2006
Posts: 10075
Location: Abiquiu, NM, USA
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| Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2024 4:44 pm Post subject: Re: The Piano Swivel seat modification |
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| vanagonjr wrote: |
Hmmm, if one had a swivel (cut out of a Westy) not yet installed in a non-Westy, would this be the ticket to a easy (and cool) install? |
Using my kit would be on the whole easier than bolting down or welding in a swivel seat base, and it doesn't require drilling any new holes in the van itself, only the swivel base panel. I've just changed some of the parts to simplify manufacturing and installation, with now only 4 holes to drill in the base panel instead of six.
The pictures on my site and in the guide will still show the original version for a few more days, still gathering the media to update those things soon, but the newer parts are ready to order.
_________________
Shop for unique Vanagon accessories at the Vanistan shop:
https://intrepidoverland.com/vanistan/
Please don't PM here, I will not reply.
Experience is kryptonite to doctrine. |
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Sodo
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007
Posts: 9600
Location: Western WA
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| Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2024 6:46 pm Post subject: Re: The Piano Swivel seat modification |
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When I did my '87 it was a mad rush to get the van ready for a roadtrip and I just copied the design on my '90.
The differences between the '87 and '90 battery cover was not on my mind, and an ooopsy ensued.
The '90 battery cover door lifts off.
But the '87 has a hinged door,  and the danged hinged door won't open
when the seat is tipped to the side as in the pic above.
My seat hinge has 2 pins, so I can remove both pins (then the whole seat lifts free) but it's inelegant.
I suspect 10cent's van has a hinged battery door.
I'm inclined to re-weld the axis on my '87 to tip forward like the 10c config.
I'm pretty hooked on this mod, I use it more often than thought.
That 10cent kit being $75 ..... could be one of the better $75 you could spend on a van especially if your van has 'electrical mods'.
_________________
'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb |
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