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veedub00 Samba Member
Joined: March 23, 2005 Posts: 36 Location: Eastpointe, Meechigan
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Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 10:46 am Post subject: How do I unclog a preheater tube? |
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My preheater is clogged with what I have no clue. How do i clean it? I need a tiny roto rooter or something. Anybody tackle this before and could give me some suggestions?
Thanks,
James |
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pyrOman Fire Master

Joined: July 21, 2003 Posts: 12513 Location: Over 2002 posts deleted!
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Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 10:55 am Post subject: |
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Drill through it with an old speedo cable!  _________________ Some people are so busy being clever they don't have time enough to be wise. |
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lonslo Samba Member

Joined: December 17, 2003 Posts: 1110 Location: Osideornoside
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Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 10:57 am Post subject: |
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Then blow it out with a air compresser |
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veedub00 Samba Member
Joined: March 23, 2005 Posts: 36 Location: Eastpointe, Meechigan
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Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 11:16 am Post subject: |
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I don't have an old speedo cable. Could I just buy a cable from home depot or something? Will any cable work? Do I need to do anything special to the end or just keep it straight?
Thanks for the replies so far,
James |
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Livens Samba Member

Joined: September 10, 2005 Posts: 555 Location: Louisville, KY
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Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 11:40 am Post subject: |
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veedub00 wrote: |
I don't have an old speedo cable. Could I just buy a cable from home depot or something? Will any cable work? Do I need to do anything special to the end or just keep it straight?
Thanks for the replies so far,
James |
Nope, Home depot cables are way too soft. I went to Autozone and picked up a clutch cable for a 72 Super Beetle for cheap (under $10) and used that. Cut off about 2 ft. and chuck it into your drill and start cleaning! It takes FOREVER though, and I never got it perfect. _________________ 1972 Super Beetle |
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oc63rag Samba Member

Joined: June 03, 2003 Posts: 2663 Location: Huntington Beach, CA
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Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 12:53 pm Post subject: |
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You may be better off buying a used center section that is already clear.
Check my ads for an example. _________________ Designed for four soldiers and a machine gun...also for family use.
My food baby is crowning. |
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vdubyah73 Samba Member

Joined: July 05, 2003 Posts: 2541 Location: somewhere in Texas, my house has wheels
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Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 2:32 pm Post subject: |
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headliner bows work.
Bill _________________ burning down the house
73 bounty hunter, sold.
'77 transporter, junked had crotch rot.
Dubless, but have a CPR built stroker waiting for a new to me Beetle
'93 Fleetwood Bounder 34' |
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tkarnold Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 167 Location: Moab,Utah
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Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 4:01 pm Post subject: clogged tube |
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I'll try to explain a way to start: use two hammers one on each side of the pipe, hit the pipe with one with the other on the other side , work up and down the pipe'; the vibration loosens the carbon |
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veedub00 Samba Member
Joined: March 23, 2005 Posts: 36 Location: Eastpointe, Meechigan
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Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 4:19 pm Post subject: |
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what if they are plugged and I install it? Is that an issue? I really dont think I can unplug it.
Thanks for the advice so far,
James |
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OB Bus Samba Member

Joined: February 09, 2003 Posts: 2631 Location: Ocean Beach - San Diego
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Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:53 pm Post subject: |
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Muir's solution was an oxy/acetylene (sp?) torch. Heat the carbon to red hot then crank up the oxygen and the carbon burns itself up. I did try this (a long long time ago) with a propane/oxygen torch and it worked. Lotsa sparks flying in that garage. Think the clutch cable will be easier and cleaner. _________________ Larry in OB
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
69 Westfalia and 2002 Eurovan Camper.
People deserve the Government they voted for. |
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coad  Samba Scapegoat

Joined: September 12, 2002 Posts: 7560
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Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 6:08 pm Post subject: |
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OB Bus wrote: |
Muir's solution was an oxy/acetylene (sp?) torch. Heat the carbon to red hot then crank up the oxygen and the carbon burns itself up. I did try this (a long long time ago) with a propane/oxygen torch and it worked. Lotsa sparks flying in that garage. Think the clutch cable will be easier and cleaner. |
My mechanic does it that way. Pretty good show when he does it. |
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EverettB  Administrator

Joined: April 11, 2000 Posts: 70937 Location: Phoenix 602
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tkarnold Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 167 Location: Moab,Utah
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Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 8:59 pm Post subject: clogeddoe |
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doesn't serve any purpose until cold weather and car will operate even then. case in ppint: no preheat on dual carbs. tom |
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vdubyah73 Samba Member

Joined: July 05, 2003 Posts: 2541 Location: somewhere in Texas, my house has wheels
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Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2006 5:49 am Post subject: |
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The car will run a lot better at all times if you clear it. The stock induction has a long way to go to reach the heads, the fuel wants to condense back into liquid on its way to the heads. The heat from the preheat tube helps prevent this. The heat also prevents carb iceing in cool, damp weather. Dual carb setups don't need as much help with this because the intake runners aren't as long, they are aluminum, and they sit right above the heads. I get carb iceing ocasionally with my 44 IDF's, but not like you would with a plugged preheater tube. It's there for a reason. Unplug it, especially if you already have it off.
Bill _________________ burning down the house
73 bounty hunter, sold.
'77 transporter, junked had crotch rot.
Dubless, but have a CPR built stroker waiting for a new to me Beetle
'93 Fleetwood Bounder 34' |
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Towel Rail Horizontally Opposed

Joined: April 15, 2005 Posts: 4622 Location: SE CR IA US NA PE
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Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2006 10:03 am Post subject: Re: clogeddoe |
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tkarnold wrote: |
doesn't serve any purpose until cold weather and car will operate even then. case in ppint: no preheat on dual carbs. tom |
70 degrees is "cold weather" for an engine. |
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oldvolksguy Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2006 Posts: 179 Location: Carrollton, Texas
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Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2006 10:51 pm Post subject: |
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Or you could buy a new manifold and save the hours....and I do mean hours, trying to clean the old one out, just to find out that it is weak and rusting into two or more pieces! |
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dennisf486 Samba Member
Joined: March 17, 2005 Posts: 179
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Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 12:51 am Post subject: |
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I just sprayed into the tube with a pressure washer for several minutes. Nothing - nothing - nothing - boom! Water out the other end! I think I got lucky. I hadn't expected it to make it all the way through. But once you have a small path from one side to the other, the flowing water will eat up the carbon quickly and widen the hole, which lets in more water, which eats more carbon, etc. I don't think you'd get any but a very minor clog out this way, but if you can get a wire passed through, using the pressure washer to clean up the rest might save you some trouble. |
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veedub00 Samba Member
Joined: March 23, 2005 Posts: 36 Location: Eastpointe, Meechigan
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Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 7:07 am Post subject: |
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The thing is, I just bought this from a guy on the samba? Should I be pissed that its clogged? Or is this a buyer's beware type thing. Should I contact the guy and tell him its clogged?
James |
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pyrOman Fire Master

Joined: July 21, 2003 Posts: 12513 Location: Over 2002 posts deleted!
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Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 8:21 am Post subject: |
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Yes, you should be pissed that you didn't ask before spending the $$$.
Hopefully it wasn't much and/or it is still good even AFTER you unclog it. Meaning, depending on its "age" and amount of carbon in it, it can also be corroded inside to the point of perforating the tube's skin. In which case it is toast!
I run the Gutless Wonder without it. Will take a picture and post it so you can see just how it looks inside when plugged. Mine rusted right through, leaked and it was so bad that I just grabbed it and tore it right off.  _________________ Some people are so busy being clever they don't have time enough to be wise. |
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EverettB  Administrator

Joined: April 11, 2000 Posts: 70937 Location: Phoenix 602
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Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 8:47 am Post subject: |
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veedub00 wrote: |
The thing is, I just bought this from a guy on the samba? Should I be pissed that its clogged? Or is this a buyer's beware type thing. Should I contact the guy and tell him its clogged? |
No, unless he said it was clear because almost all used manifolds are clogged. _________________ How to Post Photos
Everett Barnes - [email protected] | My wanted ads
"Water is the only drink for a wise man" | "Communication prevents complaints"
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
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