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syncroserge
Samba Member
Joined: November 26, 2005
Posts: 553
Location: Okotos, Alberta, Canada
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 Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2022 4:27 pm Post subject: The things we MacGyver on our vans |
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Years ago, maybe 10 years, speedo stops working. I trace it to this..syncro speedo drive gear..poor thing..
Trouble is this is a 6,17 r/p so can't find a replacement anywhere. Until I notice
it's the same tooth count as the north american 4,86 gear..smaller in diameter
and different tooth profile but same number..
So I took tiny files a shaped my own from a spare na gear. Kind of forgot about it..
Today swapping viscous coupling..oh yeah I remember..looks pretty good still..
Share your MacGyver moments 
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PJ Snow
Samba Member
Joined: June 24, 2018
Posts: 27
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2022 5:52 pm Post subject: Re: The things we MacGyver on our vans |
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Speedo hack. Super glue and a bread tie.
I saw this on a Facebook group so I can’t claim it. But it has worked for several hundred miles.
_________________
1980 Riviera EJ25 swapped
1986 Tinny EJ22 swapped |
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MarkWard
Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005
Posts: 17155
Location: Retired South Florida
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| Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2022 6:57 pm Post subject: Re: The things we MacGyver on our vans |
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Didn’t have a way to light the stove first morning out to make coffee. Was able to temporarily add wire to the kitchen light to create an electrical spark to light the burner. Coffee tasted even better than usual.
_________________
☮️ |
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VicVan
Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2015
Posts: 1845
Location: Vancouver Island, BC
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| Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2022 7:57 pm Post subject: Re: The things we MacGyver on our vans |
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At a campsite last summer, all they had was wet firewood. Impossible to start a fire the ususal, easy way. So I did the gasoline a a half-can of beer trick.
To empty the beer, I used my belly. To fill the can with fuel, I crawled under the van, unscrewed the clamp at the fuel tank outlet and poured fuel into the can. Not sure if it counts, since I was using the van rather than fixing it, but felt pretty McGyver to me!
_________________
'90 Little Blue Truck, 2WD auto, FAS GenV 2.0 NA (AVH) |
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syncroserge
Samba Member
Joined: November 26, 2005
Posts: 553
Location: Okotos, Alberta, Canada
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| Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2022 8:16 pm Post subject: Re: The things we MacGyver on our vans |
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A bread tie speedo fix..pyrothecnics to light the stove and filling a can of beer straight from the tank !!!
Very high MacGyver points all around..I like it  |
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msinabottle
Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2005
Posts: 3492
Location: Denver Area, Colorado
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| Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2022 10:35 pm Post subject: Re: The things we MacGyver on our vans |
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Coffee pot under the fresh water tank drain, then up and onto the propane stove. Solution to a dead faucet and an urgent need for tea.
Best!
_________________
'Winston,' '84 1.9 WBX Westy
Vanagon Poet Laureate: "I have suffered in
many ways, but never, never, never in silence." |
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leecat
Samba Member
Joined: September 13, 2012
Posts: 773
Location: Regina
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| Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2022 11:15 pm Post subject: Re: The things we MacGyver on our vans |
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Shovelled an A2 Jetta tach into an '85 cluster to replace the clock - not pretty in back but worked just fine.
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jlrftype7
Samba Member
Joined: July 24, 2018
Posts: 3582
Location: Chicago
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| Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2022 6:24 am Post subject: Re: The things we MacGyver on our vans |
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Not my 'handy' work, but was there on our Vanagon when we bought it.. I guess it counts, right? 
_________________
'68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple....
'67 Type 3 Fastback, my 2nd car- gone
'69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone
2017 MINI Coopers, our current DDs
‘84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto |
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4Gears4Tires
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2018
Posts: 3054
Location: MD
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| Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2022 8:01 am Post subject: Re: The things we MacGyver on our vans |
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To keep it from leaking?
_________________
'87 Syncro
Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition |
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bobbyblack 
Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2015
Posts: 4351
Location: United States, Iowa
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| Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2022 8:11 am Post subject: Re: The things we MacGyver on our vans |
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PSA on the use of gasoline to start a fire: MANY MANY people have died trying this. Diesel is the answer, Kerosene, whatever, but NOT Gas. It is explosive, and the flames follow the fumes. If you got some on your hand, clothes, or whatever, they are on fire NOW, and you are in trouble.
Just say no to starting fire with gas.
_________________
'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch |
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Red Ryder
Samba Member
Joined: June 26, 2021
Posts: 952
Location: Northern California
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| Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2022 11:46 am Post subject: Re: The things we MacGyver on our vans |
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| bobbyblack wrote: |
PSA on the use of gasoline to start a fire: MANY MANY people have died trying this. Diesel is the answer, Kerosene, whatever, but NOT Gas. It is explosive, and the flames follow the fumes. If you got some on your hand, clothes, or whatever, they are on fire NOW, and you are in trouble.
Just say no to starting fire with gas. |
Good reminder — Safety first!
_________________
“Most everyone’s mad here. You may have noticed I am not quite all there myself.” — Cheshire Cat, Adventures of Alice in Wonderland
“Scarlett” — 1990 Vanagon Carat Wolfsburg Edition
Tornado Red |
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RolandD
Samba Member
Joined: January 15, 2017
Posts: 247
Location: Menomonee Falls, Wis
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| Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2022 1:53 pm Post subject: Re: The things we MacGyver on our vans |
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Does making your own diesel head gasket so that you can add a turbo count?
Roland |
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syncroserge
Samba Member
Joined: November 26, 2005
Posts: 553
Location: Okotos, Alberta, Canada
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| Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2022 1:58 pm Post subject: Re: The things we MacGyver on our vans |
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| RolandD wrote: |
Does making your own diesel head gasket so that you can add a turbo count?
Roland |
Hell Yeah !! |
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1988M5
Samba Member
Joined: January 23, 2016
Posts: 674
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2022 2:10 pm Post subject: Re: The things we MacGyver on our vans |
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| Red Ryder wrote: |
| bobbyblack wrote: |
PSA on the use of gasoline to start a fire: MANY MANY people have died trying this. Diesel is the answer, Kerosene, whatever, but NOT Gas. It is explosive, and the flames follow the fumes. If you got some on your hand, clothes, or whatever, they are on fire NOW, and you are in trouble.
Just say no to starting fire with gas. |
Good reminder — Safety first! |
No joke. Did any one catch the news about Jay Leno?
BK
_________________
1991 tin top GL
2002 Winnebago Vista. VW VR6 24V Eurovan front clip powered class C 21' RV.
Some BMWs. |
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bobbyblack
Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2015
Posts: 4351
Location: United States, Iowa
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| Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2022 2:14 pm Post subject: Re: The things we MacGyver on our vans |
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| 1988M5 wrote: |
No joke. Did any one catch the news about Jay Leno?
BK |
I was tempted to add "just ask Jay" but refrained. Sad...
_________________
'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch |
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jlrftype7
Samba Member
Joined: July 24, 2018
Posts: 3582
Location: Chicago
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| Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2022 2:55 pm Post subject: Re: The things we MacGyver on our vans |
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| 1988M5 wrote: |
| Red Ryder wrote: |
| bobbyblack wrote: |
PSA on the use of gasoline to start a fire: MANY MANY people have died trying this. Diesel is the answer, Kerosene, whatever, but NOT Gas. It is explosive, and the flames follow the fumes. If you got some on your hand, clothes, or whatever, they are on fire NOW, and you are in trouble.
Just say no to starting fire with gas. |
Good reminder — Safety first! |
No joke. Did any one catch the news about Jay Leno?
BK |
Yes, I did. I wonder what car was the culprit, that caught fire. 
_________________
'68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple....
'67 Type 3 Fastback, my 2nd car- gone
'69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone
2017 MINI Coopers, our current DDs
‘84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto |
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jlrftype7
Samba Member
Joined: July 24, 2018
Posts: 3582
Location: Chicago
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| Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2022 2:59 pm Post subject: Re: The things we MacGyver on our vans |
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| 4Gears4Tires wrote: |
| To keep it from leaking? |
According to a few Samba members, the early tension bands/Clamps on the fuel rails could rust out, I think they were changed to Stainless Steel from what the other members were saying because of this. So, this was probably a repair for a rusted clamp on the end of the rail, versus buying a new one or getting a good used one from a Salvage Yard way back when...????
Any way, it didn't leak, even in really cold weather. I was surprised about that.
I replaced both fuel rails with Van Cafe models before the Vanagon was ever really on the road.
_________________
'68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple....
'67 Type 3 Fastback, my 2nd car- gone
'69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone
2017 MINI Coopers, our current DDs
‘84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto |
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SCM
Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2011
Posts: 3119
Location: Bozeman MT
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| Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2022 3:03 pm Post subject: Re: The things we MacGyver on our vans |
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| jlrftype7 wrote: |
| Yes, I did. I wonder what car was the culprit, that caught fire. |
I hadn't heard until I clicked this thread.
The car was reportedly a 1907 White Steam Car
https://stylecaster.com/what-happen-jay-leno/
_________________
'91 Westfalia GL Automatic (GTA "Turbo" Rebuild w/Peloquin) and 2.3L GoWesty Engine |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32632
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Ahwahnee
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 9810
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2022 5:47 pm Post subject: Re: The things we MacGyver on our vans |
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Shift linkage went wonky 1000s of miles from home, first was now somewhere left of the lockout so I couldn't tell whether I was in first or reverse without letting the clutch out.
Not so good in stop and go traffic in hill country.
I wired the backup light to one of the interior lights so it would light up if I had selected reverse. |
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