Doom Buggy Break-Down Roundup 2014

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Doom Buggy Break-Down Roundup 2014

Postby johber41 » 02 Tue Sep, 2014 10:02 pm

The investigation has been initiated into my buggy disaster in Bandera. My distributor appears fine with the points set at .016, my fuel pump push-rod and spacer look good.....but my fuel pump looks sketchy. The tongue the push-rod presses against appears scarred and possibly bent. It is the original pump and I am going to start replacing things there. For you guys and gals who watched TV in the 70's, my fuel pump looks like the robot from "Lost in Space".

Thanks to Ken and his family and Dave and his wife for standing by with Karen and I in Bandera while the club cruised on to the benefit dinner. I know you guys missed a lot of the cruise and we will not forget your sacrifice and brotherhood!

The townees were interesting though, and now the wife has a new found interest in sand rails! Whats up with that?

John and Karen
Last edited by johber41 on 11 Sat Oct, 2014 2:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Doom Buggy Break-Down Roundup 2014

Postby staggerwing » 03 Wed Sep, 2014 8:17 am

Cool! Thanks for the update and the photos John. Inspiring work.. I can't wait to hear what the culprit is!!
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Re: Doom Buggy Break-Down Roundup 2014

Postby johber41 » 03 Wed Sep, 2014 11:11 pm

New fuel pump, new filter, hose clamps (assembled in the correct order...thanks Bryan) ...problem continued. Took the carb apart and found it full of sticky stuff.....the check valve that allows the fuel to flow into the carb when the float is down was sticking closed. Cleaned and reassembled the carb, hooked it back up....good for a while then bad again....back to my original theory, bad gas from the Diamond Shamrock in Boerne. Emptying the tank now with a siphon. Still smells funny. Another lesson learned Bill.....use Premium from a station you see everyone else going to and do not cover your car for transport with a tarp and bungie cords!

The lessons of Roundup 2014....still had a great time though! Everyone was great!
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Re: Doom Buggy Break-Down Roundup 2014

Postby Bill K » 03 Wed Sep, 2014 11:34 pm

John, here is the name of a guy in the Houston area who is a carb guru. He has helped me a bunch and is also a nice sort of fellow.

His name is Keith and his phone number is: 832-722-5013.

Also, I know you said you felt your tank filter was clean, but sometimes trash just seems to happen, so you might try blowing air through the fuel line attached to the tank filter just to make sure it is still clear.
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Re: Doom Buggy Break-Down Roundup 2014

Postby johber41 » 03 Wed Sep, 2014 11:38 pm

Thanks again for your wisdom Bill!
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Re: Doom Buggy Break-Down Roundup 2014

Postby Bill K » 04 Thu Sep, 2014 7:42 am

Oh, and about your buggy, John............................Has anyone requested hotel video of the nocturnal activities of one Richard Mechler, vintner extraordinaire? Seems a very logical starting point to me. ;-) ..............Linda K.
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Re: Doom Buggy Break-Down Roundup 2014

Postby staggerwing » 04 Thu Sep, 2014 7:57 am

"Nocturnal activities"; good one Bill! I gotta get my nine hours of beauty sleep! Ahem, I think I need a glass of wine..
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Re: Doom Buggy Break-Down Roundup 2014

Postby johber41 » 04 Thu Sep, 2014 8:44 am

i think Richard even caught me working on my buggy about 0500 am in the dark.......good lighting in that parking lot! Sleep is one of those human activities I've heard about.
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Re: Doom Buggy Break-Down Roundup 2014

Postby Ken » 04 Thu Sep, 2014 11:40 am

johber41 wrote: and do not cover your car for transport with a tarp and bungie cords!

What's the thinking about the tarp and bungie cords? Sorry I'm slow...

And how does all the fuel delivery issues relate to your 6 volt system? It must somehow...

Good job Richard. I knew that homemade wine was good for something!
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Re: Doom Buggy Break-Down Roundup 2014

Postby johber41 » 08 Mon Sep, 2014 10:22 pm

The 1961 1200CC 40 horsepower engine lives! Bad fuel removed from the tank, lines blown clear, carburator dismantled and cleaned, valves reset, spark plugs replaced, old rubber fuel line replaced, new fuel filter, new fuel pump, new distributor cap along with points and condenser, timing reset at 10 degrees BTDC, new air filter,and a tank of premium.

Runs great.......
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Re: Doom Buggy Break-Down Roundup 2014

Postby Dave W » 09 Tue Sep, 2014 12:01 am

Hey John - sounds like Rodeo Rose rode to Houston and blew your carburator and fuel lines clean! Congrats! She certainly had the hots for you in Bandera!

From your fellow Manx Brother Dave!
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Re: Doom Buggy Break-Down Roundup 2014

Postby staggerwing » 09 Tue Sep, 2014 8:07 am

Yikes, that was close!

Okay, this is a little off topic, but:

Hey, I liked the picture of Rodeo Rose! I actually enlarged it to see what all the fuss is about. What I want to know is... is that Daves buggy coming out of the horses rear end? Sure looks like it!

Some blue tape in her cowboy hat would have been a nice touch..

Okay, back on topic.. Any updates on that carb cleaning project John? Have you tried blue tape around the neck of the air cleaner? Somebody pass me a tissue please!
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Re: Doom Buggy Break-Down Roundup 2014

Postby johber41 » 09 Tue Sep, 2014 1:53 pm

I'm speachless.......! can't think of anything that would involve blue tape, but I will keep trying!
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Re: Doom Buggy Break-Down Roundup 2014

Postby Bill K » 09 Tue Sep, 2014 4:41 pm

I heard it was the shirtless pushups that won her over to John. :D :D
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Re: Doom Buggy Break-Down Roundup 2014

Postby johber41 » 18 Thu Sep, 2014 11:40 pm

Bought an .009 distributor on EBAY for a very reasonable price and installed it. WOW...what an improvement in overall performance. Thanks for the suggestion Bill and Ken. For all the trash talk VW guys have to say about .009 distributors, this one has improved things far beyond my old original big-cap unit. After completing the full carb soaking in Berryman Chem 12, there is remarkable improvement there as well...Thanks for the instruction there Bryan! Now I will stick with the premium fuel and occasionally use the needed additives to defeat the ethanol issues...more good instruction there Bill! Thank you.

John
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Re: Doom Buggy Break-Down Roundup 2014

Postby Bryan Porter » 19 Fri Sep, 2014 9:15 am

Happy we could help!
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Re: Doom Buggy Break-Down Roundup 2014

Postby staggerwing » 19 Fri Sep, 2014 9:27 am

Okay, I'll admit I need a little more help than some, but is it fixed?
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Re: Doom Buggy Break-Down Roundup 2014

Postby johber41 » 19 Fri Sep, 2014 1:33 pm

Yes sir...so far! I have it running great, but I have also been investigating some starter issues. I have replaced the battery, but after completing some starter checks with a jumper cable, it is obvious that the original starter is now starting to fail. I should have my new one in today and I added a maintenance (YES-STILL 6Volt) 1.5 amp trickle charger to keep the battery fresh when the car sits. But for the most part, yes the issues that earned me the DOOM BUGGY award have been solved thanks to the generous GEAR-HEADS we have in the club. Very appreciated!
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Re: Doom Buggy Break-Down Roundup 2014

Postby Bryan Porter » 19 Fri Sep, 2014 2:33 pm

Replace starter bushing in bell housing first that is a problem with starters being slow
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Re: Doom Buggy Break-Down Roundup 2014

Postby johber41 » 20 Sat Sep, 2014 2:03 pm

Thanks for the suggestion Bryan.....found some melted wires under my dash....must of had a short after all the water got in the car. Replaced them and along with the rebuilt starter, everything is good!
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Re: Doom Buggy Break-Down Roundup 2014

Postby Ken » 23 Tue Sep, 2014 9:06 am

Sounds like you been busy John. Sure is a terrible thing that you got the "boom buggy" award. I just feel awful for you. And poor Karen having to look at that award hanging in the house entry way, for who knows how long! But at least you're taking care of all the issues that caused your problems and the things that could cause future problems too...

:roll:
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Re: Doom Buggy Break-Down Roundup 2014

Postby Ken » 23 Tue Sep, 2014 9:09 am

Ken wrote:hanging in the house entry way

That is where it's hanging, isn't it? :mrgreen:
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Re: Doom Buggy Break-Down Roundup 2014

Postby staggerwing » 23 Tue Sep, 2014 9:14 am

Hey, thanks for putting that link in there for the 6v to 12v conversion!

Gosh, when it came time to leave for the Roundup this year, we couldn't even find the award! And it's not like we weren't very proud "temporary" owners of it, I think Sandy just hid it from me.
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Re: Doom Buggy Break-Down Roundup 2014

Postby johber41 » 23 Tue Sep, 2014 3:06 pm

That was pretty nifty how you covertly added the conversion link Ken! 6 Volt rules.........
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Re: Doom Buggy Break-Down Roundup 2014

Postby Bill K » 23 Tue Sep, 2014 10:39 pm

And, I'm still patiently waiting for Dave to post up the Doom Buggy award presentation :( :(
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