"Raphael Orlove" (orlove)
09/05/2014 at 00:15 • Filed to: CMRBB, Baja Bug
5
27|
"Raphael Orlove" (orlove)
09/05/2014 at 00:15 • Filed to: CMRBB, Baja Bug | 5
| 27 |
so, tried to get the alternator out for replacement and, uh, hit a few snags.
First off, tried to take off that retaining nut at the back. That's a 36mm nut. Took me three days to get a hold of a socket for one here in NYC, had to make a couple trips through the Bronx for it.
I followed !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , taking off the belt and that went great. Then I tried to take out that retaining nut at the back and it wouldn't budge.
I try everything. My brother and I lock the assembly in place using a screwdriver held in a slot in the pulley (this is standard VW practice), but the 36mm nut at the back wont' budge. Blast it with PB blaster, nothing. Get fully under the car, so I'm yanking down on the nut. Nothing. Get out an extending lug nut wrench, but it's too big to fit in the tight space.
Call Jason, he tells me I've been doing this all wrong. If I take out the four little 10mm bolts holding on that retaining plate (it attaches the alternator to the fan housing) then the whole fan/alternator combo comes out at once.
Great.
Down I go, back to the Baja, around 11 at night, wrenching with a flashlight and a streetlight.
I get the top two little bolts off no problem, but the third is somehow lodged way down behind the carb.
Who happens to walk by but that guy who drove the Baja around the block, Michael, and his dog Pepper. Pepper is excited to see me, and Michael, too, because he has an excuse to turn a wrench.
We get the carb off, douse ourselves in gas before stopping up the fuel line with a little nut I had lying around, and try again at the lower left 10mm backing plate nut.
No dice.
Can't get a little 10mm wrench on it because it's too tight quarters, can't get a socket wrench on it either.
Then we realized the last 10mm nut was replaced with a screw at some point. There is no way I'm getting at it from an angle.
Looks like I'm going to have to take off the whole carb and the middle of the intake runners to get at these bolts tomorrow morning, hopefully before I have to move the car for street cleaning at 9:30.
Sometimes the Baja really does make things difficult.
TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
> Raphael Orlove
09/05/2014 at 00:21 |
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Next step for it
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Raphael Orlove
> TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
09/05/2014 at 00:23 |
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this frightens and arouses me
Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
> Raphael Orlove
09/05/2014 at 00:24 |
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Well good news the baja can only get better.
Manuél Ferrari
> TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
09/05/2014 at 00:24 |
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then after that:
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TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
> Raphael Orlove
09/05/2014 at 00:26 |
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Thats how you know its good
this works too
StoneCold
> Raphael Orlove
09/05/2014 at 00:28 |
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taking off the belt and that went great.
I bet it could have gone greater XD
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StoneCold
> StoneCold
09/05/2014 at 00:41 |
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Also,
Then we realized the last 10mm nut was replaced with a screw at some point.
There's a special place in hell for these previous owners/mechanics.
atfsgeoff
> Raphael Orlove
09/05/2014 at 00:44 |
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If there's enough room for it, slip an impact wrench back there to bust the 36mm retaining nut loose. Measure the clearance before buying one so you know it'll fit (with 36mm socket attached!) Air tools will be smaller and probably give you better clearance than cordless electric.
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Raphael Orlove
> atfsgeoff
09/05/2014 at 00:46 |
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I'm just gonna try and take everything off then walk the whole mess over to a garage where they can hit it with an impact wrench.
CRider
> Raphael Orlove
09/05/2014 at 00:48 |
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Just take a few minutes to pull the engine out, it'll be easier. After you play Cards Against Humanity with us.
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atfsgeoff
> Raphael Orlove
09/05/2014 at 00:51 |
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But that would deny you the pleasure of having and using your own impact wrench, which IMO is the best part of working on a car! BRRRRP BRRRRP
If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
> Raphael Orlove
09/05/2014 at 00:54 |
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Will an STi powered Beetle cheer you up?
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Raphael Orlove
> atfsgeoff
09/05/2014 at 01:04 |
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so true!
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Raphael Orlove
> If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
09/05/2014 at 01:06 |
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without a doubt
NoahthePorscheGuy
> Raphael Orlove
09/05/2014 at 01:28 |
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man, screw that shit.
best of luck
Dusty Ventures
> Raphael Orlove
09/05/2014 at 03:07 |
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You watched the wrong how-to video on removing the belt
TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts.
> Raphael Orlove
09/05/2014 at 08:55 |
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I didn't realize that finding tools was so hard in NY, glad I live out in NJ and only work in NY. I've always had a theory that VW engineers have hands the size of 3 year olds so don't realize how tight everything is in the engine bay.
Louros
> Raphael Orlove
09/05/2014 at 08:58 |
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So, when are you junking this turd and buying a Miata?
Raphmoe
> Raphael Orlove
09/05/2014 at 09:12 |
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Mister Orlove,
Have you heard of Amazon Prime? Some of my friends have not so i showed it to them and they were amazed to find out that you can get anything shipped to you within two days. It is a great service and you might need to find a wacky part for the baja bug.
Why did fuel go everywhere while you working on the car? It sounds like it may be beyond a really expensive repair job. What would your next car be? I love reading your stories about the bug because it is helpful to learn about how to wrench on cars and be a better gear head and automotive journalist.
CalzoneGolem
> Raphael Orlove
09/05/2014 at 09:22 |
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Took me three days to get a hold of a socket for one here in NYC, had to make a couple trips through the Bronx for it.
I live in rural Maine and I could get a 36mm socket within a couple hours and I did when I needed one to take off my PT Cruiser's front hubs.
There's nothing like having a case of Stupid P.O.
thebigbossyboss
> Raphael Orlove
09/05/2014 at 09:41 |
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You're awesome Raph. Keep doing what you do. Hey if street cleaning comes by you can always just push it somewhere right? Noone said it had to move under it's own power. How often do they sweep your guys streets? Here they do it about 2x a year, but everyone in NY is always alternating parking it seems because of street cleaning.
Kate's Dirty Sister
> Raphmoe
09/05/2014 at 09:42 |
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Consumer Distributing is better in my opinion.
I work pretty much the same way as Amazon, but you get a proper paper catalog instead of an artificial one, and you don't have to wait for delivery. If the item is small enough, a clerk will bring it to you after a short 45 minutes of waiting, and if it's a larger item, you just have to drive your baja bug to the back of the store, then a henchman will open a garage door an place the precious good in your frunk.
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Raphmoe
> Kate's Dirty Sister
09/05/2014 at 09:44 |
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that sounds exciting!
Meatcoma
> atfsgeoff
09/05/2014 at 09:58 |
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absolutely!
schwartz
> If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
09/05/2014 at 10:29 |
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Wouldn't want to get in a crash with that one, your knees would be easily broken by that lower roll cage cross brace.
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Kate's Dirty Sister
> Raphmoe
09/05/2014 at 11:24 |
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It sure is !
Unfortunately they filed for bankruptcy and closed all of their stores in 1996.
But I have hope that one day, just like Saab, they will rise again.
davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
> Raphael Orlove
09/05/2014 at 15:19 |
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You need to get Torch to do an illustration under the title "Alternative Wiring Guide".