Re: [T3] Push Rod Tubes

[Simon Glen <simonglen@bigpond.com>]

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Per Lindgren" <lindgre@online.no>
> To: "type3" <type3@vwtype3.org>
> Sent: Sunday, April 29, 2001 5:32 PM
> Subject: Re: [T3] Push Rod Tubes
>
> > The tubes are of course not supposed to melt, but since they are made of
> plastic
> > it is possible. The telescopic tubes were made so they were replaceable
> without
> > removing the head (dont know why one need to remove the tube).
> > PerL
> > 73 Variant L
> >

"dont know why one would need to remove the tube"

I have had to remove a damaged pushrod tube and then fit a telescopic pushrod
tube while isolated in the bush or desert.  Once in the bush in western
Queensland here in Australia and once in the middle of the Sahara Desert in
southern Algeria.  On both occasions I was driving my 1973 VW Type 2 campervan
with 1600 upright fan motor and on both occasions a pushrod tube was punctured
by engine tinware being forced upwards by the vehicle hitting or landing on
large rocks.  Luckily I noticed the leak immediately because I had a large
light fitted the top of the dashboard which was connected to the oil pressure
switch.  It came on shortly afterwards and I immediately cut the engine.  I had
also noticed that the engine oil temperature suddenly soared (my car had a VDO
dipstick temperature sensor).  Fortunately, I always carried a few aluminium
telescopic replacement pushrod tubes and so was able to replace the damaged
tube without removing the cylinder head.

Moreover, those telescopic tubes remained in the Type 2's engine for a further
130,000km and 90,000km (81,000miles and 56,000miles) without any sign of
leaking oil whatsoever.

I carried the telescopic pushrod tubes because many years earlier a similar
thing had happened to me in Zambia in central Africa with my 1968 VW Type 3
1600 Variant panel van.  I had just travelled over a particularly rough track
and stopped to get out and look at the very rough section of track which we had
just come through.  It was then that I noticed that the rear door/hatch was
covered in dusty oil spots.  I had never heard of telescopic pushrod tubes in
those days but fortunately had been travelling in convoy.  We paid some local
villagers to guard the car and returned to civilsation in the other car ( a
Peugeot 403), returning a week later to remove the motor in the bush, remove a
cylinder head and replace the offending pushrod tube.

I have found the metal telescopic pushrod tubes were not only excellent value
but a real a life-saver for me in the Sahara.

Simon Glen
Toowoomba,  Australia.



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