Re: [T3] Push Rod Tubes

["Russ Wolfe" <russella@prairieinet.net>]

Subject: Re: [T3] Push Rod Tubes


> 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.
>
I too would carry a couple of the telescoping pushrod tubes if traveling in
rough terrain. A hell of a lot better than pulling a head in the middle of
nowhere.

That is one of the improvements that was made when VW went to the 1700cc
type 2 engine. The push rod tubes, and lifters could be replaced without
pulling the engine or the head.

Russ Wolfe
russw@classicvw.org
http://www.classicvw.org/


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