| Another reason for a back-up brake pump [message #364206] |
Sun, 23 May 2021 09:17  |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma:
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Senior Member |
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Well, we went to out first rally since Manfield. There was an interesting situation when the coach was almost there.
When checking in, I stopped at the little building and talked to the nice lady and pulled away. There was quite a rise and just before the crest, the engine sputtered and died. From the sound of it, it was vapor lock. I tried to get our old dog off the engine hatch because I have cured this before (years ago) by getting the carburetor cooled off fast.
Problem: The old dog did not want to move. It took me much longer than I like to get the hatch open. When I finally did, the carburetor was dry almost totally dry. The accelerator pumps didn't do much. I had no simple way available to get fuel from the system and pour it into the carburetor.
I should also mention that the Chaumière was full of year old winter gas.
Needless to say, I had time to think. As I sat in the sun, and calculated the time to local sunset, it also occurred to me that we where head up by a lot and in the sun. If I could roll the coach back down the slope and through the gate, we could be A: Out of the Sun and B: Much closer to level. This was a maneuver with some risk. I knew I could back the her on the mirrors, and the added vacuum pump should give me brakes enough to control the situation.
BUT, I had installed the that vacuum pump years ago and never had an occasion to really test it. My parking brake does sort of work, but I didn't want to try that here in the case that it did not release.
So, I turned on the ignition and cycled the brakes to hear (just barely - me not the pump) the little pump run and the brakes felt good. I got my mental picture of the situation well defined and held the brake while I popped the transmission out of Park.
The backward roll was completely controllable to hold the speed down, I was on and off the brake and the pump was there for me.
We settled into a shady place and I pulled a bottle of water out of the reefer and listened to music for about 15 minutes give or take.
When I thought I had a good chance, I engaged the battery boost (on a 73, this is not a momentary) and started cranking. It took about 15 seconds for the first fire and then they kept on coming and she was soon at a stable idle. So, I started back up the hill and this time I had no problem making it to the campsite.
I do actually have a boost pump. I acquired it years ago and it is still under the dinette seat where it is safe. Maybe I will bump that priority a little and try to burn off the year old winter fuel.....
Matt
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
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