So currently in Germany on the way to Wolfsburg and decided to stop at willingen where they just opened a new sky bridge yesterday but unfortunately I had to remain on the ground trying to fix the bus - on the way this morning I checked the oil as noticed more oil drips and whilst at the petrol station was suprised that after 200km my oil had dropped to bottom line on dipstick from top just hours before - so I topped up and went on my merry way for another 50km and arrived at skywalk destination - bottom and back of van covered in oil and again on bottom marker of dipstick. Ok so crawled around and sure enough after taking off rocker cover the gasket was in bits and a large sections broken Ok easy enough I thought! Oh how wrong was I. I have 4 spares in the van - mmmm ok once removed and cleaned up facings and old gasket I discover my spares are not the right size! Bugger. So I do a make shift cut and do what I can and seems to work except a small drip. That will do I thought only 2.5 hrs to Wolfsburg and must be able to get one there you would think. Ok so 3 miles down the road a lot of smoke burning off exhaust and heat exchangers so i stop and guess what 20 yrds up the road a vintage vw garage - wooo hooo. Short lived as was closed. So I tried to call and no answer. So I knocked on a house next door and a nice lady with broken English tried to reach the garage via friends and neighbours - no luck he is away for weekend. So I left van outside garage and a man called Dominic and his father said hello nice van etc etc etc and next minute kindly offers his help - he is a long time vw owner and said I don’t have a gasket but have some gasket seal etc at home - his home was 1.5 hr drive away and he insisted to help not before his father goes to the store and buys my 3 year old a pack of biscuits. So 4 hrs later comes back with the sealant, loctite, oil, lamp, brake cleaner and we set to work. Well after 20 or so attempts at making a non fitting cut up gasket fit we had to admit defeat. How kind for him to help and regardless of outcome I am in awe of this genuine passion for vws and peoples kindness. So there is a saying leave your mark wherever you go in a vw - I certainly left mine all the way up the road See pics Anyway tomorrow is another day and will see what can be done to remedy my predicament Good night all
So near yet so far! Dub owners are good people when you’re in a pickle, I’ve met some good people that way too
Well we have Czech Republic, Austria, Slovenia, Italy, Spain, Portugal and France to cover yet - get back to uk mid sept so probably expect a few more dramas or should I say memories waiting to happen
Well I thought was well serviced but hey ho obviously not - can’t think of everything I remembered to fill the fridge with beer and change the oil, plugs and brake pads. Last mega road trip was even longer and I made it home ( just )
Also quite funny that I felt all smug I actually had this part with me but never mind that I have been carrying wrong parts for last few years. At what point do you just tow a donor vehicle as who knows what’s next
The gasket cover should have fallen apart when it was "serviced" as you need to take it off to adjust the valves.. or did it fall apart and just get sneakily poked back into place ? If you paid for that, dont go back . If you did it yourself, bodger! It's nice to hear how VW people come to the rescue. I think I have 4 of the correct gaskets in the bus. Two for me, two to give away if required at TE or Keith's Field..
CSP are super useful and will post anything to anywhere! theyre near to hamburg! i picked up lots of spares on my drive through! you'll be absolutely fine! i managed to find 2x driveshafts in norway! Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk
I fixed van this morning - the champagne 1978 bus I bought earlier this year had one in spares box and that van is sitting in Holland and my friend another VW nut drove it over to me 3 hr drive Made it with 1 hr to spare to Wolfsburg museum that is closed tomorrow so just made it
To be fair once you’ve definitely adjusted them you don’t need to fiddle. Hassle is ensuring they are all pumped up when you’re setting them. That’s another story aside from your road trip anyway
It’s all part of the trip and now I have made a new German friend who even gave me an original in German t2 manual as a momento - the only thing I had was a 2010 Brighton breeze magnet but he liked it
So now in Berlin and visited fellow late bay member rsbadura Rolf who kindly fixed my dash wires I melted / shorted whilst leaving Glastonbury camping fields. Had a really nice couple of days with Rolf and his wife. Next we head off to Nuremberg and then Munich. Pic of Rolfs very cool vws. I continue to be amazed by the vw community with their generous spirit. I hope I will be able to help others in turn down the line
It was a pleasure for us to meet you and to help you. We wish you a nice onward journey! Bon voyage... See you in Italy or elsewhere at the planet regards from Berlin, Sabine & Rolf
