BROKE DOWN

[mccammonds]

We are broke down in Caliente, NV.
Pulling some long grades between Tonopah and Caliente we started to loose power.  In the good OLE' days we figured it out that it was vapor locking.  Reckon that is what happened.  Let it cool off while we had lunch.  We had been towing our Matrix on a tow dolly.  We took it off thinking we were taxing the old rig too much.  It worked for about an hour.  But I started to bog down again on the last summit west of Caliente.   Called AAA.   After about an hours wait I manual choked the thing and finally got some fuel in the carb.  Topped the summit and called AAA back and had them stop the wrecker.   Caliente is a small town and the Carquest will have me a fuel pump in by 9:00 in the morning.   

Now!!  Question.   If I install an in line electric fuel pump will it pump through the manual pump on the engine.  Then if I have an on/off switch on the electric pump and I have it turned off will the manual pump pull the gas through the off electric pump?

[John Eversoll]

Broke down K-9,  yes you can use the electric pump along with the mechanical

But you are very smart to put in an on and off switch!!

I use my electric just to prime the carb if it has been sitting for a long time.

You don't want tax over pump  that carb....

  JOhn

[Horst]

One thing you might also want to look at (it mimics vapor lock in symptoms) - is a weak/cooked coil. The coil placement on the 360 isn't the greatest - and when your rig is working hard and it's hot out - that coil can get REAL hot - as in too hot - and it starts to fail and put out weak spark. Once it cools down - things are better -  but that coil, once boiled as it were,  should be replaced.

Good luck and hope you get back on the road soon.

[LARRY RAY]

Better check on the engine pump pretty regularly when using an in-line pump also. Should the diaphram go bad the in-line pump will push fuel straight to engine cavity and that's not good. It should shown through weep hole if it goes bad.

[mccammonds]

Thanks   Larry Ray.   One way to clean an engine.

I bought an in line with from 2.5 to 5 psi.  I will have the electric pump on an off/on switch.  The only time I think I would use it is if I needed to help get up a hill like I am experiencing now.  Or of I set for a long time and haven't started the rig.  But, yes I am aware of the danger.

We are put up at a rest area just west of the Rio Grande River.  About 12 miles west of Taos, NM

Should be into Raton to visit tommorrow.   Then on to our home town Englewood, Kansas.

[JerryT]

A plugged/ plugging catalytic converter can act the same way. I also vote for the coil going bad as I have had that one fail on me. To avoid vapor lock I am using a fuel filter with the third port which is for a recirculation line back to the tank to keep the fuel moving so it does not sit in the line and boil. I used the line off from the charcoal canister which already went back to the tank. Good luck and let us know what the fix was.

JerryT

[USNRetired]

Last week I had my rig towed into the shop, symptoms were same as a vapor lock too.  It was a hot day in Southern California and I had been in stop and go traffic on I-405 coming from the Long Beach Area south to Oceanside.  Mechanic trouble shot the system and turned out it was both the ignition module and ignition coil.  $180/parts & labor later the Clipper is running better than when I bought it a few months ago!  Towing price sucked though.  I have Progressive Insurance w/towing and first 15 miles was covered, I had to pay $350 for the second 15 miles and the tow truck driver cracked the left lower air dam (fiberglass) and I had just had the entire front end painted.  So now am hasseling with my insurance company to go after the tow truck they sent me.  :-)  Actually, so far, Progressive has been great.

Maybe I should buy a spare coil?  For similar problem on the road or is this a pretty infrequent problem?

[Horst]

Somewhere on this forum is the ultimate "spare parts" must have list.
I carry a coil, ballast resistor, ECU, distributor cap and rotor, spare plug wires, plugs, bulbs, various gauges of wire, fuses, fuel filter, fuel line, clamps, clips, plumbing nicknacks, duct tape, silicone, sealant tape, screws, nuts and bolts, surgical gloves, first aid kits, coolant, oil, a bottle of BarsLeaks, brake fluid, trans fluid, JB Weld, various lubricants, bungie cords, rope, extension cord, axe, shovel, machete, tents, sleeping bags, lamps, food, water, Scotch and Bourbon, two or three cigars, one or two guns, etc............you get the picture............if the sh#t hits the fan, I can hop in my Clipper and just bail!

[John Eversoll]

     Horst---- You are terrible"  ha ha

     I still do have a new moduel and coil and cap and plugs and belts and wires

     "Plus I have the tripple A  RV package 200 miles of towing for $140.00 a year.

     Oh yes, hand cleaner spare 18 gauge wire soderless connectors rtv sealant

     Gorilla Duct tape and five fire extinguishers one bottle of Vodka--Not for me---

     wife likes screw drivers"  A real first aid kit assembled by myself Not store bought"

     Including tougn depressers for broken fingers witch are easy to set They are a "snap"

     Ha haha ha ha ha   

[USNRetired]

Okay, you've got me on the fire extinguishers... I only have four.  AND need to mount them in better locations.  Only have one mounted inside by the back door.  One behind driver's seat.  Want to mount one on passenger's side and two more inside, just haven't made up my mind.  Funny thing is that I pick good extingueshers up at estate sales for between $2 and $5 each.  Have six or seven around the house.

I inventoried what came with the Clipper when I bought it.  8 used, look good - cleaned and gapped, Spark Plugs Autolite "85". Another single Spark Plug, brand "Mighty" M4R42.  Ignition Control Module - looks used Box says it's a 2-3000, but module has printed on it 3874020   2156.  Voltage Regulator VR-38, appears used.  Ignition Resistor Napa PN: ICR 24.  Ballast Resistor CARQUEST PN: RU-12.  160 degree CARQUEST Thermostat PN: 30236 (on box) PN: 30036 stamped on unit.  Circuit Breaker - CARQUEST PN: BR20.  1 Used Rotor - Clean in Baggie.  1 ea Radiator Cap NAPA PN: 503-1420 used.  Ignition Coil CARQUEST PN: US12X  USED.  Dimmer Switch - NAPA DS 112 New.  Voltage Regulator  NAPA PN: UR38SB New.  Distributor Cap & Rotor in MIGHTY Box with PN: 2-301HP.  Headlight Switch - NAPA PN: HL6571  Looks used.  Box of Zerk Grease Fittings.  Oil Pressure Switch NAPA PN: OP6603 New.  Hose Clamps Size 4 qty: 5 ea.  AC 40 AMP Circuit Breaker.  PVC Pipe Cement. Quick Steel Repair Bond.  Rubber Cement Tube.  Asstd Screws, Fittings, latches.  Electrical Connecters.  Any suggestions for more.  Have a portable bar, looks like a briefcase with 1 qt bourbon, 1 qt vodka, 1 qt gin.  8 bottles wine.  1 1.75 liter scotch.  two cases beerstowed under table.  9MM.  two foot long machete.  BB Gun.  :-)

[Horst]

BB Gun! Brilliant!
I have one of those high powered pellet pistols (pump up to 10 times)-  to "gently" convince the racoons to get the hell off my property.
that is a perfect Clipper item - I see all kinds of uses.......
I forgot quite a few items on my list above - but I do carry two large Maglites, and about 5 or six regular flashlights (kids/friends) - but only two fire extinguishers - you guys are making me feel inadequate in that department - may need to get one or two more.
Now I'm seriously considering  carrying a 6 gallon gas can (given my gas tank situation)

think I need a bigger motorhome
btw - I only pump it once or twice for a raccoon - and sting his butt a bit - it works - they go away

[John Eversoll]

  My late mother used to say "I got stuff"

  even with the shot gun and the garand 30-06 my dad used in WWII.

  I must say the rife is very acurate...

  I even have a set up for a telephone that Line men used to check the lines with..

  Oh yea, I even have life preservers for the dogs..  I have always wondered, Is it safe to carry extra gas on the back of the rig???  I see jeeps carry extra gas. 

  But with the body being fiberglass ,  " I worrie about the static electricity and

   a  following   BOOOOOM. Which i KNOW WOULD RUIN MY DAY

   I have gone over and over the things that would make the rig run rough,,,,

   and the only thing that I can think of would be the ignition modual..  I have shorted mine out and then with  the heat from the engine compartment.
" that is a joke,  it is more of an engine box" 

Horst, I did do one thing that I thought intelligent!

I removed the ash tray and drilled a 1 / 2 in hole in it the went to home depot

got a steel insert and "Plug" to cover the hole..  Then replaced the ash tray..

If I do have an engine fire I can remove the ash tray  and stick the end of the fifre extinguisher in the hole and pull the trigger.
Think of anything else....  e me    JOhn     

[USNRetired]

I was just joking about the BB gun being in the RV, but after reading your post about the varmits, I'm going to keep it in there!!  I just picked it up at an estate sale for $20.00.  It's an old Daisy pistol and came with a pack of 600 BB's!!  I had to have it!! 

I like the idea of the access hole for the dog house.  Makes a lot of sense.  Maybe I'll keep my eyes open for one of those big fire extingueshers, the old CO2 type that we used to rip off in the Navy to chill down a couple cases of beer.  The engineering types used to get really upset when they would find them discharged and there hadn't been a fire. 

Actually, I think I listed two ignition modules... one used and one new.  I need to double check and check out the part numbers.  One was physically smaller than the other, but then it looked brand new and newer technology has made a lot of things a lot smaller.  ;-)