Today we started with the preliminary medical on the Kombi.
We fitted a battery and checked for ignition at the engine. It checked out O.K. and the starter swung happily.
We jury rigged a small bottle of petrol to the fuel pump, but the fuel pump was not cooperating. Closer inspection of the pump revealed a crack at the pivot. A replacement pump was sourced from Centparts.
We now had fuel at the carb, but the engine would start and die immediately.
We then found the accelerator pump to be faulty (caused by a dried out diaphragm). Our sacrificial carb contributed its diaphragm and top gasket to replace the damaged original.
On our next try, the engine started easily and settled into a nice fast idle as the choke warmed up.
There were no knocks or smoke so we let it run for a few minutes.
(the video is about 30 secs long and take a while to load)
Now we know that the engine was running, we turned our attention to the fuel tank. It was bone dry and seemed free from rust, so we connected the fuel lines and put in R100 fresh unleaded.
Again the bus started easily and after letting it run for a few minutes, we decided to go for broke and drive it.
The clutch worked fine, gears selected easily, the gearbox is nice and quiet, so we drove it a couple of times around the complex.
Now it is the brakes that need attending to, as 30 odd years of standing were not that kind tot the callipers.
The gearshift is as any Kombi I had ever driven, so it was off for the maiden voyage around our complex.
It turned out the gearbox is perfect, the steering is good, but the brakes are shot.
All and all a positive and productive morning was had.
Now we can move on to the brakes........