Fixed something...then broke something else...

[citsncycles]

The Beetle is a 1972 Special Order model - according to the mountain of paperwork it came with for the first 6 months of production they weren't listed for the UK, but you could get one if you knew to ask! The first owner kept it until about 1993, and kept a record (including reciepts) of everything spent on it, including fuel, lightbulbs and even polish! There's even copies of correspondence between him and the dealer about various stuff. He sold it to someone who wanted a Beetle for a first car, but only kept it a few months as she found the steering too heavy due to a frozen shoulder. Mum then bought it from her in early 1994 with 34k miles on the clock.

Until last year it has been daily transport for her, including several trips in the last few years from Ireland to (among other places) Hull, Hexham in Northumberland and of course Gloucestershire. Other than general maintenance it got a new set of wings and the bumpers rechromed 10 years ago, an unleaded conversion 8 years ago, then the wings replaced again (as the company that did it last time only painted the top of the wings, not underneath!) along with some other bodywork and paint 2 years ago. She's still in her original turquoise colour (again special order and apparently most painted that colour today aren't original) and is now kept for occasional use since my Dad was laid off last year.

[RxBX]

i think the end cap is plastic not rubber,

and im sure you can affect a repair but not with a tyre valve,

i would just line the original broken off spout with a short length of metal/copper pipe,
and bond it in place with the likes of

http://www.tesco.com/direct/5-minute-ep ... tAodWT4AZA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

regards malcolm

Yes, your quite correct Malcolm !

So I've given this a bit more thought after reading about Jays dilemma of his recent POSTING

Rather than drilling the end out for just a Plain/smooth Copper pipe like Kierans father did !



Drill and tap out the correct size thread to suit a very small brake bleed nipple, cut the cone end off just below the thread (so as to allow more LHM flow) clean off any swarf etc.and then screw the nipple into the tapped valve plug with a suitable glue/sealant or possibly even Loctite Thread-lock to bond into place !

I would think that this repair method should provide a satisfactory/permanent fix over just using a plain/smooth copper pipe, because of the nipple being being threaded and therefore should not pull/slide out (Which may be possible with a plain drilled hole) also it will also have the similar end nipple as the original design too !



Click on photo to nipple link /\

I hope this may be of help for any one else with a broken nipple on their Safety Valve

.

[Defender110]

I would have said the bleed nipple was too big, nowt wrong with Kierans copper pipe repair.

[RxBX]

I would have said the bleed nipple was too big, nowt wrong with Kierans copper pipe repair.

Kevan !

A 1/4" UNFx28TPI is not that large !

But I did state 'Very Small' but couldn't find a Blaaardy BX rear calliper type on E-bay WHICH would be ideal IMHO !

However, I'd say most good engineers would know why I've suggested my particular repair scheme

.

[kieran.l]

However, I'd say most good engineers would know why I've suggested my particular repair scheme

.

Why is that then?

I'll admit that I'm not an engineer but my father is a trained fitter (construction machinery mechanic) for the past 30 years. His repair is doing the job perfectly it seems.

[mat_fenwick]

Seems like quite a provocative statement to me - in my mind good engineering is not necessarily about doing what is 'right' by the book, but by applying ingenuity to a problem and coming up with a satisfactory solution, of which there may be more than one.

[Stinkwheel]

Seems like quite a provocative statement to me - in my mind good engineering is not necessarily about doing what is 'right' by the book, but by applying ingenuity to a problem and coming up with a satisfactory solution, of which there may be more than one.

Totally agree Mat.

Ive worked for a couple of very big name companies over the years, still work for one actually. They pride themselves on quality engineering, although the solutions and definition of quality engineering is very subjective, the bottom line is, does it work, is it an acceptable solution?

Answer yes to both, then off you go and do it.

[RxBX]

Seems like quite a provocative statement to me - in my mind good engineering is not necessarily about doing what is 'right' by the book, but by applying ingenuity to a problem and coming up with a satisfactory solution, of which there may be more than one.

In your opinion Mat, but I can assure you thats NOT the case !

However Vanny seems to singing from the same 'Hymn-book' as me

Cant you tap the remainder of the existing one and stick a barb of some description in? Its only low pressure return no?

The /\ statement from THIS for ref.

Like Matt (Stinkwheel) has stated "the bottom line is, does it work, is it an acceptable solution ?" my brake nipple suggestion was to try and have a more definite mechanical connection (By tapping out plus the application of a bonding/sealant agent) also the brake nipple has a similar feature to the moulded O/E part to connect the Rubber pipe to so that in turn, that has a better anchor over a smooth/plain pipe end !

But hey-ho I'm of all this, do as you please as I've got better things to do like go and mow the grass !

.

[citronut]

i think if you gave ten people this same challenge, and not letting any of then in on what the others was attempting, the outcome would be very interesting

regards malcolm