Well, it probably doesn't have to point *straight down* in order to get
leakage.  Say, for sake of argument, that any orientation of the hole
pointing +/- 45 degrees of straight down will result in leakage.  So 90
degrees of the hole's orientation, out of 360 degrees (one-fourth) will
result in leakage.  What's the chance that *no* hole will fall in this
range?  Assuming the orientation of each lifter is independent of the
others, it's 3/4 raised to the power of 8, or (approximately) 10%.  So the
chance that at least one lifter will fall in the "leakage" range is 100% -
10% = 90%.

Pretty good odds.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Tom Young                       '81 Vanagon
Lafayette, CA 94549         '82 Westfalia
---------------------------------------------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris S" <mrvolkswagen@HOTMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2003 4:16 PM
Subject: Re: Valve adjustment; Preliminary results.

> > There is a hole in the side of each lifter ................. law of
> > averages always puts one hole down when you park the van overnight.
>
> Wow... some odds!  8 lifters with 360 degree rotation each and I'll get
one
> to point the hole down at least every night.  With luck like that you
ought
> to try the nearest casino. ;-)
>
> Chris S.
> '85 Westy
> www.knology.net/~vw/
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wolfsburg_campers