Mike,
Thanks for your suggestions.
What I did today was remove the piece of steel tubing, thread a longer piece
of copper tubing (1/4" 28 threads/inch to match the original repair), I put
a nut at the top of the threads for easy installation and a compression
ferrule at the end of the smooth part to give a shoulder for the hose clamp
to hold against.  I cleaned up the hole in the plastic part with some q-tips
and a tap.  I applied some thread locker for good measure and installed the
threaded tube.  I put the rubber hose back in place, installed hose clamps
and ran the engine to see if there were any leaks.  Everything seems fine.
Is it common for this nipple to get broken off?
George
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Collum" <collum@verizon.net>
To: "George Thorburn" <thorgk@ACCESSCOMM.CA>
Cc: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, October 07, 2006 8:57 AM
Subject: Re: 1.9 WBX cooling system repair

> On my '84, when that nipple broke off, I trimmed the support web under
> where the nipple was then got a piece of brass tubing and heated it so
> that it would melt its way into the hole (with the help of pliers, of
> course).  Just for the sake of overkill, I then put J-B Weld around the
> joint.  I used it that way for 4 years, which included a number of long
> trips.  I replaced it with a new one "Just Because" (obtained from a list
> member ... either Vanagain or BusDepot ... don't remember) and still have
> the repaired one as a spare.
>
> Actually, in an emergency, one could trim that support web from under
> where the nipple broke off and fit a hose over the now accessible nub.
>
> Mike
> '84 GL 7 pass
> '85 GL Westy
>
>
> George Thorburn wrote:
>> Hey list,
>> Some time ago the nipple on the assembly mounted to the front of the
>> engine compartment broke off.  (the assembly with the bleed screw where
>> the large hoses come together and a small diameter bleed hose goes back
>> toward the back of the motor)  The broken nipple was repaired with a
>> short length of 1/4" steel tubing threaded into the plastic assembly.
>> This is OK but I was wondering if any one had a better idea.  Is the
>> large plastic assembly still available?  Is there a repair kit available
>> some where?  What I would like is a metal tube that would thread in and
>> would have barbs or a bulge to help hold the small rubber hose in place.
>> Any ideas would be appreciated.
>> Thanks,
>> George
>> '85 Westfalia
>>
>