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Subject:Re: alternators & CBs
From:Peter Larsson
Date:Sun, 19 Jan 1997 00:42:36 +0100

Ron Lussier wrote:
> 
> At 02:45 PM 1/18/97 -0600, Sean Bartnik wrote:
> >Hey all,
> >I'm posting this to both lists because these are relatively general
> >questions.
> >
> >First:  A few days ago I noticed a screeching sound (low-pitched, like a
> >metal on metal sound) coming from the engine somewhere when I first
> >started it up.  This is an '81 Vanagon, 2000cc air-cooled engine.  Today
> >I investigated further and I've isolated the sound as coming from the
> >alternator.  I can't tell if it's the pulley rubbing on the housing or
> >if it's inside the alternator.  The sound disappears when the engine
> >warms up.  So is it alt. bearings or something?  Is my alternator on the
> >way out or is the very cold weather lately (single digits last night)
> >having an effect on the grease (or whatever lube) in the alternator?
> >The alternator has been charging normally, no red light on or anything
> >like that.  Any ideas?
> >
> >Next, I need to get a real CB antenna.  I had one of those clip-on rain
> >gutter mount jobbies from Wal-Mart because I couldn't find a place to
> >mount a real one.  Well, the Wal-Mart jobby is rusting all to hell
> >already (only been on there a couple months) so i removed it before the
> >rust spread to my raingutter.  The problem is that I still haven't been
> >able to think of a good place to mount a CB antenna.  If this were a
> >regular Vanagon I'd just use a magnet-mount antenna on the roof but this
> >is a Westy.  No magnet mount here.  I was looking at mounting it on the
> >rear bumper but there's no way to mount it so that it doesn't interfere
> >with the rear hatch.  I would have to mount it on the plastic end cap if
> >I wanted to get in the back of the van without removing the antenna.
> >
> >In short, I'm out of ideas.  I know a lot of you Westy drivers have CBs
> >so where did you mount the antenna?
> 
> I put a permanent mount on the exterior right read panel of my van.  I have
> a quick-release mount screwed into the permanent mount.  The antenna runs
> up about 4" from the rear of the pop-top, and sticks about a foot over the
> top of the van.  Since it's a top-loaded antenna, that works pretty well.
> 
> I had to think a bit about adding a permanent hole to my van, but this was
> the cleanest solution I could come up with.  And it does look pretty good.
> 
> Ron
> 
> --
> Ron 'Coyote' Lussier         /\_/\      ____             Chaco Communications
> (408) 865-0657              (     )     \ _/__        10164 Parkwood Drive #8
> coyote@chaco.com             \   /       \X  /       Cupertino, CA 95014-1533
> (1990 VW Westfalia Camper)    \_/          \/    http://www.chaco.com/~coyote

Lucky you who has need to use a CB, here in Sweden the CB is totally 
dead for several years ago. The mobile phones has totally taken over 
here.
Peter Larsson
1994 EV Crewcab Syncro