bigcoupe.com

Hey all - our favorite hack mechanic (Rob Siegel) has started a new series of articles on the BMWCCA website regarding winter work on his '79 Euro... check it out:

https://www.bmwcca.org/content/sorting-out-shark-part-i

Cheers,
Paul

That guy's beard is awesome!

Next installment: gas tank!

https://www.bmwcca.org/content/sorting- ... s-memories

A new post: brake fluid (part 1?)

https://www.bmwcca.org/content/bleeding-shark

I like reading Rob's stuff, but I had to email and asked him when a quart became something beside 32 ounces after reading that article.

And in what order do you guys bleed your brakes? I go to the most distant corner (from the master cylinder) which on our left-hand-drive cars, that's the right rear, then left rear, then right front, left front, and finally the clutch. To me, he did it backwards.

hornhospital wrote:And in what order do you guys bleed your brakes? I go to the most distant corner (from the master cylinder) which on our left-hand-drive cars, that's the right rear, then left rear, then right front, left front, and finally the clutch. To me, he did it backwards.

I always go to the furthest pipe run from the m/c first.

I totally agree with you about how to bleed our brakes.
But, it does no good to complain here.

I'm retired w/o a great plan, so I can't live at my normal life style,
so, I'm not a BMWCCA member any more.
I'm not broke by any means,,,,but!

If anyone here is a member, please go to the website &
let him know the recommended way?
I'm sure he will appreciate it.
Let's maintain our community, huh?
Greg

That's what I did. He's on the BMW CCA forums. Has his own thread there. I posted a "why'd you do it like that" message, but haven't gotten a reply yet.

Good for you, Ken.
Did you explain your way of bleeding?
Obviously he needs that.
Greg

I did, but it feels kinda funny to be advising the Hack Mechanic how to do things. Kinda like telling your heart surgeon how to stitch up your cardiac arteries.

I understand but, obviously he's more hack than we know?
And now we're finding out?
I wonder if he's gonna check in here before any other jobs.
Greg
Ps,,, BTW, I also read somewhere that to bleed from the farthest
to the closest may not make a difference?
I forget where I read that but, I did.

Rob made a general reply in his column in the weekly email version of the Roundel. It was pretty much "I'm not saying why I did it like that until I've researched it further", which is fine with me. He even ended his column with something like "Just don't ask me to bleed the brakes, because I don't know what I'm doing".

Why you go furthest to nearest (and this was for flushing the system, not just bleeding, something we need to do every couple years or sooner) was explained to me thusly:

The furthest brake will have the longest line. By bleeding it first you assure fresh fluid and operation of the most remote brake. Since it has the longest line, it will be the most likely to have leak(s) or clogging, since the fluid is the most isolated from the master cylinder. Working back to the nearest (and shortest line) reduces the amount of fluid that needs to be moved with each corner, so in theory the job will get easier as you go along.

Is that sensible? Sounded good to me, so I've been doing it that way ever since my days of building dune buggies back in the 60s. Maybe it's just 'tradition', and it doesn't make a lick of difference.

But, your/our way does make sense, Ken!
I still don't recall where I read the option.
Greg

Rob was at the last SouthEast Sharkfest, and I really enjoyed his company. I just finished his book, too, which was worth several laughing outbursts and more than a few "You said it brother!"occasions.

This time our hero finds an interesting situation with his wheel bearings:

https://www.bmwcca.org/roundel/cap-things

Thanx for posting this.
This is actually informative along with being enjoyable.
Please keep it up,,,,Greg

Ps,,,Hey, I deleted my ' '73 '02 4 sale line', what happened?

After a pause for work on a neglected 2002, the shark brake work continues:

https://www.bmwcca.org/roundel/why-do-i ... ate-lesson

And now for some windshield wiper work:

https://www.bmwcca.org/roundel/learning ... on-part-ii

Perhaps someone on the board can sell Rob the extinct part he still needs.

The Hack Mechanic is at it again, this time with 'new' wheels. Good choice, Rob!

https://www.bmwcca.org/roundel/i-am-not-wheel-whore

Wheel whoreness is not easily recognizable during the early stages. It may also be a slow enough process that you do not recognize you have become a certified wheel whore until you realize that you have 5 sets of wheels for 2 cars.

Do realize it does not stop there and it could easily become dangerous. Significant others, friends (even car nuts) and family will try interventions but they typically fail. Professionals (Head Doctors) get overwhelmed by the sheer delight expressed by the whore and simply give up and walk away while muttering to themselves unintelligibly. I almost feel bad for them (the Head Doctors).


Ralph

PS Thanks for the links PT.

Ralph in Socal wrote:Wheel whoreness is not easily recognizable during the early stages. It may also be a slow enough process that you do not recognize you have become a certified wheel whore until you realize that you have 5 sets of wheels for 2 cars.

Do realize it does not stop there and it could easily become dangerous. Significant others, friends (even car nuts) and family will try interventions but they typically fail. Professionals (Head Doctors) get overwhelmed by the sheer delight expressed by the whore and simply give up and walk away while muttering to themselves unintelligibly. I almost feel bad for them (the Head Doctors).


Ralph

PS Thanks for the links PT.

Now that's funny!!

Occasionally the head doctor asks to see exhibit A (the wheel stash) to see why the whore has gotten so enamored. He then buys a spare set for his BMW, and the malady spreads.

PTFunk wrote:This time our hero finds an interesting situation with his wheel bearings:

https://www.bmwcca.org/roundel/cap-things

Great read!!

Ralph in Socal wrote:Wheel whoreness is not easily recognizable during the early stages. It may also be a slow enough process that you do not recognize you have become a certified wheel whore until you realize that you have 5 sets of wheels for 2 cars.

Thanks for the diagnosis, Ralph. At last I know what my problem is!!

ron wrote:

Ralph in Socal wrote:Wheel whoreness is not easily recognizable during the early stages. It may also be a slow enough process that you do not recognize you have become a certified wheel whore until you realize that you have 5 sets of wheels for 2 cars.

Thanks for the diagnosis, Ralph. At last I know what my problem is!!

The entire post is based on personal experience Ron. My own!! You and others are more than welcome to join me if you've not already.

It is a sad and sorrowful state of mind when viewed from a different perspective. However, I AM HAPPY - also nutty.


Ralph