dokodemo 2007-06-26T19:50:40Z tag:,2007:/1 Movable Type Copyright (c) 2007, dokodemo up next 2007-06-26T19:50:40Z 2007-06-26T19:43:53Z tag:,2007:/1.70 2007-06-26T19:43:53Z Come on everybody, we're moving to Portland!... dokodemo mantid@dokodemo.org Personal Come on everybody, we're moving to Portland!

]]> This summer will feature:

- a trip to India
- visit to burningman
- few drips up and down West Coast
- settling in Portland
- resuming dokodemo.org

]]> Sunset Junction and burnination 2007-03-31T17:55:32Z 2007-03-31T17:54:32Z tag:,2007:/1.68 2007-03-31T17:54:32Z Sunset Junction and burnination Originally uploaded by tonx.... dokodemo mantid@dokodemo.org
Sunset Junction and burnination
Originally uploaded by tonx.


]]> New Starter 2005-06-13T00:58:23Z 2005-06-13T00:42:31Z tag:,2005:/1.67 2005-06-13T00:42:31Z Today I swapped out a dying starter motor in the 87 Vanagon. From time to time, the solenoid would lock on-- that is, after the engine would start, it would just keep spinning. If I turn the ignition off,... dokodemo mantid@dokodemo.org Vanagon

Today I swapped out a dying starter motor in the 87 Vanagon. From time to time, the solenoid would lock on-- that is, after the engine would start, it would just keep spinning. If I turn the ignition off, it would continue, and being "busy", it wouldn't start the engine again. Usually it would "give up" after a few minutes.

This happened every couple months, and then would be fine again for a while.

Well, it started getting worse.

]]> In a supermarket parking lot, it just wouldn't stop spinning. It was starting to worry me and I was about to try the tap-it-with-a-hammer technique when it finally quit. Of course it then started right up as usual. It made me a little paranoid about dying for good while I was out somewhere far away, so I looked into replacements.

GoWesty has beautiful aftermarket starters from Japan, so after asking around a little, I decided to try one.

I actually stopped at the shop (I always love an excuse to visit GoWesty), as I was going up to visit a friend at Stanford. I talked to the guys there a bit about it, and was told it was a fairly simple installation. Luckily, one of the more alert mechanics noticed that the nut for the wires was too thick, and replaced it with a thinner one (more on this in a minute).

Not having decent garagespace nor the confidence to do this on my own, I went out to a friends house today to borrow his tools and knowledge. The whole thing wasn't bad, it took about 2 hours including time to play with the dog and drink coffee. Getting the old one out is fairly simple; put the van up on ramps, disconnect engine battery, pull the wires off, and unbolt it. The solenoid signal wire needs a new plug put on it, so some crimping or soldering needs to happen.

This is where it got exciting. Against my better judgement, I started the soldering while laying on my back, staring up at the wire. Sure enough, a blob of molten metal fell down and bounced off my eye. I'm pretty lucky to not be blind. The goggles were then on for the rest of the repair.

The only real trick once the wires are set it is getting the three of them (if its a manual) all stacked onto the too-short post. The main power cable is so thick that its almost more correct to call it a rod. This thing has to be coaxed into laying flush against the bottom of the post, and I can't really offer much advice here other than to practice yoga and tone your finger muscles. What we finally did was to bolt that one on tight, to have the wire "memorize" its new shape. That more or less did the trick, and the other two wires were just able to be put on over it, leaving 1 precious thread for the nut to grip onto. Luckily it bit, and the nut turned down home. The battery hooked up, and the engine started beautifully. And repeatedly.

All in all this was a pretty trivial repair, but it was rewarding for me to get a little dirtier with the engine and also have the reminder of the safety issues involved when working on a vehicle.

The GoWesty folks claimed that the new motor will last longer that the Vanagon will. Let's hope so. While this was on the fun side of things, I don't want to do it again.

]]> How to Change Oil in a Vanagon 2005-05-29T03:04:49Z 2005-05-27T21:40:59Z tag:,2005:/1.66 2005-05-27T21:40:59Z Changing the oil is one of the simplest and most important bits of preventative maintenance one can do, especially in a delicate engine like the Vanagon's Wasserboxer. You don't need to be a mechanic to do it, and the... dokodemo mantid@dokodemo.org Vanagon

Changing the oil is one of the simplest and most important bits of preventative maintenance one can do, especially in a delicate engine like the Vanagon's Wasserboxer.

You don't need to be a mechanic to do it, and the local JiffyLube can't always be trusted to do it right. Many Vanagon owners seem to do complex repairs on their own, and will consider this child's play. If you are a newbie, though... read on.

]]> Disclaimer: I'm not a mechanic, just a normal moron. This is what seems to work on my Vanagon and is in accordance with the owner's manual and the amateur expert opinion on the mailing lists. Don't try this at home, etc.

First you want to assemble your tools. Its a real pain to stop in the middle and walk back inside or to the garage to rummage around while you are dirty.

For a full change, you'll need:

  • 4.8 quarts (5 bottles) of oil. The type varies, and there are numerous debates on what is best. I'm using 20w-50 dinosaur oil (as opposed to synthetic). The 20w-50 is because I am in Southern California and its getting HOT. Up in Washington, I used a much thinner oil, better at low temperatures.

  • Oil pan. Get this at your local auto parts store. You drain the oil into it and then use it to transport the dirty oil to a recycling center (often the same place you got the pan). Don't use milk jugs or makeshift containers which are likely to spill, leak, and tip over. They also tempt you to illegally dump the oil. Spend the $8, it should last forever.

  • 13mm socket + wrench. You -could- use a box wrench, but a ratchet will really make it so much easier. Ensure this is the right size for your drain plug.

  • New crush washer for oil plug. If you skip this, you'll get a drippy leak, I promise. I've learned the hard way. You won't ruin your engine by not changing this out, and its better to change your oil on time, but really... go ahead and order 6 or 12 of them, they are cheap.

  • New oil filter. Do this every other time, or every time if you are uptight. Use slightly less oil if you don't change it (4.5q vs 4.8q).

  • Oil filter wrench. Not mandatory, but makes it so much easier. I use a great design from Griot's Garage. Spendy, but should last forever and is really a pleasure to use.

  • Latex gloves, paper towels, trashbags. Make it all so much cleaner.

    Put on your housepainting clothes or coveralls, get all your items ready, and get to it.

    1. It's easiest to start with a warm engine (not too hot). You want to loosen up the oil but you don't want to burn yourself. A brief drive around the block or a few minutes warming up in your driveway should be sufficient.

    2. Put all your tools and items within easy reach, yet out of the way. I have huge bumpers which I use as a convenient shelf.

    3. Put on your latex gloves.

    4. Get the oil pan under the back wheels. Grab your 13mm wrench and lay on your back under and between the back wheels. You dont strictly need to lay down, but its so much easier, just do it. Get a towel or something if you want, but I just bite the bullet and lay on whatever rocks or crap I haven't swept out of the way. You'll see the oil drain plug in the middle, its the only 13mm bolt that is easy to get to. Get the oil plan as close to under it as possible (make sure lid is off the pan).

    5. Carefully remove the plug. The oil might start to flow around it right before the plug comes out, so be ready. It might also be uncomfortably warm if you heated up the engine too much, so be careful yet not timid. Its ok to just let the bolt fall onto the screen of your oil pan, if it has a screen. Here's a thoughtful tip from a reader:


      ...Before pulling drain plug, put the new oil bottles in the driver seat. That way if one gets side-tracked, there is little chance that the VW is started with no oil in the engine.

      - Eric&Barb

    6. Open the oil filler (behind the rear license plate). This helps the oil drain.

    7. Wait. While waiting for it to drain, clean your socket wrench and drain plug. Replace the old crush washer on the plug with a new one.


    8. Remove the oil filter. When the oil stops flowing, carefully move the pan closer to the oil filter. This is the cylindrical object on the left side (when facing rear of van). If your pan is big enough, you can position it to catch oil from the drain plug and filter at the same time. You can also replace the oil plug and then do the filter.

    9. Wait for the additional oil to drain out, and drain the filter too. This makes easier cleanup, as quite a bit of oil can be inside the filter.

    10. Replace the filter. Wipe a thin film of oil onto the rubber gasket of the new filter (theres probably plenty on your glove) and install it. Hand-tighten it, and then give it an 1/8th of a turn with the wrench (unless your hands are really strong).

    11. Replace the drain plug (if you didn't already).

    12. Fill the engine with your fresh oil. Its awkward to do the last one, and awkward to have just 200ml of oil left, but the bottles are usually windowed and marked so you can see how much is left.

    13. Close the oil filler cap. This is a good time to take off your gloves, grab some paper towels, and wipe up the messes you've made. I put the lid back on the oil pan and then put it into a fresh garbage bag. This makes it easier to carry it around, into the facility for recycling, etc. No matter how careful I am, I always get the outside of the pan oily.

    14. Get all your tools, empty oil bottles, and oil pan out of the way. Start up the engine and run it for a few minutes. Then look for leaks (you got that oil plug in all the way right? You changed the crush washer, right?). Check the oil level on the dipstick.

      Repeat every 3,000 miles. I replace the oil filter every other or every 3 changes. With each change while I was on my 12,000 mile trip.

      Your Vanagon will thank you!

      ]]> Nubby 2005-05-17T00:04:57Z 2005-05-17T00:01:40Z tag:,2005:/1.65 2005-05-17T00:01:40Z Half of dokodemo is bringing the comforts of home to the wide world outside. The other half is bringing the outdoors in. This is a Litoria caerulea, or White's (dumpy) Treefrog from Indonesia. Named Nubby, he lives in a... dokodemo mantid@dokodemo.org Dokodemo

      Half of dokodemo is bringing the comforts of home to the wide world outside. The other half is bringing the outdoors in. This is a Litoria caerulea, or White's (dumpy) Treefrog from Indonesia. Named Nubby, he lives in a glass vivarium under a fluorescent lamp and ceramic heating element. He's about an inch long, but will grow to about 4 inches.

      ]]>       In the Galley 2005-05-04T18:00:10Z 2005-05-04T17:53:18Z tag:,2005:/1.63 2005-05-04T17:53:18Z From a recent discusson on SouthWesties: I use a nesting set from MSR, made for backpacking but works great in the van. It has a 2 pot/bowls, frying pan, and plate which is also pot lid. The set included... dokodemo mantid@dokodemo.org Cooking

      From a recent discusson on SouthWesties:

      I use a nesting set from MSR, made for backpacking but works great in the van. It has a 2 pot/bowls, frying pan, and plate which is also pot lid. The set included a teapot also. Inside I added another set: a plastic bowl with snapon lid, inside that are some various little jars to hold ingredients, and a folding spatula, ladle, and strainer.

      ]]> It works fairly well. The frying pan has a removable handle. I also have the pilers-like holder to grip the edge of the pot.

      Link to the cookset:

      and the plastic stuff

      I'm not strongly advocating these sets, just sharing what has worked really well for me.

      I also carry a tiny titanium pot and tiny stove which I use for backpacking. It is handy in the van during times when:

      - I run out of main propane
      - Someone is asleep in the van and I just want some tea or noodles without making a big production
      - Carrying up a hill or out on the beach for a hot drink away from the van

      I mostly camp alone, and eat right out of the pot in many cases. For trips with friends, I usually just bring along a few plates/etc from the kitchen to make things more civilized. I wouldnt mind finding a picnic set, but one hasnt caught my eye yet. I use a nalgene water bottle for drinking n driving, and one of those metal coffee cups with a lid for the strong stuff. Actually, the one I have been using has started to leak, so I'm on the lookout for a replacement.

      I've taken a rice cooker out a few times, I am not sure if it is worth the hassle or not. I don't usually camp where there is electricity, and I dont like using my 2nd battery/inverter juice on something so decadent.

      ]]>       SouthWesties 2005-05-04T17:49:58Z 2005-05-04T17:45:14Z tag:,2005:/1.62 2005-05-04T17:45:14Z As a spinoff from the wonderful "Pacific Northwest Camping Society" known as the WetWesties, I've set up a similar mailing list for those in Southern California. If you are in the area, interested in VW camping, feel free to... dokodemo mantid@dokodemo.org Site News

      As a spinoff from the wonderful "Pacific Northwest Camping Society" known as the WetWesties, I've set up a similar mailing list for those in Southern California.

      If you are in the area, interested in VW camping, feel free to sign up. No need to own a camper, just be interested in communicating with others who are. Hopefully we will have a website up soon. For now, here is the mailing list info

      ]]>       Water 2005-04-05T21:09:31Z 2005-04-05T21:02:00Z tag:,2005:/1.61 2005-04-05T21:02:00Z Been a while since I rapped atcha but the van has not been doing anything very interesting. I've decided its time to repair the leaking faucet however, and have found some good links/candidates: The Shurflo electric faucet looks to be... dokodemo mantid@dokodemo.org Been a while since I rapped atcha but the van has not been doing anything very interesting. I've decided its time to repair the leaking faucet however, and have found some good links/candidates:

      The Shurflo electric faucet looks to be just the ticket.

      Its available at West Marine, which is rapdily becoming my favorite place to drool. I wonder if they have a wishlist feature...

      The Shurflo faucet is reviewed on Gipsflies' great Westy enhancements page.

      For the finishing touch, why not add a water filter while you're at it?

      ]]>       Goodbye, friend 2005-01-30T04:09:02Z 2005-01-30T04:00:56Z tag:,2005:/1.60 2005-01-30T04:00:56Z (file under personal) This is the first car I've purchased. I bought it about 5 years ago in Seattle for $2000. It ran very well, was easy to park, and got great mileage. I sold it to a friend... dokodemo mantid@dokodemo.org Personal goodbye friend.jpg

      (file under personal)

      This is the first car I've purchased. I bought it about 5 years ago in Seattle for $2000. It ran very well, was easy to park, and got great mileage. I sold it to a friend after 2 years, but have always missed it. After deteriorating to undrivable condition, it was today taken to Northwest Auto Wrecking, to meet its final destiny. This car can be credited with inspiring my love of european automobiles and ultimately influencing my perhaps deranged decision to purchase a Vanagon. It's amazing how a tiny 2-door wagon can feel so similar to a camper behemoth, but the dash, the ergonomics, the overall handling, and the transmission of the Vanagon are all very reminiscent of the Fox. I'll spill some of my 40 for this little guy.

      ]]>       Dokodemo's Index 2005-01-26T21:18:23Z 2004-12-02T17:24:52Z tag:,2004:/1.59 2004-12-02T17:24:52Z Number of nights stayed in motels: 3 Quantity (in quarts) of oil used to top off low levels: .10 Spark plugs replaced: 4 Visits to mechanics: 3 Visits to mechanics in Austin: 2 Times pulled over by law enforcement: 0... dokodemo mantid@dokodemo.org Number of nights stayed in motels: 3

      Quantity (in quarts) of oil used to top off low levels: .10

      Spark plugs replaced: 4

      Visits to mechanics: 3

      Visits to mechanics in Austin: 2

      Times pulled over by law enforcement: 0

      Total miles travelled: 12432

      Haircuts: 1

      Oil filters changed: 3

      Times pulled over to deal with Vanagon Syndrome: 1

      Number of times Syndrome returned after obtaining new part, still not instaleld, to address it: 0

      Cameras ruined in hot spring water: 1

      Nights spent at Wal-Mart: 3

      Oceans touched: 2

      Percentage of Nebraskans/New Mexicans who waved while driving by: 90%

      Percentage of everyone else: 0%

      Nights AC ceramic heater was used: 0

      Number of times a campfire was made: 2

      Number of logs from New Mexico still on top of van: 4

      Delay (in days) between election conclusion and hearing results: 2

      ]]>       Full Circle 2005-01-26T21:07:11Z 2004-12-01T21:40:31Z tag:,2004:/1.58 2004-12-01T21:40:31Z You'll have to stay tuned for mileage totals and other fun statistics, but I am indeed back in Seattle and will be shifting the focus of this website to documenting not only travel, but the opposite, too: ways to bring... dokodemo mantid@dokodemo.org Trip Reports You'll have to stay tuned for mileage totals and other fun statistics, but I am indeed back in Seattle and will be shifting the focus of this website to documenting not only travel, but the opposite, too: ways to bring the rest of the world into the home. Thanks for all the encouragement and support on this trip, it has been the greatest time of my life in so many ways.

      ]]>       Finding Tara 2004-12-01T21:38:24Z 2004-12-01T21:24:23Z tag:,2004:/1.57 2004-12-01T21:24:23Z Marshall is a friend of mine living in what might be the most attractive region of California, Humboldt County. Perfect sandy beaches meeting gnarly mountains and the famed giant redwoods... laid back culture and an uncommonly dense concentration of... dokodemo mantid@dokodemo.org Trip Reports

      Marshall is a friend of mine living in what might be the most attractive region of California, Humboldt County. Perfect sandy beaches meeting gnarly mountains and the famed giant redwoods... laid back culture and an uncommonly dense concentration of liberal freaks makes the Arcata/Eureka area very interesting. I'd been wanting to meet his new girlfriend, Tara, as well.

      ]]> As I arrived, Tara acted as if she knew me, which didn't seem to make much sense. I speculated she might have seen some of the photos from my trip, but then a wave of realization occured; this is Tara who was a friend of mine from college in Maryland 10 years ago. When I moved away to Missoula, Montana, she moved to New Mexico. We ended up slowly losing touch with each other, but I always wondered what she was up to. It was especially timely since I had just been in New Mexico and had casue to remember her. We had a great time catching up and reconnecting.

      Marshall took me to a local hiking spot "Strawberry Rock". This is an enormous boulder (perhaps 3 stories in height) which is itself on top of a tall hill. We met a couple of friends and took Amigo the dog up there. Scrambling a little to the top, the wind was pretty intense and my fear of heights was in full swing. It was well worth it though, the view was simply incredible.

      We spent the afternoon looking at the waves and surfers, and exploring the land which Marshall's friends had just purchased.

      Later in the evening we went to hear a ukelele player, but it turned out he was actually drumming for a Dead cover band, Papa Bear. They were surprisingly good, and the most amazing part was that even with a PA system and guitar amps, we were able to have a conversation over the music. No smoking in bars and reasonable volume at shows, what radical concepts.

      The next morning was surprisingly cold, my thermometer said 29 degress and there was frost on the vehicles. We walked around Eureka, looked at the ships, and had a great brunch with some mimosas.

      I want to move there, now I just have to figure out what kind of work I can do.

      ]]>       Lar's Nub 2004-12-01T21:15:37Z 2004-12-01T20:57:51Z tag:,2004:/1.56 2004-12-01T20:57:51Z In Tucson, Larry told me about a camping spot he liked near Big Sur, CA. He described it as a knob (I heard "nub") looking out over the coast, above the morning clouds. He emailed me directions and I... dokodemo mantid@dokodemo.org Trip Reports

      In Tucson, Larry told me about a camping spot he liked near Big Sur, CA. He described it as a knob (I heard "nub") looking out over the coast, above the morning clouds. He emailed me directions and I had been looking forward to finding it for some time.

      ]]> I tried to camp at Oceano Dunes (near Pismo Beach), where you can drive and camp right on the sand. It was such a great time there this summer, I was looking forward to going back and having the solitude that Thanksgiving on the beach should offer. I figured I would have the place to myself, as everybody would be home with their families.

      Well, Thanksgiving is apparantly a pretty popular day at Oceano, as it was "sold out". Despite the miles of open camping, I was turned away at the gate. I decided to just drive on up to Big Sur and find Larry's spot.

      The drive up 1 is of course pure joy. Other than a seriously inebriated or possibly brain damaged driver in front of me for a bit, I was in total bliss just hugging the curves going up the coast and staring at the deep blue water.

      I found the turnoff I was looking for, and preceded up the road. It suddenly started to become dark very quickly, and I was feeling a little hurried. I made a few wrong turns but backtracked and made progress up the mountain on the forest service roads.

      Parts of the road were very sketchy, and I was concerned in my heavy 2wd van. I started to fear flat tires as I drove over piles of sharp rocks and stone steps. The road was after a while not even really a dirt road, it was just rocky areas where there were no plants. There was also a lot of mud, which was also a concern. I slowly kept pressing on though, and since there was no place to turn around, there wasn't much choice.

      Eventually I made it to the top, and it was indeed stunning. A fantastic view out to the ocean, extending for miles and miles to the horizon. I felt like I could see the curve of the earth. I made camp, called my sister to say Happy Thanksgiving (yes there was somehow a great cell signal up there).

      In the morning I jumped out of bed after seeing the sunrise. About a hundred yards below me was an opaque sheet of white clouds. They were moving fast, tumbling and flipping over the little peaks. They were so thick, 100% saturated. I couldn't see anything through them, and they were high enough that the little peaks which looked like islands the night before were now totally concealed.

      Larry was right, this place he described as "nirvana" was pretty close. I'm not sure if I want to be become very discovered, but if you are in the area maybe I can help you find it (or you can ask Larry).

      ]]>       Santa Barbara 2004-12-01T20:57:35Z 2004-12-01T20:40:45Z tag:,2004:/1.55 2004-12-01T20:40:45Z This summer I had the pleasure of visiting Santa Barbara for the first time, as Kia and Michael got married. The town really impressed me with its beautiful location between beach and mountains, perfect weather year round, and lush... dokodemo mantid@dokodemo.org Trip Reports

      This summer I had the pleasure of visiting Santa Barbara for the first time, as Kia and Michael got married. The town really impressed me with its beautiful location between beach and mountains, perfect weather year round, and lush plant growth all over. It was great to return to visit them in the late autumn, and experience almost identical weather.

      Michael creates amazing items in his garage studio, dubbed "the manshack". In this space, he is able to externalize his imagination onto dioramas, collages, magic boxes, autonomotons, and kinetic playthings. We went to a showing of his work and had a good time seeing other local art.

      It was also excellent to finally see Kia's studio, including her new-to-her antique letterpress and type collection. I've revised my worldview to include this directive: make sure you are good friends with a couple artists in Santa Barbara.

      The saddest part of the visit was learning that their little Morris Minor pickup truck, with Datsun conversion, has failed and is in need of a new engine. Godspeed, little Morris, I am rooting for you!

      UPDATE: Michael has sold a piece, now officially securing his role as an artist, and now he is now finally positioned to compromise his vision in order to become more of a commercial success. Congratulations!

      ]]>       Long Beach 2004-12-01T20:15:23Z 2004-12-01T20:02:49Z tag:,2004:/1.54 2004-12-01T20:02:49Z I've never spent much time in the Los Angeles area but smog and traffic aside, its pretty incredible to have so many mountains and fantastic beaches right there. I met up with my favorite sibling friends Andre and Lisey.... dokodemo mantid@dokodemo.org Trip Reports

      I've never spent much time in the Los Angeles area but smog and traffic aside, its pretty incredible to have so many mountains and fantastic beaches right there. I met up with my favorite sibling friends Andre and Lisey. We moved furniture for Andre, watched people surfing, and enjoyed the California weather. Later we met up with people who use a secret but very popular website Andre runs, and had a blast sipping pints by the marina and later some karaoke action at an Irish dive bar.

      A real highlight of the trip was suggested by my main man in Long Beach, Monte Vista. He demanded that a visit be made to the Parasol Resturant in Seal Beach, and try a Monte Cristo sandwich. This incredible device is a ham/turkey/cheese sandwhich, then dipped in egg, deep fried, served sprinkled with powdered sugar and jam on the side to spread on it. Side dish was some mixed fruit and rainbow sherbet. I didn't order this, but I was lucky enough to witness and taste it. Thumbs up, except for the 10 years it will shave off your life to ingest something like this.

      ]]>