VAL Digest V1 #86

VAL Digest         Thursday, December 4 2003         Volume 01 : Number 086




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Topics in Today's Digest:

[VAL] Installing Grote Taillights
[VAL] Under Belly Wiring
Re: [VAL] Under Belly Wiring
Re: [VAL] Under Belly Wiring
Re: [VAL] Under Belly Wiring
RE: [VAL] Under Belly Wiring
Re: [VAL] Under Belly Wiring
[VAL] Airstream features
[VAL] Our introduction

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Date: Wed, 03 Dec 2003 09:51:31 -0500
From: Jerry Jarrell <jdj2@xxxxxxxxxx.net>
Subject: [VAL] Installing Grote Taillights

Thanks to Fred, Dr. J, and RJ for the input. I failed to mention that i
put the the "Logic Box" Fred and Dr. J. mentioned on the Chev Van. I
guess it is the same as you speak of as it has tail, turn lights and
brake pigtail on one side and out the other is two wires to the TT. 
	To the folks that have humpteen hours in the TT: Hang in there because
one day the shiney little demon will make it worth it. You who have
"short" Airstreams count your blessing... Shining 26 footers is pure
H-LL!!! Well, Dr. J., I guess I'll have to go out in the 50degree
weather again :) Thanks again guys.
Jerry J <><  <><

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Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2003 08:15:55 -0700
From: "Jim Cooper" <jcchome@xxxxxxxxxx.com>
Subject: [VAL] Under Belly Wiring

Wiring seems to be a hot topic these days, so let me tell you what I
found when I removed the belly skin on the 67 TW.  First, a PO had been
there before - all the insulation was gone.  Wiring for brakes, running
lights, and tail lights is routed through holes in the frame.  The
plastic grommet in one was missing.  The brake light wires were cut
through at that point.  This is why I had to run wires through the
trailer for these circuits before hitting the road.  Three inches of
insulation was worn through on the battery charge wire from the tow
vehicle.  All of the break wires were tied together with wire nuts at a
central location.  The plastic is worn off the nuts where they rested on
the belly skin.  I will redo all of this wiring.
 
It's not clear why shorts had not disabled the charge or break circuits,
but the possibility was there.  I don't know if these problems were
caused by a PO or 36 years of age, but I'm glad I found them before they
materialized on the road.  This kind of thing leads to intermittent and
very hard to troubleshoot electrical problems.  Lets hope they are not
lurking in you're A/S too.
 
Best Regards,
   Jim
 
   jcchome@xxxxxxxxxx.com

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Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2003 10:39:46 EST
From: JSmith1805@xxxxxxxxxx.com
Subject: Re: [VAL] Under Belly Wiring

When I ran the wires through the frame I cut lengyhs of heavy plastic tubing 
to act as bushings through the frame and ran the wires through them.
Jim Smith

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Date: Wed, 03 Dec 2003 09:46:57 -0600
From: "Dr. Gerald N. Johnson, electrical engineer" <geraldj@xxxxxxxxxx.net>
Subject: Re: [VAL] Under Belly Wiring

One brake on my Caravel was intermittent last year, I'd crawl under and
wiggle the corroded wire nuts near the brake plate and then it would
work for a while. 

My cure was to make a proper crimped and enclosed connection. I cut and
stripped the wires, then dipped them in silicone dielectric grease for
corrosion protection and slipped a length of heat shrink tubing with a
melting interior over one, then used an insulated crimped splice to
connect the wires. Then I used a hot air gun to shrink and seal the
tubing over the connection. I expect little trouble for the next few
years or decades from that splice.

When I wired lights and brakes on my newly rebuilt Monitor to flat bed
trailer last couple months, I used the same techniques.

Old grommets can be nearly as hard on wire insulation as no grommet at
all. It may be worth the bother to wrap wire bundles with several layers
of Scotch 33 or 88 tape (88 is flexible at low temperatures) over the
wire to add a cushion through the grommets and frame holes, if there is
room.

My collection (of at least 40 years) of rubber grommets has turned to
rock hard. I've found a grommet collection at Radio Shack made of a soft
plastic that may have better longevity. I hope so anyway.

While I've found wire nuts surviving house fires, I'd like to see them
filled with silicone grease when used under or in a trailer where they
are going to see moisture.

It takes good splices and connections to make shorts have an effect.
Either an open or a short is as effective at turning off lights or
brakes though the short may tend to overload a fuse or controller and
cause damage there if not for a poor series connection between the short
and the fuse or controller.

Gerald J.
- -- 
Entire content copyright Dr. Gerald N. Johnson, electrical engineer.
Reproduction by permission only.

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Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2003 11:20:11 -0800
From: "michelle" <safoocat@xxxxxxxxxx.net>
Subject: Re: [VAL] Under Belly Wiring

Hi Jim,

What's a PO?
Michelle

"People will forget what you said. People will forget what you do. People
will never forget how you made them feel."

It's not clear why shorts had not disabled the charge or break circuits,
but the possibility was there.  I don't know if these problems were
caused by a PO or 36 years of age, but I'm glad I found them before they
materialized on the road.  This kind of thing leads to intermittent and
very hard to troubleshoot electrical problems.  Lets hope they are not
lurking in you're A/S too.

Best Regards,
   Jim

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2003 11:29:19 -0500 
From: "Vasquez, David" <DVASQUEZ@mta-esa.org>
Subject: RE: [VAL] Under Belly Wiring

- -----Original Message-----
From: michelle [mailto:safoocat@xxxxxxxxxx.net]
Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2003 2:20 PM
To: valist@xxxxxxxxxx.com
Subject: Re: [VAL] Under Belly Wiring


Hi Jim,

What's a PO?
Michelle

"PREVIOUS OWNER"

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Date: Wed, 03 Dec 2003 10:55:45 -0600
From: "Dr. Gerald N. Johnson, electrical engineer" <geraldj@xxxxxxxxxx.net>
Subject: Re: [VAL] Under Belly Wiring

Unless well rounded, the ends of the heavy plastic tubing can also cut
through the wire insulation and the wire. And on a large industrial
motor, I saw once where even rounded bushings cut through the wire
insulation and half way through the wire leading to shorts in an
unexpected location. The electrician and I discovered the shorts just as
we began to remove the 100 hp motor generator set for rewinding. Didn't
need rewinding, just needed the insulation replaced on the 00 gauge lead
wires. A square cut rigid plastic tubing end could cut all the way
through unprotected 12 gauge trailer wire. But until it cut through, it
wouldn't be as damaging to the function as the old steel outrigger.

Gerald J.
- -- 
Entire content copyright Dr. Gerald N. Johnson, electrical engineer.
Reproduction by permission only.

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 03 Dec 2003 16:59:21 -0500
From: Terry Tyler <tylerbears@xxxxxxxxxx.net>
Subject: [VAL] Airstream features

on 12/1/03 1:00 AM, valist-admin@xxxxxxxxxx.com wrote:

> You wrote about Airstream differences by year (see below).  This would be very
> useful information, but not easily available.  I've participated in this forum
> and the other one for about nine months and about the only thing I've learned
> by year is that my 67 has unique Corning windows. Airstreams vary in
> construction within a year I've read.  The big question is, is there a
> complied source that describes the variations you mentioned?
> 
> Best Regards, Jim
> 
Hi Jim,

12/02/03: My direct answer to your question "Is there a compiled source that
describes the variations? " --- is --- resoundingly >> NO, THERE IS NOT.
What is available (sometimes) are the yearly specification sheets and
advertising brochures. They are legitimate sources of information even
though variations still occur because of manufacturing location. A more
modern source is the VAC website where I believe there's a link to pictures
of almost every year and model Airstream. That's a good starter site.

Having said that, I think the question then becomes -- how does one gather
data on variations? In my case, the answer was and still is -- even today --
persistence and attention to detail.  What do I mean? First, a little
personal background.

When I was a teenager, one of the things boys in our neighborhood did - was
listen to Red Sox baseball games on the radio and write down (in code) what
each player did in real time while the broadcast was occurring. We had
special baseball graph paper (pads of it) designed for that exact purpose.
Our code writing skills were lightning fast and super accurate (we were sure
of that). <grin>

After the ball game was over, we'd review and discuss (loudly) each inning
as we re-visualized what all the players did in exact detail. Then we'd
argue "what if" scenerios for each inning. This heated banter would go on
for hours after the game had finished and the radio turned off. After all,
we had exact details of every play by each player - right in front of us.

Never once did I suspect that my skill for on-the-spot tabulation of
detailed information would translate into a useful tool throughout the
course of my adult life. It is still fun and highly satisfying to me when I
gather chunks of data and watch as patterns and relationships reveal
themselves.

This skill is a natural for tabulating Airstream data. I often do it with a
3x5 memo pad and ballpoint pen (or PDA).  Years ago, I learned if I could
get 30 observations of whatever I was investigating, I'd likely have
sufficient initial data to determine the next strategy (new hypothesis) in
my search for answers. Each dead end was useful because it ruled out a
possibility. That in itself narrowed the field of search for answers to
questions - a definite plus when doing detective work.

Any of us on the Vintage list can easily find 30 different Airstreams to
observe. Tabulating data can be a cake walk when we have money to burn and a
desire to buy. I believe this process is routine homework for anyone who
routinely reflects on their options before buying.

Wednesday 12/03/03: Here's another example. Most of the boys in our
neighborhood could identify the make and model of every car on the road
after merely a glance. Today, I know Airstream owners who can identify the
floor plan of any Airstream by looking at where the windows are located.
Many can identify the year by the number of panels on the end caps or the
shape of the windows (corners rounded or not) or other features evident to
anyone who takes the time to observe details.

After writing the above, I've revised my answer to your question  "Is there
a compiled source that describes the variations?"  My revised answer is a
resounding YES, IT CAN BE FOUND IN OUR OWN HEADS - if we have persistence
and enthusiasm for noticing specific features and keeping track of those
data.  Teenage boys who love baseball can compile far more data than this
task requires and we can, too.

How long will it take? I'm sure that within a few months I could find 30
different Airstreams to inspect for specific features.  Within a few days
after that, my memo pad data would be reorganized onto a sheet of graph
paper and I'd have an initial pattern of answers to my search questions.

Jim, you already know hundreds of details about variations among Airstreams.
I've written about only a few of them. Dollars to donuts you've been
compiling the variations in your head and if you're like most Airstream
addicts, you'll continue doing it as long as you own an Airstream.

Hope this helps even though it's just an opinion and a biased one at that,

Terry

mailto:tylerbears@xxxxxxxxxx.net

- ------------

>> Terry Tyler wrote:
>> 
>> Other concepts in the mix are the subtle variables that few Airstreamers talk
>> about in public; like the difference in skin thickness (by year of
>> manufacture) when it comes to damage which can be caused by hail stones; or
>> the difference in weight of materials (by year of manufacture) used for
>> cupboards, lockers and refrigerator doors; or knowing which years the factory
>> used particle board instead of plywood on the floor; or which years they
>> offered thermopane windows: or the Everpure QC2 water filter; or had high
>> road clearance (for off road use); and the list goes on and on. What ever
>> priority level a buyer has for specific features will inevitably be factored
>> in - by intent or not (whether they know it or don't have a clue).

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 03 Dec 2003 21:42:32 -0800
From: "Erica Haaseth" <eriboberi@xxxxxxxxxx.com>
Subject: [VAL] Our introduction

Hi,
We bought our 1966 Safari in March from the original owners.  We've happily 
used it 4 times so far and hate to see it sitting in the driveway!  We went 
to our first Airstream Rally with our local region 12 group a few weeks ago. 
  We live in the San Fernando Valley, CA.  We have 2 kids who also love our 
little trailer.
Erica & Mitch

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End of VAL Digest V1 #86
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