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June 20, 2002
Jen and I made it back to Eugene around Midnight Monday. The Bootbus preformed admirably and I am thankful to be back. Tom (the VW guy) fixed our clutch for $55. The clutch cable had broken, so he replaced it and we are good to go. Chris and I drove the bus to do our laundry this morning and all appears to be good with our new clutch cable.
Posted by Sean at 06:41 AM | View Comments (11) | Add Comments
I suppose we were kinding of expecting it, but we never knew when it might strike. Now we know. A day after Sean had completed the drive from Eugene to San Francisco, the BootBus has a problem. Sean's currently stuck in Corte Madera. He heard a pop when he was engaging the clutch and now he can't change gears. Sean actually pushed the bus to get to his appointment. Figuring that it's probably the clutch cable that needs replacing, Sean is going to have a crack at it himself. We've got the Idiot's guide by John Muir and I'll try and talk him through it over the phone. If that fails, we've got Tom the VW Guy on standby to guide us. Wish us luck. BootBus in the Book Passage parking lot
Posted by Chris at 01:35 PM | View Comments (2) | Add Comments
Today Sean signed off on the designs that will soon adorn the BootBus. We are having some logos and signs printed up so that when people are cruising past us as we toil up the range at 50..45..40..35 mph, they'll have plenty of time to write down the URL and tell us where they saw us. Can't wait to see how it'll look. The Bus already turns a lot of heads with its classic lines and nice paint job. I'm sure it will attract a lot more attention once the logos are on.
Posted by Chris at 02:29 PM | View Comments (2) | Add Comments
During our weekend camping trip, the BootBus gamely made it to the top of the small mountain, belching a cloud of nasty smoke. After much speculation from Nick, Sean and I about what could be causing the smoke we decided to risk driving it the last half mile to the trailhead. The muffler had turned a bright white colour as if it had been painted. We made it back home the next day without incident but figured it might be time to get Tom back out to give the BootBus a tune-up. He came out yesterday and worked on it in the rainy/sunny weather that is Eugene in the Spring. He checked the valves, replaced some spark plugs, cleaned out and replaced the gearbox oil, and replaced some old gaskets that were causing an oil leak (and possibly all that smoke on the mountain). Tom also showed us how to change the fan belt. If that breaks and we continue to drive, we can ruin the engine within 5 miles. It's a pretty simple procedure that we can easily do ourselves which is handy since we'd likely be aways from a mechanic when it snapped. Already Sean thinks the Bus runs a little better. Just in time for another trip to California. Hopefully we can find time for a Giants game at Pac Bell Park.
Posted by Chris at 03:10 PM | View Comments (0) | Add Comments
We arrived back in Eugene around 4 p.m. yesterday. After, Chris, Nick and I unloaded the bus and started checking email, we all felt a bit strange. Our ears were ringing and we all felt a bit "buzzed". Chris and I learned a bit later that the muffler had fallen off the bus sometime in the last few hours of the trip - hence our ringing ears. We wonder if some carbon monoxide was slipping back into the bus, hence our buzz and Nick and I dozing off the last few hours of the trip. Tom the VW bus mechanic will check it out this week.
Posted by Sean at 02:04 PM | View Comments (0) | Add Comments
The life of a mobile mechanic demands a fast, reliable vehicle. Tom's ride has so much useful stuff in it we thought it was the new James Bond car. It is actually the text book 'garage on wheels'. 
Posted by Nick at 11:58 AM | View Comments (0) | Add Comments
Yippee the lights work!!! 
Posted by Nick at 11:35 AM | View Comments (0) | Add Comments
Got enough room down there Tom? Looks like you're getting pretty comfy. I know my mat will keep you warm but don't expect us to give you free rent down there, buddy.
Posted by Nick at 10:44 AM | View Comments (0) | Add Comments
Here goes Tom under the bus with the aid of my camping mat. Tom is a 'mobile mechanic' who travels to the car rather than have the customer bring it to him. He specializes in VW's and has a ton a experience. This is good because we couldn't tell a ball bearing from a fetzer valve.
Posted by Nick at 10:32 AM | View Comments (0) | Add Comments
Here's Tom the VW mechanic who came to our house to work on the bus. He's got my camping pad to lay on as its wet out and our drill hooked up through the window. Right now he's checking stuff out.  Updates on Tom's day will follow.
Posted by Nick at 10:30 AM | View Comments (0) | Add Comments
There are still quite a few things that need to be fixed on the BootBus before it is really ready for the road. 1 - Need the brake lights to work Well, I went to a shop today and they looked at it for 1/2 hour and told me to come back next week. That's cool. I just can't wait to fix this stuff. Any ideas?
Posted by Sean at 12:35 PM | View Comments (0) | Add Comments
Chris and I just got back from the mechanic because the BootBus was not starting if it sat for more than a day or two. Could it be the battery, we asked ourselves? Well, the Les Schwab bloke, "Chuck" tested her and the indicator said "Battery Dead" - we exchanged our snow chains that we never used for a new battery and the BootBus is starting like it was new in 1971. I am stoked.
Posted by Sean at 11:00 AM | View Comments (2) | Add Comments
Newly Painted Bootbus - Extra, Extra!
It's exciting to see the BootBus painted.
Posted by Sean at 03:41 PM | View Comments (0) | Add Comments
I'm getting pretty amped. After years of dreaming about it we finally have the BootBus and it is currently getting the dents out and being painted. Can't wait...
Posted by Sean at 03:00 PM | View Comments (0) | Add Comments
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