dot dot is dead

(got my class-a, i'm a trucker now)

Labels: unimog

Labels: unimog

Labels: unimog

Took various photos, like the steering box leaks:



The throttle assembly (lots of rust there):



Installed driver-side lap belt.

Labels: unimog

The New York Department of Transportation website has a page on parking commercial vehicles, which it summarizes:

For the purposes of parking, standing and stopping rules, a vehicle shall not be deemed a commercial vehicle or a truck unless:

• It bears commercial plates; and
• It is permanently altered by having all seats and seat fittings, except the front seats, removed to facilitate the transportation of property, except that for vehicles designed with a passenger cab and a cargo area separated by a partition, the seating capacity within the cab shall not be considered in determining whether the vehicle is properly altered; and
  
• It displays the registrant's name and address permanently affixed in characters at least three inches high on both sides of the vehicle, with such display being in a color contrasting with that of the vehicle and placed approximately midway vertically on doors or side panels.

For the purposes other than parking, stopping and standing rules, a vehicle designed, maintained, or used primarily for the transportation of property or for the provision of commercial services and bearing commercial plates is considered a commercial vehicle

The actual text of TRAFFIC RULES (Title 34 Chapter 4, Rules of the City of New York), about signs:

(k) Special rules for commercial vehicles

(1) Parking of unaltered commercial vehicles prohibited. No person shall stand or park a vehicle with commercial plates in any location unless it has been permanently altered with all seats and rear seat fittings, except the front seats, removed except that for vehicles designed with a passenger cab and a cargo area separated by a partition, the seating capacity within the cab shall not be considered in determining whether the vehicle is properly altered, and has the name and address of the owner as shown on the registration certificate plainly marked on both sides of the vehicle in letters and numerals not less than three inches in height, in compliance with Section 10-127 of the Administrative Code and is also in compliance with paragraph (i) of the definition of commercial vehicle as set forth in section 4-01 of these rules.

(Cost: two "Unaltered Comm Vehicle (k)(1)" tickets $230)

Labels: unimog

(registered & insured, emissions-tested & safety-inspected)

Labels: unimog

(with Izzy Mazzy Motors)

Labels: unimog

Note: Hood Emblem Missing

(with VAT-added repairs in Ravensburg, via the Mignon at Bremerhaven, via Port of NY/NJ)

Labels: unimog

I spent a weekend disassembling and reassembling the front suspension, for the third time.

To get to the torsion bars: remove wheels, separate tie-rod ends, separate calipers from steering knuckles (do not disconnect brake lines), and unbolt dampers from lower arms. You can remove the entire brake-disk, steering-knuckle, ball-joint assembly, with the help of a floor jack by supporting the arm to release pressure on the ball-joint bolt.

WANTED: Peiseler VW 261 angle adjustment tool

I found the Peiseler VW 261 tool on thesamba.com for $200 in good condition. This is a tool that has several uses throughout the car, primarily among them adjusting the front and rear torsion bars to set vehicle ride height.

TODO: Get a torch, to free the torsion rods from the torsion arms.

The torsion arm and torsion bar had rusted together, which is why I couldn't finish the job last time. The torch handled one arm. The second arm, my buddy Darren's 5-ton press had met its match, it ended with twisted metal and a loud pop. And at last, I could apply my Peiseler VW 261.

TODO: Set front ride-height

Adjusted steering box and re-torqued all steering bolts.

Adjusted wheel bearing play.

Passed safety inspection.

(original post, 11 hours)

Labels: volkswagen

Meets standards for licensing? No.

APPLICANT TOOK UP TWO LANES WHILE STRAIGHT DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. INSTRUCTOR FORCED TO ACT.