A Bypass to Re-establish Vacuum Functionality

 For quite a while now, there'd been something preventing the flow of Air Conditioning through the dashboard vents.  AC would only flow from the defrost vents at the base of the windshield!

We put up with it since things were eventually cool enough during driving periods but now that warmer weather is on the way, it was time to figure it out.

I'd replaced the blower motor some time ago, no joy.  Then it occurred to me that it might be an actuator problem instead.  The VRRV, uses vacuum to turn on actuators which pull spring-loaded levers that open/close appropriate vent doors to provide functions such as AC air, defrost, floor air and vent as required.  (see video for actuators)

I found the below YouTube video which enabled me to fix the issue (I should have begun the troubleshooting here).  I bypassed the vacuum canister and now I have working AC vents and the other functions work as well.  More testing to follow since I only tested with the engine idling but I have high hopes.

In a conversation with RichardM, he confirmed bypassing the vacuum canister should be OK, its function is to maintain vacuum pressure levels when the engine is under heavy loads.  Time will tell with the VRRV.

The vacuum hose I needed was 5/32" ID (Inner Diameter).  I got six feet of it at the Pecos, TX AutoZone store today (I guessed at the diameter, should have actually taken the connector fitting on the VRRV with me but forgot). Cost $12.

I tested before threading the bypass hose and it worked!  Eureka.  I then ran the hose as described in the video.  Then I used a suitably trimmed drywall screw plastic anchor to join up the tube that used to connect to the vacuum canister and the bypass hose:

In the above pic, the hose on the left is the bypass hose with the drywall anchor.  The right hose I pulled off the vacuum canister (luckily, nothing had to be removed to get it to come loose!).  The object at the end of the hose is a check valve to prevent vacuum from back feeding I think.

Of course, given my meager skills with tools and troubleshooting, this took all morning and part of the afternoon as well since I tried several things to get to the current condition.  I also used the CR-V to drive the 25 miles or so to Pecos, TX where the Autozone was located.

Now I only have to return the vacuum pump I thought was correct for the VRRV (it wasn't) via Amazon.

Though a bit windy at times, the sun's warmth led to temperatures in the low 80s for this area.  Nice.

Now Boondocking near Toyah, TX

Martha flew home today out of the Midland airport.  She'll be rejoining me in April I think.

We visited a historical landmark before going to the airport, the home of George H. W. Bush and his family when they lived in Midland, TX.

This was actually the second of three homes they lived in while in the Midland area.

It's a small house, hence a small museum.  The furniture wasn't the actual stuff owned by the Bush family but similar based on recollections by Barbara Bush.

Nothing really exciting about this museum, but I found it interesting to read the numerous information signs and view the family photos.  This house was during the initial phase of George H. W. Bush's life in the oil industry.  

Check out the TV set!

Martha remarked that it looked like her grandma's kitchen

George W's room as a young boy.

A party line phone, used by the Bush family

The renovated house

Interesting museum, doesn't take long and we do recommend it if you're in the Midland, TX area.

I returned to the Sandhills SP and packed up the VRRV and attached the CR-V, leaving for points west.  While stopped for gas for the VRRV ten miles down the road, realized I'd forgotten the surge protector for the RV and had to return for it!

So, after losing about an hour, still made it to tonight's destination south of Toyah, TX.  It's land that belongs to a ROTC/College friend of mine who bought it as an investment years ago.

Not much out here but oil field equipment nearby and fence lines for ranches.

Jerry W., the land owner, lives in Washington so it's just me here tonight on his land.

A Repair, a Dam and A Museum Day in Waco, TX

Yesterday, February 25 was a day spent on repairing a broken spare tire carrier on the VRRV.

Shortly after arrival at Long Branch, TX, I discovered that the metal bracket supporting the spare tire on the VRRV had cracked!  We were very fortunate in that it held together enough for me to find the issue after we stopped for the day!

I had originally thought to simply order a replacement from Amazon but when we got to the Lofer West COE campground, it occurred to me I could just use the remaining porting of the tire carrier's support bracket.

The spare tire rides a bit below the VRRV's bumper but still clears every thing just fine.  We'll see how long the above setup lasts. 

We checked out the nearby dam by CR-V first but I returned later with Yagi, my TW200 for a proper picture:

Wandering around the campground:

This Cardinal kept attacking his reflection in the CR-V's mirror, the glass window and even his reflection on the VRRV's front bumper!

This dogwood pic is for LoriZ

Monday, February 26

The campground pretty much emptied out over the course of Sunday, and we found ourselves with just one neighboring rig on Monday.  It was great as the campground had been pretty full over the weekend.

We drove into nearby Waco, first checking out the Texas Ranger Museum and Hall of Fame:

If you like guns, this museum should satiate your desire to see such items for quite a while:

The iconic Texas Ranger Star/Badge.  Initially, it turns out, most Rangers didn't wear a badge as their authority stemmed from a document they carried, not the badge itself.   Rangers usually had to buy a badge out of their own pocket.

Ranger weapons through the years:

The Ranger Code:

A rather surprising find by me, can't imagine it being allowed to be in use these days!

The "Hollywood" version of a Ranger:

Stephen F. Austin, Father of the Texas Rangers

The Rangers had to supply their own mounts,

but the state supplied the trailer and auto.

Engraved Guns

I wished they'd concentrated or shown more of the historic stuff, besides guns that is.  Still, pretty good museum.  The Hall of Fame had lots of photos/memorabilia and of course guns/badges belonging to famed Texas Rangers but having no real connection to said personages, I didn't "connect" as much.

After the Texas Rangers, it was a tour of the Doctor Pepper Museum.  Not bad, but we didn't find it well organized.  It was a bit of a mish mash.  I didn't take many pictures, there was a lot of plain old advertisements and collections of bottles and such that I didn't find too interesting.

The museum as it looks today

The old Artesian well that used to provide

water for the Dr. Pepper factory.

Display which produced a cacophony of voices when

more than one was enabled.  I didn't linger here long.

Some historic photos of the building, showing it from the age of Horses and Wagons, to Cars and Trucks.

Today's token moto-content.

After the Dr. Pepper museum, it was time for Martha to check out the Magnolia Silos; apparently something from a popular HGTV show.

Last, we drove to the Waco Mammoth National Monument to check out the bones of the Columbian Mammoth discovered there on what used to be farmland.

It's a guided tour since the remains are locked up in a protective building to keep them out of the elements.  

The mural is to give you an idea of the size

of one of these mammoths.  It's an artist's idea, they

really have no clue as to coloration and such.

At this point, we were museum'ed out and returned to the campsite to rest away the rest of the afternoon.  It turned out to be a sunny and hot day, with highs in the mid to high 80s!

I can't really say I'd return to any of the above destinations in Waco, TX.  They were OK but that's about it.

Camping at the Lofer West Park COE Campground

We left Long Branch, TX this morning and headed west, bypassing the Dallas/Ft Worth Metro areas to the south and setting up camp at a Corps of Engineers campground on Lake Whitney, TX.

Before we got to the campground however, we made a stop in Hillsboro, TX to check out the Roadside America Museum.  Not connected to the roadsideamerica.com website which provides a directory of roadside attractions; this museum has been called a "hidden gem".  

It's basically the owner's hobby/passion of collecting what I would call "Americana" that one could find in traveling around the states back in the late 1950's and 60's.

The museum boasts the largest collection of Grapette memorabilia, apparently a favorite drink of the owner when he was a youngster.

See how many of the memorabilia awaken memories for you:

I found the hotdog a bit troubling

You could wear the Mr Peanut costume...

An old soda fountain

token moto content

Alvin and the Chipmunks

Yep, that's a real coffin...

We got to the campground and checked into our site with no issues.  We rested and relaxed the rest of the afternoon away.

Sunset was pretty good.