[VAC] Re: Airstream prejudice: AGE

[Dr. Gerald N. Johnson, electrical engineer]

Yes the overly filled tank would tend to pop the pressure relief valve
in the sun. But the dealer sold more gas and so got a higher bill paid.

It would probably be hard to prove after the Kaboom that the problem was
the tank was overfilled, though I've seen tanks turn themselves inside
out as the fire outside heated the tank. A couple years ago a couple
volunteer firemen in NW Iowa were killed by the end of a 1000 gallon
tank that blew because of a fire at a leak under the tank.

There are certain safety reasons (tanks and wheel bearings) why the RVr
should do his own work (unless totally incompetent) on the vintage
vehicle to be sure it is done right.

Failed wheel bearings are extremely easy to blame on getting water in
the bearing from fording too deep a stream and hard to prove that bad
packing was the cause of failure.

And wheel bearings do fail without being abused, just from metal fatigue
from the passing of the rollers over the inner and outer races. Years
ago the slight rocking while on a train from Detroit to California cause
a lot of premature wheel bearing failure.

Gerald J.



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