Correct heater tube for 71 bay

[jamesabell1978]

Hi all, can anyone tell me what the correct heater tube is for a 71 bay? In the Heritage bus catalogue it covers 72 on nothing before and there are multiple choices under beetles. also the originals look to have multiple parts, tube, metal sleeve, insulation sleeve, plastic cup each end yet the replacements seem simpler any advice.

Many thanks

 

[mike202]

I'm fairly sure this is the one you want. 70mm diameter. The later bays have a wider heater tube. I had to get one for my '70 Westy last year.

https://www.vwheritage.com/vw_spares_Heater-pipe-front-rear-70mm-56-72-Split-Early-Bay-211255785A_act_shop.product_pID_190624.htm?crumbStartPage=2&crumbStartRow=30" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

or these

http://www.justkampers.com/steel-heater-tube-127cm-x-7cm-for-early-vw-t2-bay-1968-1971.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.customandcommercial.com/vw-baywindow/repair_panels/chassis--and--underside_parts/correct_fit_heater_tube_70mm_55-72_5023/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[jamesabell1978]

Thanks Mike but this is the flexible tubes between HE and the steel tube at the back of the engine, did you also replace those?

 

[mike202]

Oh right, you are talking about the concertina pipes at the front of the HX's I think.



Some of the new ones are smaller in diameter than the OG ones. I refurbed mine in the end. I did see some at the Alan Schofield stand at Busfest and they looked like the OG ones. It's difficult to tell from the various website pictures what the true size is.

Any way the new slimmer ones would fit although there is some concern about them melting (!) as you can't fit them with the rubber and metal collar that the OG ones come with. I'm not sure how real the problem is, I've only read one report about them melting. As I say in the end I refurbed mine and just used the rubber collars and all working fine.

 

[chad]

I ended up buying a three(!) sets as the ones that supposedly fitted my 1600SP didn't.

One of the pairs seemed to be made out of the same sort of plastic as washing up bottles and just had a load of loose stuff, like rockwool, inside it.
At £30 each I think they were taking the P***

In the end the JK Preservation Parts ones fitted and seemed OK.

 

[trebor]

I have the original ones on mine but part of the inside insulation is collapsing, the ends that attach to metal pipe are larger due to a heat resistant fiber collar to keep plastic away from metal.

 

[jamesabell1978]

Thanks all, mine are original but are also breaking up and very shabby so was thinking of replacing with new but there seems little like the original, will take a look at the JK preservation ones.