After much trial and tribulation I ended up finding outmy problem with the
hard start on an 85 Westfalia. IF you remember correctly after replacing my
fuel pump and filter and fuel lines underneath I had experienced some
problems trying to start the vehicle. I ended up taking off the distributer
cap thinking that perhaps moistuer had accumulated there and sprayed down
with wd-40 to displace any water (geeze if that did not fix another problem
wohoo!!; it fixed the problem that I had with a complete power drop in the
motor as if it where cutting out). This though did not fix the problem.
HMMM?? THe next morning before a trip Going around the vehicle just making
sure everything seemed mechanically fine I smelled a strong gas smell.. Oops
checking under the vehicle and seeing that a puddle of gas had accumulated
underneath.. Ekk I must have not tightened up one of the clamps on the fuel
filter enough. Well after reagusting the fuel hose and clamp it still
leaked. Ended up pullng off filter and putting back on old one. Wallaaa the
new fuel fitler was cracked hence my problem of starting. The problem was
that since my filter was before the pump that it had to reprime the pump
every time I would restart. After this there is no need to reprim the pump.
So now on to the leaking power steering rack..

Thanks for all of the suggestions and help..

Namaste
Stephen Fry
85 Westy