The cruise control system is totally mechanical. This part is the resume solenoid. I could have taken it apart, but it is a sealed unit and should be OK inside. I used my handy-dandy battery eliminator to test the solenoid and it clicked nicely and the vacuum could be detected going on and off.
I tested the main assembly with a drill and a stub end from a speedo cable. I was able to test the low speed cutoff switch this way. I tested the on switch (solenoid showing on the bottom of the unit) by grounding the unit and then putting 12 volts to the hold terminal on the top of the unit. All worked good. I used a bit of Jig-a-low lubricant on the solenoid shafts to make the solenoid shaft move smoothly without leaving a oily residue – the stuff is sold for lubricating vinyl windows.
Back to the motor. time to remove the front drive pulley and harmonic dampner. I used my impact wrench to get the crankshaft end nut and washer off – using hand tools is hard as you need to hold the engine from turning. I also used the air tool to get the pulley off and again to spin the puller to take off the harmonic dampner.
Lots of red sealant around the crank so I expect there was an oil leakage problem. I’ll be replacing the timing chain and sprockets and putting in a new crank seal in the cover at the same time.
Next: engine cleanup and exhaust manifold removal.