|
Post by riffraff on Apr 13, 2007 22:08:57 GMT -5
Hey Brothers I have been screwing about with the oval since das Volks last year and I can't get it to run right. This is embarrassing, but this is the story. I was scheduled to drag race Andrew in his 60 Beetle. Both of us are 36horse split case 6V. I decide the day before the race to fine tune the oval so I can break 25 seconds in the 1/4 mile. I adjusted the valves and set the points. Ever since then, I have not been able to get it to run smooth at an idle. It pulls fine, runs good on the highway, but it has a really choppy idle now and it is a real bear to start. It used to purrr at an idle and fire up like a youngster. I took the carb off and cleaned it out, attached a new vacuum advance line, set the valves(Exhaust at 0.006, intake at 0.004) and the points (0.016) again today and -- no difference. What could I possibly have done - and more importantly - what can I do now to get my sweet running oval back???
|
|
|
Post by commercialair on Apr 13, 2007 22:14:35 GMT -5
I was sure it would be fixed with the new vacuum line. Condensor? Bad points? plugs? I love virtual diagnosis...it's so accurate! ;D Chris
|
|
|
Post by Mowser on Apr 13, 2007 22:34:08 GMT -5
I'm gonna state the obvious but that's where I usually find my problems. How about the Cap and rotor? Coil giving off good spark? Try a different main coil lead to the dizzy. Could it be just a simple spark plug wire or spark plug.(I'm leaning toward the main coil wire) Did you adjust the timing at all when you were doing the "fine tuning"?
Did you replace the points when you did the fine tuning or just readjust them? If you replaced them at that time I would try a different set. From what you've done I can't see what could have been caused by it. Also was the change immediate or after you drove it for a bit that it started the stutter at idle?
Again I know this is all the obvious stuff but it's where I would start if it were my "sweet running oval"
|
|
|
Post by rareair on Apr 13, 2007 23:11:52 GMT -5
I'm pretty sure it's getting back at you for offering the old girl up on the auction block. You know these things have souls right!? ;D
|
|
|
Post by riffraff on Apr 14, 2007 0:03:52 GMT -5
I think I will have to change out the ignition components. I hate doing that - changing things out hoping to hit on the problem. There doesn't seem to be any way to definitively test these components though. I didn't change anything when I fine tuned - that is the weird thing about it, but the change was instant. It was tough to start and would not idle. Really acted like a vacuum leak. I was going to rebuild the carb, but anytime I touch a carb, it runs worse, I have to let other people touch my carbs. The spark seems kinda yellow rather than blue, so I guess I'll have to start throwing money at misc components and hope to hit on the bad one. I know a bad condenser will cause an engine to run good at idle, but not rev up. Shallow point gap makes for hard starts. How does a weak coil manifest itself? Should I change out coil, cap, rotor, points, wires and plugs and lay down a prayer that one of those is bad? This really sucks - I have three ancient air cooled and none to drive. The 2L for the 15 window is half built. The boat anchor that was in the 15 needs to be torn down to see why it costantly ate valve adjusting studs, the Mango is months away from pavement and my faithful oval is acting up. Evidently the air cooled Gods require me to continue to sacrifice an endless stream of hundred dollar bills to them.
|
|
|
Post by Milkman on Apr 14, 2007 0:18:22 GMT -5
I think you are on the right path with the yellow spark Keith. Change the coil out 1st, that would be the 1st thing I would try. As long as your points are not arcing the condenser should be fine. As for the points, I would just file & re-gap them. It sounds like you have a weak coil to me. Might be a good time to check the cap for any cracks or carbon tracing though too.
|
|
|
Post by Mowser on Apr 14, 2007 1:08:02 GMT -5
I'm with Milkman on this one. In order of what I'd check, cap,rotor, coil wire, coil. I'm sure one of the other motors you have will have a coil wire on it so I'd actually try that first. I say this cause you would have removed the cap and rotor to "fine tune" If there was a problem with either the cap/ rotor, or the wire then it could have started by being disturbed. The coil is last on my list simply cause you wouldn't have touched it at all when doing the tuning.
|
|
|
Post by commercialair on Apr 14, 2007 9:00:51 GMT -5
Ignition is the fault 90% of the time with 6 volt....the other 10% is usually me. I keep a cap, rotor, points, plug wires, and plugs in my tune-up kit at all times. I'm with the above posts on order of check up. If you don't have bright spark then it's your coil or coil wire. Also, check and regap your plugs and use that cool MAC dwell meter to set your points. When you have the cap off make sure to check all the conections to the points are clean and that the rub block hasn't worn out. Good luck Keith! It will be running like it should soon. You're just keeping the gremlins busy for awhile, just like last year. Chris
|
|
|
Post by riffraff on Apr 14, 2007 9:53:13 GMT -5
Thanks for all the suggestions I don't know when the cap was last changed, so I think I will change out the cap and rotor - hell, for the extra couple of bucks , I may as well install a fresh set of points. I have a spare 6V coil and spare wires I can put on to check. It's just odd that it still runs like a champ when driving. It will still pull 70 MPH with no trouble, it's just a rough, erratic idle and hard starts that plauge it. I am going to give it a new battery as a peace offering as well.
|
|
|
Post by Mowser on Apr 14, 2007 12:34:36 GMT -5
I'd still do them one at a time just so you can find the problem spot. That way you'll still have spares that you won't doubt.
Also if he's keeping the gremlins busy and gets his 36er fixed up where will they go next? Hmmmmm now that I think about it perhaps you should just live with the problem. I hear those engines were always like that. ;D
|
|
|
Post by riffraff on Apr 14, 2007 12:49:17 GMT -5
I don't think I'll have a problem keeping the Gremlins occupied for a while. I have the 2L and the boat anchor to build, and a 1776 when I get a case. I have a good base for a 1600 single port to build and put on the shelf as a spare and I want to rebuild the original 40 horse that was in the 15 as well. I have noticed some burned wiring under the dash of the Mango ,so I think the little brutes will be busy around here for a while. Take this opportunity to fine tune your rigs boys, I WLL NOT keep these guys here indefinitely.
|
|
|
Post by Milkman on Apr 14, 2007 13:02:29 GMT -5
I think the your little Gremlins must have some cousins living in my '60! Once one weird problem is repaired they seem to move to a new area.
|
|
|
Post by Mowser on Apr 14, 2007 15:27:30 GMT -5
There is a guy on the ASF that has had too many buses over the years (Chris aka vwboop) The first thing he does when he acquires a new type 2 is replace the wiring harness. Seems to be the way to go and really not a bad idea anyways.
Just to keep with gremlin thread I've got my own. Although I think it's an easy fix the reverse lights on my Riv aren't working. As it sits the problem looks to be the switch on the tranny.
All that keeps coming to mind is "why did it have to be a '67 as any other year wouldn't have them. Damn that inspection. Do you really have to remove the tranny to replace the switch?
|
|
|
Post by karmann57 on Apr 14, 2007 22:14:46 GMT -5
Hey Keith, I'm jumping in on this a little late, but you wouldn't want my advice anyway considering I may still be cursed by the 36hp gods. After a full year of trying to get the original engine in the Ghia to run I gave up and threw in a "cleaned up" spare, only for it to grenade on me on our way into the european show last year. That being said if you need any tune-up parts right away I'm all stocked up! Doubles and triples even. Shane PS - I didn't get the memo you still have the oval, but it's good to hear. ;D
|
|
|
Post by riffraff on Apr 14, 2007 22:20:48 GMT -5
Thanks Shane,i just got some tune up parts for it, but if you are overstocked, I don't mind having one set of spares. I am hoping that simple ignition component changeout will cure it, but I have a nasty premonition .... Yeah, I still have the oval, Buddy was supposed to deliver a deposit for it three months ago, but he's AWOL. Probably a good thing, I think he did me a favour actually (as long as I can figure out this erratic idle issue )
|
|