Date:         Sun, 15 Sep 2002 07:50:25 -0400
Reply-To:     "G. Matthew Bulley" <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "G. Matthew Bulley" <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
Organization: Bulley-Hewlett
Subject:      Re: I need help from my air-cool budy's, timing questions!!!
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2002091501013972@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

You are wise.

Adjusting the timing by "feeling" is a good way to overheat the motor,
or burn valves, or burn pistons.

First, set the dwell to spec. Next, get #1 to TDC by removing the spark
plug, and placing your pinkie finger in the spark plug hole. Roll the
motor over until you can feel the piston crown. If you have fat fingers,
use a tool.

Now check the timing scale. The white hash mark *should* be at 0 on the
scale, and there should be a line that aligns with the case seam.

Next, set the static timing by rolling the motor back to where the
timing mark aligns with the proper mark on the little plastic scale... I
think the 1.7 was 7.5 btdc, but I am not sure, VW has a myriad of timing
options on the Type 4 due to different cylinder heads, different
compression ratios, and different pistons (dished, flat, domed). CHECK
THE MANUAL. Once you have the fan set at the proper timing mark, turn on
the ignition (don't start the van though), and turn the distributor
COUNTERCLOCKWISE until you *just* hear the points fire. It is important
that you are turning counter clockwise when they fire, so if you miss
it, turn back clockwise, and start again until you get the point where
the points just fire.

Lock down the distributor. Start the van, and double-check the timing
with the light. 90% of the time it will be right on the money.

The vacuum line should run to the very back of the throttle body, and is
important; re-attach it. Drive. Smile.




Developing business and guiding change since 1996,

G. Matthew Bulley
Bulley-Hewlett
Marketing & Communications
Business: www.bulley-hewlett.com
AIM = IExplain4u
Phone: +1.919.658.1278


-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
Of Ben huot
Sent: Sunday, September 15, 2002 1:02 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: I need help from my air-cool budy's, timing questions!!!

I guys, well I know, it's a Vanagon mailing list but I know that many of
you folks have older Bus, so if a few of you could help me clarified my
strange timing problem I would appreciate a lot.

I have a strange timing problem!!! I need suggestions!!!!!!
The bus is a 73, engine is a 1700 (or 1800, not sure yet) with original
Solex 32-34

Here it goes (this is technical):

DWELL is 34deg at the most(It should be 44deg to 50deg!!!!!)
Gap of breaker point is .40mm  (It should be between .40mm/.50mm by
Bentley, mine's OK)
To have a DWELL reading of 44deg I would have to gap the point at about
.20mm (not tested yet, what do you think)

RPM is 900, well I try to have a stable 900/1000.

Timing with strobe light (new style that clip on the wire of #1
cylinder)
Reading so the van run's well: -24 (yes, minus) far from the + 10 I
should
read/have, the engine won't run at all a even 5, I can maintain 0 but It
doesn't like that at all (no power and bucking). When I try to turn the
distributor clockwise to go close to +10 (or I should say 0, the engine
feel offset and stall right away) I was running the van at -10 and the
engine wasn't running right, so I said to myself; of course!!! I am at
-10,
I need to go to 10, well not!!!!!! I need to go the other direction
(-25)
so the engine run's nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Strange stuff: The vacuum on the distributor can mushroom
(advance/tardiness) (the one on the left/flat side) is open (nothing on
it)
without any vacuum line attach to this one, the Bentley doesn't show
much!
The upper vacuum on the right side (round side of the mushroom) goes to
the
left side of the left carburetor near the butterfly, just over this one.
I have 2 exact distributor but with different part #, the original
one(if
original) was remove this morning to put the other one with new point.
Could the distributor be the problem, is the strobe gun the problem, is
the
white reading arc misplace, is the pulley offset (I don't think so), is
the
vacuum the problem.

Why am y so offset to the left (-24), this is a lot, something is wrong,
do
you have any suggestions, I would appreciate a lot gentlemen's.

The bus run's nice now but I don't like my reading, I adjusted the
distributor by "Feel" and sound until the engine run's smooth, I would
like
to ajust this one by "spec", not by "Feeling"

Best regards, Ben
huotx@videotron.ca
http://www3.sympatico.ca/huotx/engine1.htm