Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (August 2003, week 4)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Mon, 25 Aug 2003 22:38:44 -0400
Reply-To:     David Brodbeck <gull@GULL.US>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Brodbeck <gull@GULL.US>
Subject:      Re: static timing help!
Comments: To: Paul Wies <Simplstupd@AOL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <10c.288874c9.2c7c181a@aol.com>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

On Mon, 25 Aug 2003, Paul Wies wrote:

> 82 Vanagon with original type distributor and Weber carb. > > According to St. Muir air cooled engines should be timed using the static > timing method.

First off, I'm going to express a slightly controversial opinion.

Muir was very good at writing practical, non-intimidating mechanic's guides. His books got me started. The thing is, he was also a bit of a luddite. Static timing is common on diesels but gasoline engines are best timed with a strobe light. They're not very expensive these days. The specs in the shop manuals for later model engines (after the mid-60's) assume you're using a strobe; they're not correct for static timing. I, and most other people, will recommend that you use a strobe and a dwell meter to set up your distributor.

> This keeps occurring. If I set the timing, then start it, and then re-check > it, the timing is off. > > What gives?

I'm not sure but I'm guessing it has to do with the gear lash in the distributor drive, which is a lot more apparent when you're turning the engine over by hand. Try checking the timing with a strobe, with the engine idling, and see what happens. If the timing mark dances around a lot you may have a worn distributor. Oh, and remember to disconnect the vaccuum line to the carb and plug it first, to temporarily disable the vaccuum advance (unless the shop manual says otherwise, the last gasoline VW I timed was a '75.)

David Brodbeck, N8SRE '82 Diesel Westfalia '94 Honda Civic Si


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.