Date:         Thu, 8 Sep 2005 10:27:07 -0500
Reply-To:     Al and Sue Brase <albeeee@MCHSI.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Al and Sue Brase <albeeee@MCHSI.COM>
Subject:      Re: rattle INSIDE engine
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed

This is follow up from my inquiry last weekend. Jeff came up with that
answer that fit my problem, but responded via pmail.
I'm still quite puzzled as to what I did wrong to make the cam bearings
wear so quickly. (it's been making this noise for at least 40k miiles,
still bothers me though!)
Rattles don't usually self heal.
Kolbenschmidt bearings are a good idea. I used 2 sets of Glycos to get a
full thrust bearing..
I'll know more when I do an autopsy, but it's still running, so
hopefully not anytime soon!
Al Brase
Jerome bound!

-------- Original Message --------
Subject:        RE: rattle INSIDE engine
Date:   Mon, 5 Sep 2005 17:48:18 -0700
From:   Jeffrey Schwaia <jeff@vanagonparts.com>
To:     Al and Sue Brase <albeeee@mchsi.com>



Al,

I'm glad the mystery is solved, but it sucks that the bearing is worn out.
The thrust bearings may have worn prematurely due to the use of an unmatched
set of thrust bearings.  Just a slight difference in the machining of the
two thrust bearings you used could be the problem.

If you split the case, try using the Kolbenschmidt cam bearing set.  They
come with a full set of matched thrust bearings.

Feel free to share with the list.  I figured you'd get 18 other responses to
this problem and didn't want to clutter up the list any more than necessary.

Cheers,

Jeff
www.vanagonparts.com



-----Original Message-----
From: Al and Sue Brase [mailto:albeeee@mchsi.com]
Sent: Monday, September 05, 2005 5:13 PM
To: Jeffrey Schwaia
Subject: Re: rattle INSIDE engine


Bingo.
that's it. I can move the cam gear back and forth about 1/16" with a
screwdriver thru the distrib drive hole.
Come to think of it, it sounds like a similar noise in an old Ford 300
six I had in a cube van. Boys at the Ford dealer swore it was a rod. I
knew better. it went away with full load. Some old timer finally clued
me in. It made his day too. Unfortunately this ruins mine.(Not really-
nothing is changed but my knowledge! )
The thrust surfaces of the original bearings were shot, too. I bought 2
sets of Glyco cam bearings just to get a full set of thrust surfaces.
I think it wore away rather quickly. why would it do that? (60k mils on
it now.)
BTW, you did not respond thru the list. Do I have permission to cc the
list with this?
Thanks, Al Brase

Jeffrey Schwaia wrote:

>Al,
>
>Does the sound get less or go away at higher RPMs?  If so, you may have a
>worn out camshaft thrust bearing.  This is pretty common among VWs dating
>back to the '50s.  I've taken quite a few of these apart with just this
>problem.
>
>Cheers,
>
>Jeff
>www.vanagonparts.com
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
>Of Al Brase
>Sent: Monday, September 05, 2005 8:31 AM
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: rattle INSIDE engine
>
>
>I should have mentioned that I just checked that out. Spring, drive and one
>thrust washer all in place. What a PITA to get that drive out. (I never saw
>the need to buy one of those nice pullers, guess I still don't need one!)
>The drive is always easy to remove when the engine is on the assembly
stand-
>just roll it upside down! (with a rag over the hole to catch the thrust
>washer).
>There is some evidence of hammering between the top of the distributor hole
>in the crankcase and the distributor bracket. It is worn down there
slightly
>except for the split area in the bracket. Further leading me to believe
that
>this is near the source of my rattle.
>Al Brase
>
>
>
>
>
>