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Date:         Mon, 4 Jun 2012 18:33:41 +0000
Reply-To:     Skip <skiplaubach@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Skip <skiplaubach@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Possible Distributor Drive Shaft issue - Timing
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

1984 WBXR 1.9L (now 2.2 in a 1.9 case) just back from the machine shop. They installed the new innards and installed the distributor drive shaft...maybe incorrectly. Need help please.

I finished the engine install yesterday and she started. I idled at about 2k rpms for about 20 minutes total (off and on). Then I took her for a ride (intending to break in the rings) and it was bucking in 1st and 2nd so I drove her back to my garage (home). I'm following Tencent's recommendation (samba search) for breaking in a renewed engine.

Upon close examination of the dizzy drive shaft, the "smaller half circle" is 90 degrees away (smaller half circle points toward front of van) from pointing to the water pump (Bentley spec) at TDC. So, I figure that is the cause for bucking (timing way off). Perhaps my machinist did not place the distributor drive shaft in correctly? So I searched thesamba and found this thread.

I took some samba advice and used a wood dowel (1/4") to lift the dizzy drive shaft 1/2 to 3/4" in order to turn the dizzy drive shaft 90 degrees leftward (counterclockwise). It wouldn't turn once I had it raised. I discovered, though, that I could turn the pulley without having the dizzy drive shaft turn when raised enough.

So, I thought, why not move the pulley 90 degrees, push the dizzy drive shaft in, then turn the pulley back to TDC and Bob's your uncle. Not so. I couldn't get the dizzy drive shaft to drop back down into the drive shaft gears while the pulley was 90 degrees ATDC. Maybe I didn't wiggle it enough? Or maybe there's a reason it wouldn't drop?

I'm back to square 1 with the dizzy in place, but off by 90 degrees. ...is this explained clearly enough?

Help please?! _________________ Skip 1984 Westy 1.9 WBXR Manual Since 26 July 2011


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