Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2012 19:27:25 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Possible Distributor Drive Shaft issue - Timing
In-Reply-To: <1872132506.1183280.1338834821343.JavaMail.root@sz0094a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net>
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At the risk of sounding "Snarkly" ( I love that new word), you should be able to confirm the ignition timing with a timing light. There is a procedure to follow. You also need to test both the vacuum advance, retard, and mechanical advance.
Now for resetting of the distributor drive gear you gotta know what you're doing. This is one or more shims underneath that act as both a bearing and spacer. Lifting the gear will make them slide or move. They will not clear the crankshaft gear. For re-installing they need to be set in place with some grease to hold them. The engine should never be turned clockwise with the dizzy out lest the rotation lifts the drive. I have seen a number of crank gears destroyed by folks not knowing how this works. Replacement requires full tear down. If you were off by 90 degrees the wires could be rotated to compensate but it would not run at all.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Skip
Sent: Monday, June 04, 2012 2:34 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Possible Distributor Drive Shaft issue - Timing
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
