Hi all, I've had a look through a few old threads, but can't find the answer I'm looking for in a non-technical language I can understand, so forgive me please if this has been covered a hundred times before.... For anyone who heard my van running at this last Techenders in August, you'll know that my engine idles... er, well to put it politely, rather rough.... thank you to @vanorak for having a look, and @volkswombat, @Bertie the Bus, et al for chipping in too .....so today I dropped it off with my local garage (volkswagen enthusiast and owner, rather than specialist, but he's a good bloke and I trust him) to get a few things like valve clearances done, and carburettor set up etc. He's got to check and adjust the timing tomorrow having done all the other bits, but apparently it's still not running great, and he is thinking that perhaps the distributor is on the way out and needs replacing. In fairness, the age of most of my van's replaceable parts is unknown as the previous owner shuffled off without thinking to leave a list of what needed doing, so I'm gradually working my way through the obvious ones, and replacing the bog standard dizzy with a vacuum advance one is on my list. So it's no biggy if it does require replacement. (Coil as well too I guess would be a good one?) But what should I go for? I'm not after high performance and great speed. Just reliability and a nice drive. I have a completely standard Type 1 1600 twin port, single carb, with nothing fancy done to it that I know of. I've looked at the Just Kampers website, along with C&C and VWH, and Vac Advance dizzys seem to start at £55 for a 'standard' brand, and then it goes up from there. (The cheap ones all seem to be out of stock at the mo too) Are the £55 ones any good, or should I be looking higher? So anyhow, after the long and probably unnecessary rambling, if anyone has any recommendations I would be most appreciative (brand of dizzy and preferential supplier would be cracking) Thank you
I’ve used an Accuspark electronic vacuum advance for several years now without any problems, however, I threw away the rotor arm and distributor cap and replaced them with Bosch items, the coil is Bosch too. http://www.accuspark.co.uk/
I've been watching this one on eBay recommended from another thread I think:- http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=111748694305 However it is well down my list of things to do/purchase!
Don't think vanorak found an air leak did he? I'd say the carb was at fault, there was no adjustment in it ....... What carb is it?
I thought the correct way was 1. set valves when totally cold 2.set ignition timing with strobe light(points) 3. adjust carb if needed................... you may not get it running great if your messing with the carbs before setting timing bog standard dizzy was vac advance and 009 non vac are not standard(I have 009 non vac on mine aswell)
If 009 is the most basic standard type, then yes. Valve clearances have been sorted, carb set up, just needs timing done tomorrow. Hopefully this might do it, but Jim the mechanic is concerned it's more than just timing now. I trust him not to rip me off with unnecessary stuff, and he has his own late bay so should know his onions I hope. Don't think vanorak found any air leaks; not sure what the carb is (basic JK I think, will hunt out the invoice)
009 wasn't standard but a common replacement. Does yours have a little silver/grey flying saucer on side of dizzy?? I'd just be concerned that the carb was not responding at all to adjustment.....
Ah okay. In fairness our conversation was a bit garbled as I was in the post office and signal wasn't great, he said he'd done the cable I wanted replacing ( clutch kit) and tappits and that he needed to do the timing tomorrow. My mistake I think assuming carb was done. Definitely not a vac advance dizzy on there already though. I really do need to start learning some basic engine stuff, if nothing else so I can explain myself a bit better on here!!!
I didn't buy it, but I know the carb came from JK when it was replaced back in May so I think it must be their 'alternative quality 34 Pict 3 Carburettor'. I think the general feeling was to get the valve clearances sorted and maybe the adjustment on the carb would be more effective, but you're right - there wasn't any at the time at Techenders. I'll speak to Jim again tomorrow when he's had time to do the timing etc. Thank you.
if you do go for the accuspark, change the cap and rotor arm, the one that they sent out to me where made out of dairylea triangles and the rotor arm bunt out after about 500 miles !!! the unit its self seems to be running fine so far
Im running a 009 on our 1641; covered 1700 miles since March with no complaints at all. Starts when it should, revs as it should, drives as it should
It would be even better with a SVDA distributor; start when it should, rev as it should, drive as it should and use less fuel than you do now.
My engine has a 009 which i only drove briefly before the big strip down to start a resto, just wondered why people fit them if they are worse than a vacuum one? It started on the button but when driving it bogged down at low revs to the point where you thought it would stall and then it would pick up. I'm going to change mine to svda when i refresh the engine following advice on here but i'm curious.
TBH I aint that bothered, the 1641 is going in favour of a 1911 type 4 with a fully rebuilt Bosch SVDA dizzy (Bosch 0231 168 005 SVDA, VW p/n 021-905-205/P) The type 4 will be rolling road tuned once we have a 'box & have installed it
Phoned the garage and apparently the camper is running much better and good to go - no need to replace the distributor immediately, but I gather from this thread that an SVDA one such as the Powerspark is probably the way to go when I do. Replacing the cap and the rotor arm being recommendations. Wonderful. Thank you all muchly
