Setting the timing

Ok, so the fumes from the petrol tank was a knackered hose and the exhaust was loose! All sorted now.

Just a couple of holes in the body in front of the petrol tank to sort now and the I should be fume free!

I fitted a Solex 34 pict 4 and had it set up, the problem is its running terrible!

The mechanic says he knew the 1600 air cooled inside out and timed it by ear, does anyone know what bit of kit I need to sort the timing and where I an get it from, I'm in West Lothian.

Also, is it easy to do? I can't find anyone locally so am going to tackle it myself.

Thanks for all your help so far

 

A timing light, nothing fancy needed.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GUNSONS-T...iagnostic_Tools_Equipment&hash=item1c304dd9a1

 

you need a timing gun/strobe light

And you can't time them by ear you can ball park them, but timing by ear just isn't possible!!

 

Thanks, I just bought a timing gun/light off ebay.

Are they idiot proof, this will be my first time trying to set the timing!

 

Don't know if they are the same but I timed my beetle today with a voltmeter. Got the engine to tdc then rotated it to 7.5 degrees. Made sure the distributer arm was pointing at cylinder 1 (trace the ht lead to furthest right spark plug). Turned the ignition on. Removed the distributer cap, put the voltmeter positive on coil(the side that the distributer is connected to, not the battery) earthed the other one. The slackened the distributer off and turned counter clockwise till I got a reading. Worked a bloody treat

 

And so it does. I do that all the time, but it's wise to check full advance too which you can't do with a multi-meter.

 

What is full advance when it's at home?!?

 

That's how I was told and she's running sweet!

 

The advance the distributor gets to when you're actually driving rather than ticking over. disconnect the vac hose from distributor, stick finger over end of hose, increase revs watching the light/mark. 30 degs for a T1 engine, but there won't be a mark on the pulley so you need to add one, it's 46mm round from TDC. You shouldn't need to do this, but distributors are often old/rubbish aftermarket so it's worth checking. 30 degs advance is reached around 3000 revs so represents cruising speed. This is where the damage would be done so it's more important than the unstressed tickover reading.

 

Good old zed and his endless VW knowledge.

 

or you buy a slightly more expensive timing light that has a settable advance on it, and use the TDC mark on the pulley!!

 

I'm old-fashioned.

 

I know that

But that said I've had my timing light for over 15 years, does dwell, high and low rpm, and adjustable timing strobe

 

I've had mine for no time at all, it was £15 and flashes.

 

Timing light fiiiiiiight!

 

Mine brings me brandy and cigars after dinner and puts itself away without getting tangled up.

 

i asked my snap on dealer if he still sold the snap on adjustable timing lights a couple of weeks ago.....he laughed at me so i guess i`ll go back to setting em up by ear

 

Pretty cheap n cheerful!!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AccuSpark...iagnostic_Tools_Equipment&hash=item2a1280e6c6

Snap-on
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Snap-On-M...iagnostic_Tools_Equipment&hash=item43b8f874bf

 

thats the fella i was after.apparently no longer available from snap on.used to have one many moons ago but long since vanished along with my mini clutch puller & cortina void bush tool

 

like plenty of peoples snap on tools!!