I am a bit of a mechanical numbty but am trying to learn and fix at the same time.
Firstly my van is a 1982 Aircooled twin carb CU 2.0ltr Danbury high top.
Firstly my initial problems occured when I tried using the van after it had been sitting on the drive for a week (usually used daily) with a cover over. It was fine when left on Sunday but I went to start it on Friday and it struggled to get it going, it seemed to want high revs in any gear to keep it going otherwise it would stall.
This continued on a 90 mile drive to parents home, seemed ok cruising but after stopping it was a struggle to get going again. I checked to see if brakes were stuck on and they weren't hot. I then drove it to a local vw Aircooled mechanic the next day and the problem was there but not as bad (typical!). He said there was a number of things that were wrong; v belt loose, air intake into right hand air balance pipe and a venturi screw missing and the throttle linkage was loose. He then said the timing would need setting.
A new belt is fitted, venturi screw in (but from what I've read these shouldn't be touched so I just screwed it completely in), new air pipe.
I then went about adjusting the carbs myself and couldn't get anywhere and I have no timing equipment so put it into a local garage (Ipswich) and got the timing sorted and bent the bracket for the throttle linkage to stop it moving too much. Apparently the haynes factory setting was undrivable but he tuned it to what he thought was ok, he drove it and said he thought it drives fine. I have driven it and it feels down on power and still kanagaroos slightly. It smells rich and has some white smoke on start up.
I keep reading posts and it seems my problems are generic and it could be many things. I have changed the fuel filter today, there was some orange/brown sediment in the bottom and fitted the new one. The old was full of fuel and then new is not filling, even though tank is full. Was the old blocked, should the new be full? Fuel is getting through to the t pipe in the engine bay so I take it the fuel pump is fine. I have done a recent oil change and new oil filter.
I have also bypassed the idle stabilisation unit as this appears to be troublesome and seemed to have helped a bit but its still not back to what it was before issues.
Other things I've noticed; battery light on after start up and flashing while idling -> could do with a charge? Oil leaking, not sure from where but cleaned base of engine and seems to be coming from higher up as there are various drips. There is a lot of dry grinding noises that come from gear leaver, possibly bearings within gear box.
I have knew spark plugs and yet to fit them, to be honest its taking me ages to do things as I'm learning along the way.
Just wanted to see if anyone had any advice for me and where/what to do next. And advice would be appreciated and sorry for the long windedness of above but thought all details could be relevant.
Will
