Total novice to mechanics

[CovKid]

Go for it. Just don't give in. If she coughs at you and attempts to go or goes for a few seconds and dies, you just need to check fuel delivery. Often takes a while to get it from the tank to engine bay, particularly if pump is weak or filter clogged and petrol might have lost its 'ooomph' from sitting there. Once running you need to figure out where the noise is coming from. If you can isolate it we may be able to make suggestions as to how to fix it for little or no money.

[81AirCooled]

Welcome to Aircooled "heaven". Sarran on this forum is the CT guru and a massive massive help. Here's one of his vids removing the engine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGC3EZXa644" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I've had my van over 2 years now and she's spent more time off the road than on but I've learned a hell of a lot along the way. I'm still a massive novice but even I managed to get the CU engine out a couple of weeks back. Only worry is getting it back in

With a bit of luck you'll get it running and sorted without even having to take the engine out

[BigD26]

That video will be a great help, much better than looking at a type 2 engine and trying to figure out the differences. Thank you..

Also I see in the video he also has a fuel filter in the engine bay, so I guess its meant to be there so ill leave it in..

Thank you

[blacky]

big D. Kev the revs post is spot on. what your engine needs to fire up is , spark, fuel, and compression. The spark needs to be delivered at the right moment but if it isn't you'll know as it will backfire through carb or exhaust.(for this reason I usually refit air cleaner after introducing a teaspoon of fuel into carb. don't want a woosh of flame spitting out of carb when it can be checked by air cleaner.) I would say stick with van for moment, don't make hasty decision to get rid till you've lived with it a while. You are well placed if you have a farm and a hoist. Your dad's right, get it running before using hoist. Keep posting on here, there's lots of friendly help. Regards Blacky.

[blacky]

P.S. Don't rush to remove engine till you've satisfied your self as to it's condition. It may not need drastic surgery.

[Ralf85]

There are plenty of guys on the forum who can do everything with their bus - Kev, Hulley, Adrian etc. I'm not a mechanic but have 35 years plus doing basic servicing and running repairs and having breakdowns many times with VW campers (you name it I've experienced it). My advice - if you are a novice I recommend finding a reliable garage/mechanic/member first before you foul up. A local member should be able to recommend one if you ask. Better to get it fixed than mess up and cause yourself more problems. Then you can spend time enjoying your bus and dealing with the easier stuff.

[BigD26]

Its not the getting her running I have a problem with, im sure she will fire up even though she not run for 3 to 4 years...its the problem it had before she was parked up...

All I know is the the guy who gave me the bus told me is that it was a cold morning and he started her up fine, then there was a blowing sound like air being pushed through and a lost of power in the revs. he always meant to fix her up as this was his daily runner. but time passed and he lost interest in the bus after a hard time.

So I have no idea on what the issue could be, my thoughts are to the main gaskets or seals. looking at the Haynes it says about having to remove the engine in order to get to the cylinder heads in order to replace the gaskets and seals.
Im sort of hoping not to have to take out the engine and hoping its a small issue with a exhaust gasket or fuel starvation of sorts.

But I have to cover all bases and make sure I have a engine that runs fine after, once I have it running I can use the ramp and then sort the bushes out and fit new breaks, and rust protect the chassis and under body.

As this was van a gift to me I owe it to the last owner to get this up and running, he loved this bus and he used it everyday. He knew that by sending her to me I would put in all the love back into this van and use her the was she was intended...So I have no plans ever to sell this van, but I want to learn all I can about it so I can keep her running.

So thank you to all here who are posting with the advice, its all being written down and noted.
Im going to the farm tomorrow to see if I can add some fuel and see if she comes to life. Having a misfire and flame running up the carb sounds like its a change you pants moment, so ill remember to not have my head over that part when turning her over.

[Ralf85]

So relax and put up a message on the forum asking for a local garage/mechanic/member to assist. There will be somebody who can assist.

[BigD26]

Ok I have been up to the van this morning to see if I can get her to fire up.
Put some fuel in the tank, connected the battery and saw the needle move up... So I know there is fuel.

Well I turned the key and hit the gas a few times and well she just keeps turning and turning, with the odd pop pop like shes about to start.
While doing this I was listening to the sounds and im hearing a ticking sound, have no idea on what that could be but I assume its normal.
Anyway I thought I would try the tea spoon of fuel idea, and began to remove the air filter housing to reveal the carb. I added the fuel and turned her over again and got nothing again.
At this point my week battery was telling me NOOOO ive had it with this car!! and stopped turning the engine.
So im now in need of a charger or maybe I should grab a new battery.
When I removed the battery I noticed a thick-ish red wire just not doing much heading towards the rear of the bus, I didn't think much about it until I was heading home.
Do you think that might be something important that needs attaching in order to start her up?

Also when I removed the air box I opened it up to check the filter, only to find a small-ish pool of oil sitting at the bottom of the box and no air filter.
Why would oil be in there in the first place?

[kevtherev]

oil in the filter box is normal
did you do the rest of the ignition circuit?
new plugs, arm, cap, leads?
the thick red wire goes to the starter motor from the battery

the ticking sound is the tappets which have drained down, did you turn the engine over without the plugs to get the oil pressure up ?
like I suggested

[BigD26]

Ok so oil in filter housing is normal, thank you.

The leads and dizzy and plugs where all changed at the time of it being parked up, however I do have spares that came with the van so I could install them.

And the thick red wire, does it matter that its not connected to the battery push and clip on connector? the engine is turning without that wire attached but ill make sure its all attached when I have the new battery for it, and hope that's the reason why not coming to life.

[kevtherev]

Engine life is down to the holy trinity
Fuel, spark, timing.
When you have one missing.. Death
Never assume, it makes an ass of u and me..

A compression check will give a good indication of engine condition.

[BigD26]

Well i finally charged the battery i have, and went off to the van to try starting her again.
As before i was getting nothing, so off came the dizzy and i cleaned up the points same with the plugs and i put the new spare leads on.
Well i turns her over again and still nothing, so i checked everything again, plugs, dizzy, leads, fuel filters and so on....scratching head i thought i would give the fuel line a suck, well almost got me a mouth full of juice...so i know the pipes are not blocked.
However i did notice the fuel line going to the fuel pump was a little kinked just at the point of connection, so i took a closer look and found a small hole in the pipe, so off came the pipe, not an easy job but it came off.
I cut off the bad bit and tried to re fit the pipe, we would that bugger go back on...NO.. i used some boiling water to soften the rubber, and nope still didn't go back on. I was looking at the size it said 6mm and looking at the pump fitting there was no chance in hell was that going back on, how the last person managed it beats me.
So i have managed to find some 8mm fuel pipe and fitted that, fits like a glove with no problem.. still a little tight but i guess you would want a snug fit really. So anyway fitted that and began again to turn her over....

Well with a bang and a wallop she jumped into life!! shes running loud but man im glad to hear her go.. 5 mins later i shut her off, and waited 10 mins and first turn of the key she back to it again.... Oh how happy i feel.

Anyway knowing she is running its not all good, well i hope its not too bad. I put her in the guess what gear is first gear (and yes it was first gear) give her some revs and lifted the clutch, only to have her die one me, so started her again and tried again...same thing only we did manage a metre that time before she died again...started again and reversed back and again she died on me. So not sure on what it could be but it does sound like what the last owner said, he would go to drive off and she would lose power, well she loses revs and then dies out.
I did have a listen to her running and im hearing a sort of popping sound coming from the left side of the engine, it doesn't look or feel like exhaust though. so again not sure... so really now im unsure on where to go from here, shes starting great first turn but has no get up and go.

[CovKid]

Might just be running on three. disconnect a plug lead in turn on that side and start engine. If it doesn't sound any different (ie doesn't slow down) when you remove one of the leads, thats the cylinder you need to look at. Check the tappets on that side as a first move.

[kevtherev]

Seized brakes?
Does it move if pushed?

Are all the vacuum pipes on?
Did you check all the valves move and non are stuck open?
Do you get a spark on all cyls