What Rotor Arm

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Ric1
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What Rotor Arm

Post by Ric1 »

Planning to order some service parts and there is 2 different arms, a limited and a non limited ?

Thanks in advance :ok
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bigherb
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Re: What Rotor Arm

Post by bigherb »

The correct one is a 5400rpm limited.
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Re: What Rotor Arm

Post by ajsimmo »

But they're loads of trouble, so if you don't lend/hire it out, fit a non-limited one.

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Ric1
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Re: What Rotor Arm

Post by Ric1 »

ajsimmo wrote:But they're loads of trouble, so if you don't lend/hire it out, fit a non-limited one.

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Why is this ? And whats the fault with the limited one ?
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tobydog
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Re: What Rotor Arm

Post by tobydog »

More to go wrong.....
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itchyfeet
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Re: What Rotor Arm

Post by itchyfeet »

Had a limited one for many years with no issues, perhaps some are substandard quality, perhaps I'm just lucky.
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jrt
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Re: What Rotor Arm

Post by jrt »

I've also had a limited arm on mine since i've had the van-no problems. What can go wrong?
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itchyfeet
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Re: What Rotor Arm

Post by itchyfeet »

My guess is if the spring isn't strong enough or sticks it will cut out at lower revs.

No harm in a non rev limited one if you have a rev counter imo but easy to drive on the motorway in 3rd without realising it if you don't.
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jrt
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Re: What Rotor Arm

Post by jrt »

ok, thanks.
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bigherb
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Re: What Rotor Arm

Post by bigherb »

Yes there are more bits on a rev limited rotor arm to go wrong but a good quality one shouldn't be any problem.
The CU engine without a rev limiter will quite happily go over 70mph and over rev itself in third gear on a motorway if someone forgets to change up to fourth (it does happen). Even changing the rotor arm more often as a precaution is cheaper than a new engine.
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Ric1
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Re: What Rotor Arm

Post by Ric1 »

I ordered a limited 1 as that's what is in there now and from what i just read from comments i would probably leave it in third and over rev it as i'm more than likely going to have 3 kids in the back banging drums and shaking a tambourine for most journeys :ok
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a1winchester
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Re: What Rotor Arm

Post by a1winchester »

I heard that the limiter ones can give problems, but if they are replaced regularly, should behave.
I did have one fail on me, but it was my fault because I had never renewed it and I don't suppose my garage did when the van was serviced.
For this reason I do most of my own servicing now and replace parts BEFORE they pack up.
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Re: What Rotor Arm

Post by ajsimmo »

All I can tell you is that I have had around a dozen vans in with running issues that turned out to be the rev limiter rotor arm. Swapped for a standard one and all fixed. Hence I never fit them.
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itchyfeet
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Re: What Rotor Arm

Post by itchyfeet »

I wonder if they are victims of their own success.
So many people only replace bits when they break, I wonder how old they were?
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Re: What Rotor Arm

Post by CovKid »

Agree with Andy. Better without rev limiter. If you've ever overtaken anything and suddenly found the power is gone unexpectedly, you'll understand why they suck. Had a no-limited one for 6 years. Cheap and easy to replace too. You just swap it for a 1972 onwards Beetle rotor arm. I also changed cap too :)

After all, its my engine. I should be able to decide how many revs I give it, not some half-baked contraption that they stuck in as an afterthought. I detest them with a passion. They do fail and they're a pain if they do. I appreciate the logic of fitting one but it doesn't work for me.

If you really must have one, at least keep a bug one somewhere in the camper so you can at least get home rather than trying to find a replacement that the nearest garage won't have.
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