Club 80-90 Forums

Yep, back again. Lets start by reaffirming that I am no mechanic and a bit of a numpty with engines.
Mine is a 2.0 air cooled 1982 and back in the garage.
Took her in recently as she was poor at idling and giving off the odd puff of smoke.
New carbs last year, webber twins, and just had new hydraulic lifters put in. I should point out here that this was done by a non VW specialist as they are too far away which makes it pretty difficult and to be honest I have found that even some of the so called specialists pretty unreliable.
Leads changed, carb idle adjusted, idles much better....went to Busfest, on way home, no power on acceleration, sounding like a tractor, also using lots of fuel, RAC man says definetly a carb problem.
By the way when she went in last to have lifters, new leads etc. compression test done and spot on apparently.
Now at a garage which specialises purely in carbs and guy has good reputation, does lots of classic stuff.
Long story short, not a carb issue, something underlying, which I suspected.
Shot valves been mentioned along with worn cam shaft, investigation ongoing although frankly I've just about had enough and think its time to say no more....lots of money spent lately taking one step forward, three back.
Any input would be greatly appreciated good or bad, probably see her on ebay soon !

murf

Why were the carbs changed?

Why were the lifters changed?

Were the carbs fitted and set by someone who knew what they were doing?

If the carbs were set too lean, the result would have been overheating and burned valves, which sounds like where you might be now...

carbs changed because my old solex ones were worn out. Yes the guy that set them up did a good job, done on rolling road and ran lovely for best part of year. Lifters changed because of idling issues and seemed a good place to start.

murf

Long shot, but see my thread. Brake servo hose (split or not attached). Ignition amplifier?

Like you I am not mechanically minded and relying on garages I have almost had my fingers burnt.

Just repeating my experiences and what others suggested to me......

Mike

murf wrote:carbs changed because my old solex ones were worn out. Yes the guy that set them up did a good job, done on rolling road and ran lovely for best part of year. Lifters changed because of idling issues and seemed a good place to start.

murf

Ok, what were the idling issues? Did replacing the lifters cure the problem?

Sorry if this sounds like the Spanish Inquisition, but I'm trying to understand what has been done to your engine and where the problems started.

Hi, no problem, grateful for any advice. The idling issue was that she barely ticked over and felt on the verge of cutting out, fine once she was running, until I stopped at junction, roundabout etc. Added to that the occasional puff of smoke told me although she ran fine all was not right.
Replacing the lifters apparently did not solve the problem, leads were also replaced, and he altered the idle on the carbs, and I think it was this that actually sorted the idle running, although with hindsight I believe that whatever the problem was still there and this simply masked it.
Wheteher driving her has made her a whole lot worse I dont know, but I was assured by mechanic she was running fine now I feel more than a little p****d off.
Ended up being recovered back from the M5 as undriveable.
My theory is that there is something more serious underlying which appears to be borne out by the latest "diagnosis". To be fair the guy who has her now specialises in carb tuning and has confirmed its not a carb issue, but he doesnt know what it is without further investigation. This of course means yet more expense with no promise of a positive outcome. In my opinion we are probably looking at Valve/camshaft problems as everything else seems to have been replaced !
In a nutshell, I have paid one "expert" after another and have wound up with a dead van !

murf

I am no Aircooled expert, but I reckon another compression check is next on the list of checks, just so you can eliminate burnt valves or a cracked head.

Can't see the logic in fitting webbers just because there is wear in the old solex carbs. They can be rebuilt fairly cheaply (Roger Ball) and they're better suited. Dellortos are about the only real replacement imho. I think you'll have to see what happens next. With an Aircooled van (unless its a crewcab), you're stuck with that engine without serious body modifications.

thanks guys....would a compression check identify burnt valves??
With hindisight would have got dellortos although budget was an issue, having said that plenty of vans do run on webbers ?

murf

murf wrote:thanks guys....would a compression check identify burnt valves??

Yes it would.

.

If it were case of valves not seating correctly, as has been mentioned as a possibilty, how would this be determined ?

murf

murf wrote:If it were case of valves not seating correctly, as has been mentioned as a possibilty, how would this be determined ?

murf

By a compression test, then if compressions are not correct, try re-setting the new hydraulic tappets. Or maybe just re-set the tappets first anyway and see if there is any improvement. Only takes about an hour to do. Details are in the wiki.

cheers for that, mechanic just mentioned re setting tappets, so thats next on the agenda

murf

Hello,

Bit worried about your expert,

A compression test is at best 'o' level engine spannering....

Do a compression test cold cranking, ie without running the engine, take readings.

Then do it again having squirted oil into each cylinder, take readings,

Then run engine up to operating remp, do again, take readings

You have 3 sets of results.

nr 1 gives result with leakdown
nr 2 gives result for leak down of the valves
nr 3 gives result for ring condition,

If this is a foreign language to your expert, smile, pay, and run away with your van.

Cordialement,

murf wrote:cheers for that, mechanic just mentioned re setting tappets, so thats next on the agenda

murf

I hope he checks that they are hydraulic or not