tappets and other problems

[dbz864]

Hi, When I bought this van it drove ok, but was very tappaty, van was parked up for nearly 2 years. It now runs/drives with less power, still tapperty then cuts out after about 300yards resarts after a few mins, then does it again and so on.Its been a long time since I messed with an engine. When investigating with filter off, when reving its spitting back, leads are on correct, so I think valve may be cracked or similar ?? Not sure if its got hydrolic lifters or solid , the gaps were large and random. I set them as if they were hydrolic, but before starting I turned by hand and notice there was no compression showing with my finger over plug hole. So im going to reset them with gaps. Compression was showing approx. 140psi on all before I started piddling about. I don't want to take heads off unless I have to.
Any ideas what could be wrong? What gap do people set there tappets to if solid lifters? Is there anyway to tell if solid lifters are fitted.? Thanks for any help.

[itchyfeet]

are we playing guess the engine

[dbz864]

very sorry. !.9 petrol 1988.

[itchyfeet]

should have hydraulic tappets, they could have been replaced by solid by an engine rebuilder but I'd assume hydraulic but go easy with just one turn of preload, setting preload and sequence is in haynes

[dbz864]

hi,thanks for reply, ive done that, but when I pre loaded them by 1.5 turns, there seemed to be no compression. I put my finger over spark plug hole, you can normally fell the compression (did before I set them) but there was nothing, I didn't think it was right.?

[itchyfeet]

use a compression tester not your finger

[kevtherev]

What gap do people set there tappets to if solid lifters?

Most VW engines are at .004" but .006" thou is what I used

Is there anyway to tell if solid lifters are fitted.?

the push rods are different for solids, aluminium instead of steel, but it's best to have them out to be sure

[a1winchester]

The stop / start symptom sounds a bit like fuel starvation or air in the fuel line. Check your inline filters and fuel lines for pinholes.
The tappets might improve once the engine has had a good run. An oil change also makes for a quieter sounding engine.
So it may not be as bad as you think.

[dbz864]

thanks for the replies, ive set the tappets a 0.006" sounds better, im pretty sure they must be solid lifters, doesn't seem to be spitting back now, which is good, but the cutting out problem still happens. When cold it drives for about 3/4 mile before konking out, then gets worse as it gets hotter, sometimes its kangaroo jumping other times it just dies, just like its running out of fuel. Seems to tick over okish but dies when you drive the bloody thing. Had top off carb that all seems well. its had new tank in and new inline filter. I was convinced it was pump, just fitted new one with a new rod, still doing it.The other thing which seems odd is when accelerating it sounds like its got a kn air filter on if you know what I mean, different sound than any other 25 ive driven. Any ideas?

[kevtherev]

thanks for the replies, ive set the tappets a 0.006" sounds better, im pretty sure they must be solid lifters, doesn't seem to be spitting back now, which is good, but the cutting out problem still happens. When cold it drives for about 3/4 mile before konking out, then gets worse as it gets hotter, sometimes its kangaroo jumping other times it just dies, just like its running out of fuel. Seems to tick over okish but dies when you drive the bloody thing. Had top off carb that all seems well. its had new tank in and new inline filter. I was convinced it was pump, just fitted new one with a new rod, still doing it.The other thing which seems odd is when accelerating it sounds like its got a kn air filter on if you know what I mean, different sound than any other 25 ive driven. Any ideas?

reads like a weak mixture after the choke comes off...or, stays on and gives an over rich mixture
A check of the choke when it's warm should tell you if it's the culprit.
If all is well with the choke, then you may have an air leak on the induction side.
You might want to check the carb is wired correctly and that the coil is not getting hot .



You also need to check that the timing is OK

[dbz864]

Thanks for the reply kev. Tried another coil and ht lead(king) didn't think it would be and I was right made no difference. Il have a look at them suggestions thanks, already looked at the elec stop thingy on carb its getting power as it clicks, im not very good with carbs tho.When I removed plugs when doing tappets they were all a brown colour. Went for another short drive, its worse when you give it more throttle, ticks over and revs ok when stopped. Its doing me head in. cheers adam

[kevtherev]

OK
If the choke is off then the weak mixture is either an air leak or crap in the carb (blocked jet)
I would have it off and blow it through

There's a bodgers method..it sometimes works, rev the teets off it then put your hand over the intake.

[dbz864]

thanks kev, il have another look tomorrow (when ive calmed down a bit).

[123-jn]

check the small filter inside the carb inlet and also check the length of the fuel pump drive rod a couple of mm too short and you get fuel starvation very quickly. I think they should be 100mm but check wiki. AS they get older they do wear . Mine ran out of fuel one day and the pump shaft was 3mm too short , it could not pull fuel through from the tank fast enough to pull away or even start without a tow.

[Ian Hulley]

Hi, When I bought this van it drove ok, but was very tappaty, van was parked up for nearly 2 years. It now runs/drives with less power, still tapperty then cuts out after about 300yards resarts after a few mins, then does it again and so on.

Hiya Adam
The tappets should be hydraulic BUT who knows what bodgery has occurred over the years Possibly they just need a really good warm run up to fill them up after a few years of being parked up.

Have you cleaned out the old fuel ? This unleaded crap doesn't last like the olde style 4 star and looses it's fizz over winter, let alone 2 years. There could be a veritable zoo of dead things in the filters ... have they been changed/cleaned out ?

Ian.