Club 80-90 Forums

Im trying to remove the Bolt that holds the Camshaft Drive Toothed wheel on my JX 1.6 TDI, BUT, not sure if it is a LH or RH thread ?

Help please !?

Normal,anti-clockwise (40 ft lb or more so very tight !) make something to stop the cam sprocket from turning ( don't use the slot in the end of the camshaft!! ( it might break!!)
What are you doing?

Thanks Dave Friday,

Im reseting the timing a tad. With flywheel at TDC and No 1 at the top/camshaft end slot horizontal and fuel pump pinned.
Currently with flywheel at TDC and fuel pump pinned the Camshaft slot IS NOT HORIZONTAL. I therefore observe the 'timing' to be slightly out!!??
Hence the need to loosen the Camshaft drive sprocket and realign the camshaft to Horizontal.
I have looked on Wiki and there is good info and pics BUT no mention of the Bolt being anti clockwise/Left Hand thread.
Didn't want to shear off the bolt!

JX 1.6 TDI VW T 25 - 1999

It's a bugger to break the sprocket /camshaft taper interface ,have you got a sprocket puller? Otherwise you'll have to use a rubber hammer /punch/lever approach .
Get on to members only and look for posts about manuals.

Managed to undo camshaft sprocket bolt, didn't have the right tool to hold the sprocket BUT I put a long, neat fitting socket through one of the sprocket big holes at 9 o'clock then had a big wooden oak wedge that just wedged between the chassis member and the socket that stopped the camshaft turning.
The bolt must have been 60-70 ft lbs tight, a right b---trd to undo, but did it that way. Undid about 4-5 flats, floppy washer.
Steel pin thro hole and a few strong clouts and the sprocket released.

Engine at TDC flywheel, and fuel pump pined.

Rotated camshaft using mole grips between lobes.

Then wedged camshaft at other end with flat steel plate and an additional Stanley knife blade (its a bit like a feeler gauge) to get it in exactly horizontal).

Nipped up camshaft sprocket bolt now all in line and then tightened to 40 ft lbs

Will close up tomorrow and test engine.

Fingers crossed

Sounds good(spec is 33 ft lb but Libby Diesel* says 45 ft lb then tap the cam bolt and then 45 ft lb again as the sprocket goes a bit more onto the taper )
*a very well respected bloke on " The samba" forum
Good luck.

Ah, found the Camshaft groove on the non drive end to be slightly misaligned i.e. it did not lie parallel to the top edge of the block. So, reset that by using a flat bar (that almost fitted in the groove) and a Stanley knife blade ( the sharp edge really wedged into the groove to get the camshaft exactly horizontal)

Tightened everything up and checked all round ( I didn't turn the engine by hand as is recommended in other literature because I did not remove the cam belt )

She started up first turn and hardly any smoke but a bit rattly so adjusted the fuel pump ( rotated to slightly advance timing ) and the noise almost disappeared to a good steady Diesel engine run.

Road Test, much improved running, less noise from engine, improved power, quite perceptible being more 'nippy'.

Good result, thanks for your help and others whose info I have read on The Forum

Jolly good!

Did you set your pump timing also?

Bison535 wrote: She started up first turn and hardly any smoke but a bit rattly so adjusted the fuel pump (rotated to slightly advance timing ) and the noise almost disappeared to a good steady Diesel engine run.

So that's a yes then (if not quite the textbook technique!)

Did I set the fuel pump timing ? NO I just pinned the fuel pump drive sprocket, I don't have a special gauge to do pump timing The JX 1.6 TDI engine (according to the history documents) was exchanged in 1999 whilst in Germany by a local VW Garage and has only done 32000 miles, I feel reasonably confident with the fuel pump. However, the timing belt was changed in 2015.

Not quite text book procedure I agree, but runs and sounds much better to my aged experience

P S I plan a UK tour this year and will be in Wales in June, so may need to call upon a VW T 25 expert during my tour

If your up my way pop in I've got all the gear!