Comments on: How To Set Ignition Timing On An Air Cooled VW http://www.aircooledvwlove.com/how-to-set-ignition-timing-on-an-air-cooled-vw/ Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:25:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Anonymous http://www.aircooledvwlove.com/how-to-set-ignition-timing-on-an-air-cooled-vw/#comment-123 Anonymous Tue, 13 Jul 2010 03:19:05 +0000 http://www.aircooledvwlove.com/?p=117#comment-123 have done the timing on my 72 beetle runs great but doesn't want to stop when i turn off the ignition is this a timing issue? have done the timing on my 72 beetle
runs great but doesn’t want to stop when i turn off the ignition
is this a timing issue?

]]> By: Walt http://www.aircooledvwlove.com/how-to-set-ignition-timing-on-an-air-cooled-vw/#comment-121 Walt Fri, 09 Jul 2010 03:42:16 +0000 http://www.aircooledvwlove.com/?p=117#comment-121 Great information but if this question is stupid please excuse, I know the firing order is 1432 but on the distributor where do these cables go and which cable is #1 #4 #3 #2 where is #1 on the distributor on a 72 bus looking at it from the rear? Great information but if this question is stupid please excuse, I know the firing order is 1432 but on the distributor where do these cables go and which cable is #1 #4 #3 #2 where is #1 on the distributor on a 72 bus looking at it from the rear?

]]> By: big cyril http://www.aircooledvwlove.com/how-to-set-ignition-timing-on-an-air-cooled-vw/#comment-119 big cyril Tue, 06 Jul 2010 02:18:04 +0000 http://www.aircooledvwlove.com/?p=117#comment-119 hi vwnut i am looking for hints. got old engine ( had it for 18months) running a bit smokey, Type 1 -1600cc, with one notch on pulley. dwell is ok at 40 degrees but using my timing light i just can't get it timed at 12oclcock (casesplit) I moved the distributor around and the sweetspot is about 8am-9am where the belt leaves the pulley. I pulled out all spark plugs replaced with new and ensured spark gets to each plug. I cleaned rotor and inside dist cap. could it be something mechanical like valves that stop me being able to time it at 12 oclock? I pulled off each rocker cover and saw all springs were moving and also squirting a bit of oil around. However I am not sure what is normal with valves etc thx BCyril hi vwnut
i am looking for hints. got old engine ( had it for 18months) running a bit smokey, Type 1 -1600cc, with one notch on pulley. dwell is ok at 40 degrees but using my timing light i just can’t get it timed at 12oclcock (casesplit)
I moved the distributor around and the sweetspot is about 8am-9am where the belt leaves the pulley.
I pulled out all spark plugs replaced with new and ensured spark gets to each plug. I cleaned rotor and inside dist cap.

could it be something mechanical like valves that stop me being able to time it at 12 oclock? I pulled off each rocker cover and saw all springs were moving and also squirting a bit of oil around. However I am not sure what is normal with valves etc
thx BCyril

]]> By: Brett http://www.aircooledvwlove.com/how-to-set-ignition-timing-on-an-air-cooled-vw/#comment-106 Brett Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:40:29 +0000 http://www.aircooledvwlove.com/?p=117#comment-106 Thanks VW nut, I think I got it. I'm verifying proper current path at the point of circuit interuption. Thanks a bunch, sounds too simple. Thanks VW nut, I think I got it. I’m verifying proper current path at the point of circuit interuption. Thanks a bunch, sounds too simple.

]]> By: VWNut http://www.aircooledvwlove.com/how-to-set-ignition-timing-on-an-air-cooled-vw/#comment-105 VWNut Mon, 19 Apr 2010 18:15:05 +0000 http://www.aircooledvwlove.com/?p=117#comment-105 Hi Brett - Your VW will start up when you turn the key to the on position? Normally you have to turn it a bit farther to engage the starter motor and then let it ease back to the on position once it starts. Your engine should not start when you click the key over to on (in a VW or any other car). It doesn't matter if the spark plug cable is attached or not but the distributor cap needs to be off so you can see the points and access the clamp. Hi Brett – Your VW will start up when you turn the key to the on position? Normally you have to turn it a bit farther to engage the starter motor and then let it ease back to the on position once it starts. Your engine should not start when you click the key over to on (in a VW or any other car). It doesn’t matter if the spark plug cable is attached or not but the distributor cap needs to be off so you can see the points and access the clamp.

]]> By: Brett http://www.aircooledvwlove.com/how-to-set-ignition-timing-on-an-air-cooled-vw/#comment-104 Brett Mon, 19 Apr 2010 16:55:27 +0000 http://www.aircooledvwlove.com/?p=117#comment-104 I'm a bit confused, being an engineer I guess I'm more anal in instructions, using a volt meter or light. Connect one lead of your test light to terminal 1 on the distributor (is this going to the #1 plug, and if so do I pull the cable out? if I don't my VW will start right up) and the other to a solid ground. Turn the distributor body clockwise until the contacts of the ignition points are closed. (how can I tell if I don't remove the distrib cap?) Turn on the ignition switch but do not start the engine (my engine starts right up, should I pull the coil cable?). Turn the distributor counterclockwise until the test light comes on (just as the contact points are opening) and tighten down the clamp. I’m a bit confused, being an engineer I guess I’m more anal in instructions, using a volt meter or light.

Connect one lead of your test light to terminal 1 on the distributor (is this going to the #1 plug, and if so do I pull the cable out? if I don’t my VW will start right up) and the other to a solid ground.

Turn the distributor body clockwise until the contacts of the ignition points are closed. (how can I tell if I don’t remove the distrib cap?) Turn on the ignition switch but do not start the engine (my engine starts right up, should I pull the coil cable?). Turn the distributor counterclockwise until the test light comes on (just as the contact points are opening) and tighten down the clamp.

]]> By: Lindsey http://www.aircooledvwlove.com/how-to-set-ignition-timing-on-an-air-cooled-vw/#comment-103 Lindsey Tue, 30 Mar 2010 22:15:35 +0000 http://www.aircooledvwlove.com/?p=117#comment-103 Is this true for all years of aircooled vws? I keep seeing thing that say this method may be used on only earlier modles (1968 or so and before) and that for example my 71 1600 ghia engine must use a different method. Is this true for all years of aircooled vws? I keep seeing thing that say this method may be used on only earlier modles (1968 or so and before) and that for example my 71 1600 ghia engine must use a different method.

]]> By: beetle boy http://www.aircooledvwlove.com/how-to-set-ignition-timing-on-an-air-cooled-vw/#comment-101 beetle boy Mon, 22 Mar 2010 08:59:16 +0000 http://www.aircooledvwlove.com/?p=117#comment-101 thankyou soooo much for the advice. you are a life saver ! thankyou soooo much for the advice. you are a life saver !

]]> By: Clyde http://www.aircooledvwlove.com/how-to-set-ignition-timing-on-an-air-cooled-vw/#comment-97 Clyde Tue, 16 Feb 2010 02:13:24 +0000 http://www.aircooledvwlove.com/?p=117#comment-97 I didn't know about the test light thing. I'm glad I stumbled across this site. Great work David. Some of these things are not only simple and unique but they WORK!!! Thank you. I didn’t know about the test light thing. I’m glad I stumbled across this site. Great work David. Some of these things are not only simple and unique but they WORK!!! Thank you.

]]> By: Kevin http://www.aircooledvwlove.com/how-to-set-ignition-timing-on-an-air-cooled-vw/#comment-81 Kevin Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:12:08 +0000 http://www.aircooledvwlove.com/?p=117#comment-81 I was Trying to time a VW bus motor Im not sure what size I was told it was an 1800 it's on a sandrail. The distributor poped out. how do I align the distributor with the cam. It is in two pieces the middle conection can only go one way but the other end has 13 teeth. Any ideas I was Trying to time a VW bus motor Im not sure what size I was told it was an 1800 it’s on a sandrail. The distributor poped out. how do I align the distributor with the cam. It is in two pieces the middle conection can only go one way but the other end has 13 teeth. Any ideas

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