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Fri May 04, 2012 9:28 am

Ok, Looking for some expert advise as I know there are plenty of them out there. I'm a novice and trying to get closer to my bug's idiosyncronsy's. Hope I spelled that right.
I just tuned up my 67 bug 1600. New plugs, distributer cap, rotor, points and condensor. Also checked dwell,timing and adjusted idle.
First start up the engine ran and drove really smooth and seemed that I did everything correct and was pretty proud of myself.
Anyhow after driiving 50 miles on the freeway and stopping at my destination for 2 hours. I get in my car and started the engine, it started ok but was running rough like it needed to warm up again. After about 3 or 4 minutes the engine idle started running smooth again.
Could this be a choke issue. Any insights would appreciated.

Fri May 04, 2012 11:32 am

Did you check your Valves/Rocker arms and the gaps? It sounds like they may be off.

Fri May 04, 2012 2:13 pm

water in the gas?
Or you passing something through the carb !
dirt?
install new a filter

Fri May 04, 2012 5:28 pm

If it sat for a couple of hours,the choke would be on at startup.If it smooths out after a bit it's probably just fine.

Fri May 04, 2012 9:59 pm

Check your auto-choke. Have you adjusted it correctly so that when it's cold, the chike valve is just closed? If it's open too much, you would get the rough idling until the car warmed up.

Hope this helps.

Fri May 04, 2012 10:49 pm

Hey, thanks for the input. Yeah I adjusted the valves first thing in the morning before I did the tune-up.
Going to learn how to adjust the choke. I have a 30 pict-1 that was rebuilt in Febuary, so i'll go in and make the adjustment.
Thanks you all for the expert advise... This forum is awsome.

Sat May 05, 2012 2:34 am

The choke adjustment is very easy. Take the air filter of the carb inlet, then loosen the 3 screws that retain the porcelain choke element then rotate the element until the choke valve just closes. Not too tight, but just closed. Then tighten the 3 screws and refit the air filter.

This adjusment should be done when the engine is cold and the accelerator lever is at the highest step on the cam weight. This is the position the auto-choke is in when the accelertator is pressed for the first start of the day or after a long stop.

Hope this helps.

Sat May 05, 2012 8:00 am

I have no idea what the weather might be like in Grass Valley, but here in Central Texas where we often have thirty degree temperature swings in the course of a day, it's necessary to adjust the thing almost every time I start the car in the fall, winter, or early spring.

It's hot all summer, however, so once the high temp starts hitting the nineties every day (usually around this time of year) I can finally lay off until late September.

Sat May 05, 2012 8:15 am

Thanks
Grass Valley in Northern Ca at times gets mid 90+ in the summer and cold in the winter.
If I may ask you another question, I went out this morning and hit the pedal and the choke kicked to the second level from the highest point on the step.
Should it go to the highest step? Haven't adjusted the choke yet, but I noticed yesterday at first start-up the engine slightly smokes, barely visible.

Sat May 05, 2012 11:31 pm

muck wrote: Thanks
Grass Valley in Northern Ca at times gets mid 90+ in the summer and cold in the winter.
If I may ask you another question, I went out this morning and hit the pedal and the choke kicked to the second level from the highest point on the step.
Should it go to the highest step? Haven't adjusted the choke yet, but I noticed yesterday at first start-up the engine slightly smokes, barely visible.

Technically, it should go to the highest step, but if it's working that should be fine. The smoke at start-up would be oil settling in the cylinder overnight and burning off at start-up. If it stops after start-up no problems.