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Mon Dec 01, 2003 4:52 pm

I bought a vacuum advance can, but the advance fitting is situated such that I can't drop in the distributor without the fitting hitting something. The fitting is now located towards the bottom of the can. Can I just drill a hole towards the top of the can and then move the fitting? I have never seen the inside of one of these.
Thanks
Rich
'72 Westy

Mon Dec 01, 2003 5:23 pm

How is your distributor oriented? The #1 notch is 12 degrees off vertical and the can is positioned like this.

Mon Dec 01, 2003 7:30 pm

Rich, what is the 3 digit number on the arm of the vacuum unit?

Is it a dual unit? Your 72 Westy, if a USA bus, should have a 1700 with a dual vacuum unit. Dist # 021 905 205E with a 07 101 vacuum unit [885 on the arm]

Mon Dec 01, 2003 7:49 pm

Thanks for the link.

My distributor is aligned as in the picture, however there are a couple of differences and both contribute to my problem.

First, my dizzy is dual vacuum, advance/retard, and is wider. Second, picture the inlet on the dizzy at at 8 o'clock. Put these two factors together and, no room!

I can swing the dizzy counterclockwise and then reposition the spark plug wires, keeping the proper firing order, but then I can't get to the clamp!

Swinging the dizzy, repositioning the wires and flipping the clamp might work, gonna try that tomorrow.
Thanks again,
Rich
'72 Westy

Mon Dec 01, 2003 8:19 pm

Hey Karl, just caught your post. I am trying to put an "851" where an "885" should go. I compared specs and the 851 and 885 are real close, so I felt ok in going with the 851. There is only one small difference between the two... one fits, the other does not. Oh well.

I just rebuilt a 205 E and have a good 885, But the 851 is new and oh so close!
Thanks,

Rich
'72 Westy

Mon Dec 01, 2003 8:32 pm

The 851 unit is for the 71 1600.... I would not use it on the 1700. It came on the replacement 113 AJ dizzy. I would use the 885.

Tue Dec 02, 2003 10:07 am

Aren't the cans on those beetle distributors wider? I have one from an AN dizzy and it's very thick compared to the can on my bus.

Tue Dec 02, 2003 11:45 am

Ratwell,

Not sure what goes on your bus. My understanding is that the can with 821 on the arm is for a 1971 1600 type 1 with a manual transmission. Except for the position of the advance fiitting, It is of the same thickness and looks just like the can with 885 on the arm, which is the proper can for my '72. The advance/retard specs for these two cans are real close. I can tell you that both the 821 and the 885 are alot thicker than the one in the picture you provided.

Rich
'72 Westy

Tue Dec 02, 2003 12:55 pm

Karl's the expert here but from my observations you can see the beetle cans clear the type I case but the bus can't can't clear the type 4 fan shroud facing the same direction. It must be a tight fit if the can is the same as the 72 as you say.