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Thu May 21, 2015 10:29 am

you can do it with the engine running, the arm does not move that much. It is the flat head screw. It is true that timing is everything with these motors…and there are many out there who know much more than I, but w/o a timing light etc. I think you could loosen the dist. drive shaft and turn the whole distributor unit A LITTLE BIT CLOCKWISE TO ADVANCE THE TIMING. Again, a little bit goes a long way!! Good luck!! You'll get!!!

Thu May 21, 2015 10:39 am

Pull the black cap off while the engine is running. Have a look in there while your lovely assistant is running the gas pedal. Observe how the copper arm moves around. Gently push it to the left and note how the engine feels with a slightly richer mixture.

Generally that is how it works.

You would be better served to adjust the timing than to dink with the AFM unit, but you should know what it looks like in there.

You need to do that with a timing light so get that first.

Thu May 21, 2015 10:46 am

We have a AC 2.0 federal on our 1980 Westfalia. some parts are kinda hard to come by. I'm currently looking for an EGR filter, and the U in the exhaust that it hooks up to. Does anyone know, if operationally EGR filters from other AC models work the same? and could we possibly use it our our rigs? it wouldn't fit perfect but I'm sure we might be able to get it in there right?

Thu May 21, 2015 11:48 am

Brian&Erin wrote: We have a AC 2.0 federal on our 1980 Westfalia. some parts are kinda hard to come by. I'm currently looking for an EGR filter, and the U in the exhaust that it hooks up to. Does anyone know, if operationally EGR filters from other AC models work the same? and could we possibly use it our our rigs? it wouldn't fit perfect but I'm sure we might be able to get it in there right?

I think I saw a Federal EGR filter in the Classifieds. Go back a week or two and work forward. You could also type in Federal EGR Filter " in the search box.
I'm almost sure it was here on Samba that I saw it but it may have been Ebay too.

If Im not mistaken the Federal one has a much shorter pipe than the California model does. Good luck and good to hear of another air cooled on the road.

Thu May 21, 2015 11:59 am

VWinVT wrote: you can do it with the engine running, the arm does not move that much. It is the flat head screw. It is true that timing is everything with these motors…and there are many out there who know much more than I, but w/o a timing light etc. I think you could loosen the dist. drive shaft and turn the whole distributor unit A LITTLE BIT CLOCKWISE TO ADVANCE THE TIMING. Again, a little bit goes a long way!! Good luck!! You'll get!!!

I think I'll have to try this, as I do not have a timing light and have not learned the full process yet.

On another note, we are stuck at a gas station, and our AFM jig isn't working. :( took a look inside and the wiper arm looks to be out farther than before, it no longer touches the long skinny contact. Below is a picture. Wondering if this was causes by our red neck attempts to start the van this way.

http://i.imgur.com/S4f6GHU.jpg

Thu May 21, 2015 12:02 pm

[quote="RCB"] Brian&Erin wrote: Good luck and good to hear of another air cooled on the road.

lol, Not on the road just yet. motor doesn't run road worthy just yet. # 4 has 30 PSI compression, not cool. Plan on dropping motor and bringing it in to RIMCO for inspection and rebuild.

Thu May 21, 2015 12:25 pm

Is that with the motor off? That looks to be set quite rich. Perhaps all the handling has caused it to move, due to the screw being a bit loose? I would adjust it clockwise, little by little, until I got good results. As for the timing…when I said MOVE CLOCKWISE A LITTLE…I really mean A LITTLE….like a tiny bit…and try to make a mark of the original starting point…white out works well.

Thu May 21, 2015 12:47 pm

This is how it is supposed to look when the engine is off...The silver thing is touching the copper ground that shuts the fuel pump off.

here is how yours looks...

Thu May 21, 2015 2:53 pm

Figured it out.. We had bent the wiper arm essentially straight from holding it back. Bent it back to original shape and we're back on the road, though still no idle and difficult start, even after adjusting the afm. Will try adjusting the timing SLIGHTLY per your instructions. :)

Thanks guys!

Thu May 21, 2015 4:12 pm

Pawn shops can be a good source for a timing light. Nobody uses them anymore except for us. If you also found a dwell/tachometer, that would also be a plus.

Fri May 22, 2015 8:09 pm

oops double post.

Fri May 22, 2015 8:12 pm

Picked up our 81 vanagon about a month ago. Had sat for a while so it needed some tlc. Now it's back on the road and sounds great. Just going through and fixing all the little issues now, horn...rear pistons..ect..

At Honeymoon Island in our 1981 VW Vanagon 05.20.15 by Dom, on Flickr

Sat May 23, 2015 4:33 am

One more air-cooled for the list. I've been on the Samba for a while but have been MIA for a few years. I bought my '83 California Westy in Berkeley in 2004. It Now lives on the other coast.

I currently have the engine compartment cleaned out and passenger side cylinder head removed.

ready for a rebuilt head, cleaned up and painted tins and a new seal.

---

I have been running without an EGR for some time- i'm not sure it was every functioning.

And I second Randyinmaine
Quote:
I would not dink with the AFM unit myself.

happy air-cooling to you all!

Fri Jun 19, 2015 7:24 am

Oh, I haven't added myself to this list yet.

I've got a 82 Federal injected Air cooled Westfalia.

Missing 1 piece of tin (the little one of the bottom front, on the passenger side) but it does well. Trying to keep an eye out for it.

Otherwise She's good, getting de-rusted at the body shop the next few week, and hope to have her together again before Aug for a camping trip.

Fri Jun 19, 2015 8:04 am

daroota wrote: Oh, I haven't added myself to this list yet.

I've got a 82 Federal injected Air cooled Westfalia.

Missing 1 piece of tin (the little one of the bottom front, on the passenger side) but it does well. Trying to keep an eye out for it.

Otherwise She's good, getting de-rusted at the body shop the next few week, and hope to have her together again before Aug for a camping trip.

Have you checked out Blair and Sons located in Phoenix Arizona yet?
602-245-1238. B&W Auto Dismantlers in Roseville California, 800-327-0888 or
Avery's Air-Cooled LLC. I think Avery's moved to a larger location and the number I have might be outdated..its 800-458-5852. Interstate Used Parts in California is pretty strong on VW parts. At one time they had two yards, but I think one of them is now closed. Here's both numbers to try.. 760-736-8515 and 951-471-5080.

Glad to hear of another air cooled on the road. Best of luck finding what you need to keep her up and running :D

Fri Jun 19, 2015 8:29 am

I haven't tried any of them except Avery's Air-Cooled LLC (a few years ago.) Because he's local within a few hours. I am located in BC, Canada almost on the border.

I've used some Aluminum tape on the area for now.

After the van comes back I'll be running some new wires around, reassemble the van cabinets, installing the windows, and outside items. And then finally replacing the muffler, which is rusted.

When I bought her, she needed a rebuild (pistons and cylinders, re-machined the heads, a replacement of a few gears and synchronizers in the transmission. All that's done, but the rust is getting out of hand when my seatbelt wasn't secure. Also I fixed my BA6, it's running nicely :)

I'll try the other guys you mentioned. thanks

Fri Jun 19, 2015 8:39 am

daroota wrote: I haven't tried any of them except Avery's Air-Cooled LLC (a few years ago.) Because he's local within a few hours. I am located in BC, Canada almost on the border.

I've used some Aluminum tape on the area for now.

After the van comes back I'll be running some new wires around, reassemble the van cabinets, installing the windows, and outside items. And then finally replacing the muffler, which is rusted.

When I bought her, she needed a rebuild (pistons and cylinders, re-machined the heads, a replacement of a few gears and synchronizers in the transmission. All that's done, but the rust is getting out of hand when my seatbelt wasn't secure. Also I fixed my BA6, it's running nicely :)

I'll try the other guys you mentioned. thanks

Whoops, I didn't check your location. When I first purchased my 1982 back in 1999 the PO had removed the air conditioning unit from the engine compartment. Since it left a gaping hole I fabricated one from a large cookie sheet and riveted it in place. It held up just fine until a few years later I found the proper replacement.

Any chance you have a part number for the tin your looking for??

Fri Jun 19, 2015 9:18 am

I'm pretty sure it's this one according Avery's Air Cooled site. but no part number that i can find

Fri Jun 19, 2015 12:39 pm

Im in the AC club now too! just got a 1980 Orange Riveria. the PO's family had owned it since new! interior all original, has the Riveria cup holders, the rubberized front, original rugs throughout the inside, Norcold fridge that still functions. No idea if it starts of not - anxious to give it a try, just to see if it'll start up.

Sun Jun 28, 2015 9:16 am

1982 Air-cooled 2.0 Westy here! Five plus years and loving it! So are any of you using any type of oil additives? Lucas etc?