TheSamba.com :: View topic - 1972 Type 4 distributor drive gear installation

Fri Jul 11, 2025 10:14 am

Good afternoon all!

I am finishing up reassemble on the 1972 type 4 engine for my bus.

I have the bently manual and have also searched the sight and i think I have confused myself even more.

The engine is at #1TDC.

The distributor gear's "groove" that the distributor engages isnt centered. Looking in the bently manual i dont see any indication of which way the wider half circle should be...

Also looking at the bently manual the photos seem different then how ratwells post shows installing the gear. (Im guessing its just the perspective of the photos)

Which way should it be installed?

Or

Or neither?

As always thanks so much for all your help!

Aaron

Fri Jul 11, 2025 10:55 am

Hmmmm So after looking at my distributor im thinking that this may be the correct orientation, the "little c" towards the flywheel?

I am running a vacuum assist distributor.

Fri Jul 11, 2025 11:30 am

Bentley Manual, Engine&Clutch section, page 24, fig. 8-2.

Fri Jul 11, 2025 11:40 am

But I cant figure out which way that photo is showing the off-center slot.

Does the bigger half go towards the flywheel or the fan?

Fri Jul 11, 2025 11:48 am

picture #2 looks correct ,the grove ,should go roughly from 11 o'clock to 5 o'clock ,

Fri Jul 11, 2025 11:59 am

Ahhhh...that drawing really helped! THANK YOU!

And what manual is that!! Thats fantastic!!

This forum is the absolute best!

Fri Jul 11, 2025 12:01 pm

tom wilson ,how to rebuild your vw air cooler engine.

Fri Jul 11, 2025 12:19 pm

Be sure the washers that go underneath that pinion drive are still in place. Ideally this installation is done with the case open (and then a distributor installed to keep it in place) so you can ensure they don't fall down into the case.

Fri Jul 11, 2025 12:19 pm

You will notice the shaft turns a little as it drops down in.
Allow for that. The picture in the book shows installed position.
Make sure the washer/spacer doesn't fall off the bottom of the shaft. Use a blob of heavy grease to "glue" it to the shaft.

Fri Jul 11, 2025 12:49 pm

Thanks for all the tips! Here goes nothin'

I'll let you know how it goes!

A.

Fri Jul 11, 2025 12:58 pm

Whooo Hooo...I think it went as smooth as butter!

One more puzzle piece down!

Thanks all!

Sun Jul 13, 2025 11:53 am

Aaron Cox CT wrote: Whooo Hooo...I think it went as smooth as butter!

One more puzzle piece down!

Thanks all!

Hope you had the crankshaft turned to the correct TDC. If you used the incorrect one your engine will not start and run, but you can correct matters by moving the wires 180° around the cap.

Sun Jul 13, 2025 4:24 pm

virusdoc wrote: Be sure the washers that go underneath that pinion drive are still in place.

Type 4 engine has only 1 special washer. Type 1 has multiple washers.