Cylinder tin removal with thermostat in place

[panicman]

Trying to remove the engine tin over cylinders 1 and 2.

I seem to remember that I installed the cooling ring and thermostat BEFORE I installed the stale air boxes.

Now I am hoping to remove the cylinder top tin without taking the heater boxes off, and I have the thermostat rod holding the arm for the cooling ring, which is holding the tin captive. Is there a trick to separating the thermostat rod from the cooling ring lever arm without removing all the bottom tin and boxes, and unthreading the thermostat?

[tasb]

Is the engine in or out of the car?

#page2

If you loosen the throttle ring operating lever you may be able to rotate the operating lever enough so that it will release the thermostat rod. It may require removal of the entire throttle ring assembly in order to accomplish. Much easier done with the engine out. In part because the fan shroud with generator will need to be raised/removed in order to remove the upper cylinder tin.

I tried unsuccessfully on my phone, to copy and paste a link to the parts manual for 1956. It will give you a visual of the assembly.
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Roads Scholar
1957 Kombi low mileage 36 hp governor equipped M 178 Slow Drag Winner 2014, 2015, 2018

1965 hardtop Deluxe Microbus owned since 1990 M 620 factory 12 v 1500cc

1961 (October)Single Cab- Road Trip Workhorse

Member# 2059

[panicman]

Thanks tasb.

Engine is out of the car. All tin and the fan shroud have been removed.

All that's left is the cooling fan shaft and lever, and then I can get the last part off.

[Dan22]

I have done this by removing the bolt in the bottom of the thermostat bellows, then spinning the bellows off the connecting rod that goes up to the lever.

Once the rod is loose, you can spin the lever on the shaft and disconnect the rod.
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1-0900722 die langsame grüne Schildkröte
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=765074

[tasb]

He's trying to accomplish the upper tin removal without unscrewing the thermostat.
_________________
Roads Scholar
1957 Kombi low mileage 36 hp governor equipped M 178 Slow Drag Winner 2014, 2015, 2018

1965 hardtop Deluxe Microbus owned since 1990 M 620 factory 12 v 1500cc

1961 (October)Single Cab- Road Trip Workhorse

Member# 2059

[Dan22]

Maybe the right way is what he will have to try.....? You can reach in from the flap side of the sleds.

Or bend the rod to release the tab from the lever.
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1-0900722 die langsame grüne Schildkröte
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=765074

[panicman]

I totally get it

I may see if I can remove the flap and fit a hand/wrench in there. I don't want to try bending anything, and I have tried to flex and twist with no luck.

[Dan22]

I thought more about this. If you loosen the clamp on the lever so it can slide, then remove the pivot rod from the case, sliding it sideways to get out of the case, then it should flip up and out from the notch in the rod.
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1-0900722 die langsame grüne Schildkröte
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=765074

[tasb]

Exactly:

[panicman]

This was possible, but because of the stiff captive spring, does require either:

Brute hand/finger power to force the pivot rod against the spring g so it can clear the case holes, or...

In hindsight, one could figure out a way to just compress that spring in place, and then slide the rod out.

Either way, it's out. Thank you!!