1959 Beetle removing dynamo

[phil60]

Hi - could anyone help me please with some idiot proof, step by step instructions on how to remove the dynamo from my car. Many thanks.

[Bub]

*Disconnect BATTERY FIRST!*
1. Remove Carburetor
2. Put 36mm socket for fan nut on a breaker bar, and reach behind and place it on the fan nut inside the shroud- wedge the bar so that the fan will not spin CCW. So, wedge the bar towards the LEFT (3/4) side.
3. Remove generator pulley outer half, use inner half to turn generator CCW FIRMLY in order to loosen the fan nut, then remove breaker bar, reach back and grab the fan nut and washers that come off with it. Fan should now be 'loose' in the shroud.
4. Remove the 4 screws from backing plate/shroud, and the generator strap and wires.
Now you can begin to wiggle the generator out- tilt the pulley end down and sometimes you can remove it with the fan still attached. If not, you can wiggle the fan and remove it as you remove the generator, leaving it sitting in the shroud.
This method has never failed me in 40 years, 1000+ generator swaps. Sometimes its very slick and easy, sometimes it can be a hassle. But please don't go crazy pull the engine lid off to tear the engine apart while installed.
If it is just too much, as for some help or remove the engine.
After you get the hang of this procedure it's literally a 15 minute job, I just did it yesterday.
_________________

[Eric&Barb]

[Bub]

[my59]

Step 1a, stuff a clean rag in the intake after removing carburetor.

There is a gasket between the generator and the generator stand. You may need a replacement. Mine is missing, which is why this is also a place for a clean rag to be stuffed while generator is off.
_________________
my59: Well son, my grandfather died before I got to drive it, so does that answer your question?
our79: sunroof bus w/camper interior and 2.0 FI
Other:'12 Jetta, '77 Benz 300D, and a 74 MG Midget.

[phil60]

Hi - many thanks for the suggestions. Much appreciated. Being an absolute amateur with Beetles I'm not sure if I have the confidence to tackle this - it sounds reasonable enough but also sounds as though a lot could go wrong. For instance I have no idea what a thermostat throttle ring is! Also the car does not have a removable generator stand which I assume would make the job harder. I'll have to find someone who knows what they are doing.

[Eric&Barb]

If you have a garage or at least a quiet place you can put up a tarp on your property, then you should consider pulling the engine yourself if you are in decent physical shape. For a beginner it sounds like a challenging job to pull the engine, but it really is not, and a must to get the experience sometime anyway. That way you can fix the engine/clutch without having to get your VW towed into a garage to some suspect mechanic who probably knows less about your VW than you.

Personally would never suggest a newbie to take the generator out with the engine in situ. Too easy to get things out of place when putting back. Better to do this job with engine out a time or two.

The below manual is a must to have. Pricey at first glance, but it is three or four times the manual (with over a thousand pages) compared to any other out there, plus was once only available to VW employees. If you wish to, shop around and you can find it for less or find it in good used shape in the classifieds if you search daily.

https://www.wolfsburgwest.com/cart/DetailsList.cfm?ID=book1b
_________________
In Stereo, Where Available!

[Cusser]

[Eric&Barb]

[phil60]

Damn! I'd almost decided to give it a try.

[my59]

I replaced the generator in the driveway years ago, and it was very achievable with basic tools. Spent some time finessing it out, and removed the deck lid after it closed on my head a few times when my arm knocked the stick prop out of the way. Yeah, that pissed me off. Yeah it took all day. Yeah, having to remove and reinstall the carb is a PITA
There is nothing inherently difficult about doing it, if you take your time and have patience and an orderly work flow.
Yeah, I learned a lot about the parts you cant see easily.

Reason was, generator stopped working. Close inspection of winding showed a small length of copper wire was missing.
Used generator was installed.
The oil change a few weeks later coughed up the missing bit of copper wire.
_________________
my59: Well son, my grandfather died before I got to drive it, so does that answer your question?
our79: sunroof bus w/camper interior and 2.0 FI
Other:'12 Jetta, '77 Benz 300D, and a 74 MG Midget.

[EVfun]

[phil60]

OK - I did decide to try removing the generator and to my surprise it was not too difficult. The only problem I had was that I could not lift the fan housing up more than about half an inch - it just seemed to get stuck on something, but didn't stop me getting the dynamo out. My question now is about the air control ring which is held in place by 2 bolts that slide down into a bracket. As I understand it this moves back as the engine gets hot letting more air through. I have read somewhere (and the last post also mentions it) that this is often removed. So what do you think - leave or remove?

[Eric&Barb]

[phil60]

You're right - FORWARD! No it was unhooked when I was trying to lift the fan housing

[EVfun]

[Eric&Barb]

[phil60]

I left the throttle cable tube in place as I didn't know how to remove it.

I was thinking permanently? Not a good idea?

[Eric&Barb]

[phil60]

OK - many thanks for the info