how do i know ?

buster · Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2003 7:39 pm Post subject: how do i know ?

how do i know if i have a mechanical or vacuum distributor? the distributor is not attached to an engine. so i dont know if that makes a differance. is there a number to look at or what? please help

static · Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2003 8:13 pm Post subject: how do i know ?

If it looks like this: http://store1.yimg.com/I/jimscustomvw_1710_31830 then it is a mechancial distributor.

Here is what you need to know:

http://www.aircooled.net/gnrlsite/resource/articles/distributor.htm

Jeff H · Samba Member Joined: August 28, 2002 Posts: 575

Hey Buster;

I think the easiest way to tell is this... If it has a diaphragm (on the outside of the distributor), and a little tube running to the carburator, it's a vacuum distributor. The diaphragm is probably 2-3 inches in diameter and not quite an inch thick. It will have a little air tube coming out of it.

Hope that helps a little.

JSH

Aussiebug · Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2003 8:59 pm Post subject: how do i know ?

As Jeff says the vacuum distributors have a canister mounted on the side of the body.

Mechanical advance distributors like the 009 have a circular body with no canister stuck on the side.

A 009 has a 9 digit Bosch part number ending in 009 (amazing!)

Most of the vacuum distributors have a 9 digit VW number ending in 205 and usually followed by one or two letters, (which tells you which vacuum model it is).

Regards
Rob

buster · Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2003 10:09 pm Post subject: how do i know ?

thanks for the help. im not the most engine inclined kind of person. what is better a vacuum or mechanical?

oregonian52 · Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2003 8:11 am Post subject: how do i know ?

For a stock engine the vacuum is the only way to go. Better driveability.

static · Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2003 9:20 am Post subject: how do i know ?

It took me about 20 years to learn that.
I am finally back to a stock distributor and my bus drives better than it ever has.

The pain lingers on though, on account of the big 'dope slap' that I gave myself.

j.pickens · Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2003 2:27 pm Post subject: how do i know ?

The BEST thing I ever did to my bus was to dump the 009 mechanical distributor for a stock vacuum unit. The bus idles like a kitten's purr, has much better gas mileage, doesn't surge or backfire, and doesn't diesel (keep running) when you shut the ignition off. Oh, and my skin cleared up, too.

buster · Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2003 9:27 pm Post subject: how do i know ?

so is this a big deal to switch from a mechanical to a vacuum? what all is involved? do you need to do anything inside the case?


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