Engine Dies in Reverse

brandondonat · Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 10:08 am Post subject: Engine Dies in Reverse

When I put the gear selector in reverse on my 67 Bus, and let off of the clutch, it dies immediately... Before I can even give any gas. Has anyone ever seen this problem?

As a result I cannot reverse my Bus at all unless I manually push it. Once I back it up I am able to drive the bus forward in an other gear. I can put the gear selector in all positions (even reverse) and there is no grinding and it goes into gear easily. I don't know if it would help to say but once it is in gear it stays in gear until I change it to another gear - there is no slipping.

Any idea why this might be happening?

Thank you.

crofty · Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 10:19 am Post subject:

Hmm. Do you have reverse lights?
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widehatch · Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 10:30 am Post subject:

have you tried putting the bus in reverse before you start the engine?
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BarryL · Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 10:53 am Post subject:

Sounds like flacky wire such that in reverse the engine cocks and makes a disconnect.

mandraks · Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 11:17 am Post subject:

Culito · Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 3:11 pm Post subject:

Sounds like the reverse light wire hooked to the wrong side of the coil.
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BarryL · Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 4:44 pm Post subject: Re: Engine Dies in Reverse

olliehank47 · Samba Member Joined: May 04, 2011 Posts: 1198

3foldfolly · Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 5:59 pm Post subject:

mandraks · Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 6:37 pm Post subject:

very interesting, maybe i should get me a split with backup lights, just to see this?
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brandondonat · Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 6:31 am Post subject:

Thanks for all of the help everyone. I went out to check the functionality of the reverse lights and wiring in the engine bay. Turned out that both reverse lights worked and the wiring was hooked up to the coil as you have stated. Scratching my head I gave everything a good once over and noticed that the notched carb gearing (not exactly sure of its name but has a scallop shape to it) that controls the throttle was completely turned around. Once I flipped it right side up... In its normal position... I fired up the engine and it went into reverse without any problems. I did it a number of times so this seemed to be the culprit.

Playing with this scallop piece on the carb it is very wobbly and not very effective. Probably best if I put a new carb... Or a good used carb... On it instead. Anyone have an extra carb kicking about? Don't need anything fancy... Just the standard bus carb.

Thanks again for your help.

olliehank47 · Samba Member Joined: May 04, 2011 Posts: 1198

crofty · Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 7:12 am Post subject:

My guess is that he's only using reverse after the car has cooled enough to reset the electric choke so that when he steps on the pedal the spring in the choke is strong enough to flip the plate around. The carb is missing it's pin to prevent that or its a carb without the pin.
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BarryL · Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 8:04 am Post subject:

Wobbly is ok.

Like Campy said, there is a little roll pin that has fallen off. Look close and you'll see how it fits into the slot. Usually when that cam flips over the engine races and won't idle down.

Still can't understand how only reverse was affected.

brandondonat · Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 7:06 pm Post subject:

Ollie: I wish I could explain more about how this lever had caused this problem only in reverse. The part I am referring to I'd the one you have mentioned... The idle cam on the throttle shaft with the stepped edge. It was completely flipped over.

I too think there is more to this problem but I only found this solution after I flipped the idle cam back over. There is no tension on the idle cam and a missing spring, as has been suggested, may be the problem here. In addition, the cam is so wobbly that it often doesn't even make contact with the throttle lever. The throttle cable is also set with the incorrect spring so the tension is likely a bit off.

Barry: You are exactly right about the engine racing when the cam is flipped over. As my wife explained it... It sounded like I was taking off in a small aircraft.

BarryL · Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2013 7:56 am Post subject:

Once you discover the missing pin you'll discover how gravity holds that cam. There is no spring for the cam itself. The choke interfaces with the cam to make it add more steps when it's cold so that may be the spring you feel but it's actually on the other side and part of the choke mechanism where the wire hooks on.

Culito · Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2013 9:15 am Post subject:

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Obviously this missing pin is also part of the reverse gear linkage. Very Happy


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