'74 SB How to test for spark with no help

[rusty_74_bug]

[67rustavenger]

5.5mm fuel line works best. 1/4" may be a bit large and not seal well. Without help.

Depending on the clog. Sometimes you can loosen it up with carb cleaner and compressed air.
If it's really fighting ya. Folks use an old throttle cable chucked up in a drill motor to break up a clog.

Other times the clog is just too hard to break up. Then you have to go through the painful effort to replace the fuel line inside the tunnel.
Notice I keep mentioning the tunnel in my posts? The fuel line runs through the tunnel from just behind the frame head to the rear trans support forks.
I have never had to change one. But from what I read here. It can be done. But it's a PITA!
_________________
I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!

There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!

[Cusser]

1/4 inch is really too large.
_________________
1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[polypetalous]

Just recently cleaned my metal fuel line...
I sprayed in a bunch of carb cleaner, let it sit then blew it out with an air compressor.
I worked both ways multiple times, front-to-back, then back-to-front. I also put a hose on the exit side of the fuel line going into a bottle to catch the carb cleaner/crud. Really I just wanted to see the crud to justify the effort.

Also, from my experience I thought my line was clogged, because I couldn’t spray the carb cleaner straight through. The line would fill then brake clean would come back out at me.
In reality, it just took the air compressor to totally move the fluid through, I also started with the air pressure low and worked up for fear of blowing the hard line.

Worked well enough, got lots of crud out not really BIG gobs but unwanted stuff out all the same.

Good luck

Ben

[rusty_74_bug]

I found the problem and it was another mistake by yours truly. Man, I remember that hose being a MFer when I put that tank back in. Serious crimp about 2 inches from the tank. Also noticed this hose is 3/8. Previous owner or mechanic must have done that I assume, I know I didn't replace it. I'll get this back together and post an update. I'm 99% sure this is the problem and I'll get to move on to the next problem.

I do realize what I did wrong when I put the tank back in last year and I won't make that mistake now.

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'74 Standard Bug

[67rustavenger]

You do realize that the Cubs game started!

Good to hear that you found the issue. Now go get some correct inside diameter hose and get er done!
_________________
I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!

There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!

[rusty_74_bug]

[67rustavenger]

[68IHscout]

[rusty_74_bug]

Alright alright alright (my best Matthew McConaughey) That was it! I have fuel flow now! Now on to the next problem, it won't idle and dies if I take my foot off the gas pedal. I will tinker with the carb, I have a vague understanding of idle speed. I will start another thread if I run into a problem, although I'm sure I will. Thanks for everyone's help, much appreciated!
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'74 Standard Bug

[Pruneman99]

Hey great progress!

Now just go through some checks.

Valve lash
Ignition timing
Choke set
Choke powered
Cut off valve working/powered
Basic carb settings

And sometimes they just need a few heat cycles to help beat the grumpy out of them!

[rusty_74_bug]

[67rustavenger]

What fixed the issue?

Come on, spill it. We all wanna know!

Don't make me drive up there and hit ya with the hot light in a dark room!
_________________
I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!

There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!

[Cusser]

[rusty_74_bug]

[rusty_74_bug]

[Pruneman99]

Can you remind me what distributor you're working with here? I looked through the three, but I didn't see it.

A few overall pictures of the engine, carb, distributor might help us spot possible issues.

[rusty_74_bug]

[rusty_74_bug]

[rusty_74_bug]