vacuum can failure?

[poopdevil]

Hi all! My 57 is all original and I am having issues where fuel does not suck into the carburator.
I am currently rebuilding it because I thought it was possible the seals are bad.
I am not much of a mechanic but am learning as I go.
I have gone through everything and narrowed it down to the Carb needing to be rebuilt, the fuel pump itself or the vac canister

I did not even think about it but could it before but could it possibly be the vac canister failing so fuel does not go past the fuel filter into the carb?

I saw that these cans cannot be opened without destroying them so I will look for a NOS one if possible to keep the integrity of the engine.

Just looking for any advice anyone can give.

Thanks!

[janerick3]

Vacuum advance has nothing to do with fuel delivery.

If you live in an area where ethanol-free gas is not available, check both braided rubber lines on the suction side (before the fuel pump) for moist spots.

The ethanol rots the braided lines prematurely, allowing air to seep into the line. When that happens you break the siphon flow from the tank and end up pumping too much air and not enough gas, causing fuel starvation. The cotton braid sucks up the leaking gas like a sponge and it evaporates before it can drip onto the ground. There should also be a stronger-than-usual smell of gas in the garage.
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Thanks,
Jan K.

[poopdevil]

Hmmm. Well all of my lines are solid metal
Lines. No hoses and nothing braided. Well, I’ll rebuild
The carb and see what happens at this point.

[tasb]

Original 36 hp Beetle distributors have a threaded steel line between the distributor and the carburetor. There is a soft line between the pan and the front engine tin but this shouldn't effect the issues you are having as above. NOS canisters are hard to find but not impossible. You can check the integrity of the canister by disconnecting the vacuum line at the carburetor and inserting a vacuum pimp on the line. If the gauge on the pump shows that it holds vacuum then it's good. If it leaks back to 0...
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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

[finster]

[poopdevil]

I was suspecting the pump too but I had some gas leaking from a seal
in the carburetor so decided to overhaul it. I see they sell a rebuild kit for the fuel pump as well. I’ll get that too in case I need it if it still has issues once the carburetor is back on!
Thanks guys!

[Glenn]

IF the vacuum canister is bad, here's a NOS one:

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2333581
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"

Member #1009

#BlueSquare

[tasb]

That translates to a bit over $71 usd a fair price.
_________________
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

[poopdevil]

Thanks! One quick question. Soaked carb in chem dip. After rinsing there is a grey powdery film. Will this effect performance? Wiping
It with a towel and it keeps wiping off.

[petrol punk]

If the fuel pump has never been rebuilt it is probably the 60+ year old diaphragm that has split and no longer functions. Wolfsburg West sells a rebuild kit. While you have the fuel pump out I recommend checking the small pin that is pressed into the fuel pump body that the lever inside the fuel pump pivots on. I've had that little guy come lose and walk it's way out of the fuel pump body, causing the pump to stop working and the engine dies.
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36hp '56 European DeLuxe oval, '70 bug 1835cc dual 36DRLA, and a '98 4x4 5spd single cab Tacoma

[heimlich]