Stock Distributor

[koho60]

I got my rebuilt distributor back (Philbin Group). When placed back in my 72 there is no way I can get the timming down to 5 deg atdc. The bus will not idle at 5 deg. I have turned the idle adjust screw all the way out to the point i'm afraid it will come out. Does the idle mixture screw need tweeking? I have never adjusted this screw before.

[[email protected]]

Not sure if this applies to your year, but I know of some factory or other manuals that indicate 5 ATDC for certain years, but the models I've owned were actually 7.5 BTDC...there's even a sticker on the fan shroud. So make certain that 5 ATDC is what your distributor/motor is set up for. You have dual carbs, right, in a '72?

[koho60]

Well not much input!
I put my stock vacuum advance back in my 72. It does not come close to the performance of the 009. I want to have the stock distributor in my van but it runs like crap (no power in 4th)anybody-gokayaking,chabanis etc...

[Amskeptic]

Jeff,
You must test the vacuum retard unit before setting the timing. Apply vacuum to the hose that leads to the retard side of the chamber and see if the breaker plate moves clockwise and holds. If it springs back or you just get air when you apply vacuum, you must replace the vacuum unit.
If you set the timing to 5* ATDC with a malfunctioning vacuum retard unit, your whole timing map will be retarded, lousy performance and idle. Once you have dtermined that the vacuum retard side of the vacuum unit works, set the timing. Take the central idling pipe off from the left air horn, not the top of the left carb. You should hear air sucking through that pipe at a pretty hasty velocity. Turn the air screw until you do get major velocity, even if the engine runs poorly. Then turn the mixture screw, on the other side of the air inlet on top of the left carb, counter-clockwise until the idle stabilizes, it better, then turn in until the idle just begins to falter.
Turn it out until it is smooth, then put the air pipe back on the left air horn. What's your idle now?
Colin

[NeverHadaBeetle]

Thanks Colin. I was looking for this thread again since Jeff has the stock setup on his 72 and I recall you have a 72 or 73. My last experience with a dual carbed 1700 was over a year ago and I remember stumbling through the Bentley thinking there were too many opportunities to miss some details on those carbs or the timing. The bus ran fine afterwards, but I remember timing that beast certainly wasn't straight forward. Good luck Jeff. You should listen to Colin or anybody else that installs his engine by bench pressing it back into the bus.

[[email protected]]

Your type4 motor has some confusing timing marks-check the library at type2.com for specifics on exactly what vw calls the top dead center notch on the pulley.
As for the timing-set your timing to later specs for a 1.8,2.0-7.5btdc(if it ran w/the 009 high initial anvance and low total advance it will run w/the stock dist.timed to later specs.
Turn the engine by hand until the rotor points to no1 cyl.-eyeball the dist. adjustment to get you in the ballpark.
And double check point gap.good luck.