| Author |
Message |
amarioone
Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2014
Posts: 3
Location: arizona
|
 Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2014 3:30 pm Post subject: distributor problems |
 |
|
| I have taken the distributor off when i try to replace it , I do it at tdc and notches where they should be. But when I try to start car the rotor is not turning. Hope someone can help. Thanks |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Joey
Samba Member
Joined: August 12, 2005
Posts: 5376
Location: Nova Scotia - Canada
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2014 4:43 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Sounds like the distributor is not fully seated. Rotate the rotor as you push down on the distributor so the drive of the distributor matches up with drive gear in the engine which will allow the distributor to fully seat.
_________________
Joey
‘60 Kombi - '74 Bus - '79 Panel - '65 Beetle |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ashman40
Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2007
Posts: 16800
Location: North Florida, USA
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 2:59 am Post subject: Re: distributor problems |
|
|
| amarioone wrote: |
| I have taken the distributor off when i try to replace it , I do it at tdc and notches where they should be. But when I try to start car the rotor is not turning. Hope someone can help. Thanks |
Not clear from your description... did you rotate the engine so the TDC mark was lined up with the case split AND the rotor was pointing to the #1 spark plug wire on the cap... BEFORE you removed the distributor?
The rotor can point to either #1 or #3 spark plug wire when the engine is at TDC. The crank pulley alone cannot tell you if the distributor is at TDC for #1 cylinder.
When installing your new distributor, don't assume #1 spark plug wire will be located in the same spot.
In the above pic, all three distributors are sitting with their cap clamps almost in the same position, but the #1 plug wire notches are located differently around the distributor. The rotors for each are likewise set to line up with these different position when the cog at the bottom of the distributor shaft is aligned properly for #1 TDC. Also, T2 and T3 engines installed the distributor drive gear oriented differently so distributors for these models while they will fit into a T1 engine will line up differently.
This is why you orient your engine to TDC at the end of the #1 cylinder compression stroke (rotor pointing to #1 plug wire). Remove the old distributor. Installed the new one making sure the cog is fully engaged with the drive gear (only goes in one way). Now your rotor will be pointing to where #1 plug wire goes. Rotate the distributor body so the #1 plug wire notch is lined up with the rotor tip. Install the spark plug wired starting with #1 where the rotor is pointing and then clockwise in order 1-4-3-2. Adjust timing and lock down the distributor.
_________________
AshMan40
---------------------------
'67 Beetle #1 {project car that never made it to the road  }
'75 Beetle 1200LS (RHD Japan model) {junked due to frame rot}
'67 Beetle #2 {2019 project car - Wish me luck!} |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
HRVW
Samba Member
Joined: May 01, 2011
Posts: 2531
Location: Rosarito, Mexico
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 11:06 am Post subject: |
|
|
 People ....FORGET the notch as being towards #1 as that is NOT always the case and just adds to any confusion a person has.
If you had an engine assembled w/o the dist drive gear installed....the Pully was at TDC (could be at #1 or #3 for that matter) and the drive gear needs to be installed....now what is correct?
The gear has 12 teeth thus when installed you have 12 possible positions that #1 could be pointing.....that is what you have at this moment.
With your drive gear already inside drop the dist inside (only will go one way) and the rotor is now pointing at #1 or #3 (Ignore the notch).
Depending on the particular engine be it the bug, T3 FI, or the later bug FI the dist can needed to be pointing in one direction due to available space and this is where many have a problem.
In 28 yrs of building engines I have seen all kinds of problems people had with the drive gear and the dist rotor pointing to #1 etc.
What I always did was to have a (dummy dist) rotor towards #1 before installing the crank so that it was at the top of the #1 stroke.
Now you are not assembling at this point so live with the fact at TDC your rotor is pointing at #1 or #3...as long as the vac can clears...relax. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
