| Author |
Message |
surfbus23
Samba Member
Joined: July 21, 2016
Posts: 394
|
 Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2017 10:53 am Post subject: Distributor Question |
 |
|
I had my mechanic install my distributor shaft yesterday. I didn't think to take the distributor so he asked me what kind of distributor I had. I told him the Pertronix one with SVDA. He kept insisting either way it was a 009 type. I didn't know whether that was true or not and since I didn't have the distributor it appears he installed it to correct for the 90 degree 009 issue.
Now if I install the distributor as things are the rotor will not point to the default #1 position.
It seems that the most correct solution would be to readjust the distributor drive shaft, but the whole reason I took it to the mechanic was to have him do it so that I didn't do what I figured I would inevitably do and drop the washer into the engine.
I guess the question is since it is just 90 degrees out, can I just leave it as it is now and mark the distributor cap with new plug numbers so as to avoid confusion in the future?
Also, my distributor doesn't have a #1 mark on the housing. Is this a problem?
Thanks!
Picture. Haven't pushed it past the o-ring until I now this is ok, but this is how it would align with the drive shaft.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
russwiththebus
Samba Member
Joined: September 25, 2007
Posts: 930
Location: Chattanooga, TN
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2017 11:12 am Post subject: Re: Distributor Question |
|
|
Your mechanic is wrong, an SVDA is not a 009. They will not line up the same when you install.
Make sure your distributor drive gear is installed correctly, Ratwell has a good photo to compare: http://ratwell.com/technical/FAQ/FAQContent.html#0141
Once that is correct, you can drop in the distributor and rotate it around until #1 spark plug lines up at TDC.
My Pertronix SVDA didn't come with a mark on the housing either. Once you get it lined up, you can take a file to it and make one yourself. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
surfbus23
Samba Member
Joined: July 21, 2016
Posts: 394
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2017 11:17 am Post subject: Re: Distributor Question |
|
|
| Yeah. What I'm saying is that it isn't installed correctly. It's 90 degrees off and wondering if this will cause a problem. I don't want to change it myself and I don't want to spend the time hauling the motor around town again if I can just change the wires. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
russwiththebus
Samba Member
Joined: September 25, 2007
Posts: 930
Location: Chattanooga, TN
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
surfbus23
Samba Member
Joined: July 21, 2016
Posts: 394
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2017 11:24 am Post subject: Re: Distributor Question |
|
|
Right on. Maybe I'll just not worry about it for now and drive it over to him once I get it running.
Thanks,
K |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Glenn 
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 80546
Location: Sneaking up behind you
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2017 11:28 am Post subject: Re: Distributor Question |
|
|
The location of the #1 mark is 90 different between the 009 and a SVDA.
Yours is correct.
_________________
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
עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
surfbus23
Samba Member
Joined: July 21, 2016
Posts: 394
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2017 3:20 pm Post subject: Re: Distributor Question |
|
|
| For my education. What exactly does being correct in this case accomplish? It's just that the #1 plug is in a different spot than every other type 4, yes? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
orwell84
Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2007
Posts: 2805
Location: Plattsburgh, New York
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2017 3:43 pm Post subject: Re: Distributor Question |
|
|
| It's just that if you know that the drive gear is set correctly, you or someone else working on it will never have to wonder about it next time you set up a new distributor. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
SGKent
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007
Posts: 42958
Location: at the beach in Northern Wokistan
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2017 4:27 pm Post subject: Re: Distributor Question |
|
|
| surfbus23 wrote: |
| For my education. What exactly does being correct in this case accomplish? It's just that the #1 plug is in a different spot than every other type 4, yes? |
It is a standard that we agreed to. If I write "she rode a grey horse," and you decide to write "she rode a gray horse," it still works. Someone way back when at VW pointed to a cap and said "this will be cylinder #1. That is how we do it on Messerschmitt engines." Someone in a garage in the USA put it in differently and moved the wires to compensate.
If you move the drive gear and you drop that little washer under it into the engine it will have to come apart. I would rotate the wires until someone like Colin or Robbie can drop by and move it for you. It can be done without pulling the gear all the way out but I'd hate to have you drop that little washer on your first dance.
Next time we go back east to NC from Sacramento, if we go or come back I-10 I'll be glad to drop by and make the change for you.
_________________
 Canned Water - the new California approved parts cleaner (except in a drought in which case rub it with sand).
George Carlin:
"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it."
Skills@EuroCarsPlus:
"never time to do it right but always time to do it twice" |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
surfbus23
Samba Member
Joined: July 21, 2016
Posts: 394
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2017 5:32 pm Post subject: Re: Distributor Question |
|
|
Well, I do want my bus to speak the same language as all the other buses. Will have Eddie adjust it whenever I get this thing up an running.
Thanks for the generous offer Steve and the helpful comments from everyone else! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Manfred58sc
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2009
Posts: 3471
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2017 5:46 pm Post subject: Re: Distributor Question |
|
|
Many,many VW engines run just fine with the drive gear in the "wrong" position. The engine could care less where it lines up. TCD #1 on the compression stroke is all you need to know. Better than risking a slipped washer ( they can be recovered with a magnet , but its tricky ).
_________________
Fat chick owner/operator |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 52739
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2017 9:18 pm Post subject: Re: Distributor Question |
|
|
| Just move the wires around and be happy. Probably 25% of VW's have their drive in wrong and can be made to run just fine. The important thing is that you can turn the distributor enough to get the timing marks properly aligned before the vacuum advance bumps into something. If it does bump into something then in that case you need to lift the drive and align it to the factory position. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
curtp07
Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2007
Posts: 874
Location: Mass
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2017 9:57 am Post subject: Re: Distributor Question |
|
|
I moved my wires and it's fine. Just another reason to not let anyone touch it and do the tuneups yourself. Just make a note of the change. It's
_________________
Subaru |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Hansolo99
Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2010
Posts: 524
Location: So Cal
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2017 11:02 am Post subject: Re: Distributor Question |
|
|
| SGKent wrote: |
| Next time we go back east to NC from Sacramento, if we go or come back I-10 I'll be glad to drop by and make the change for you. |
SGKent, that is REALLY nice. You don't hear that very often. That made my whole day and this has nothing to do with me, considering what's going on the world it nice to know that there are still some AWESOME people like you among us!!! A good lesson for us to learn and MAYBE even copy..... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
