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Lostinga Samba Member
Joined: October 11, 2020 Posts: 21 Location: Georgia
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Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2020 7:52 am Post subject: Electronic ignition? |
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Hi Y'all...
Traded into a very much home built VW dune buggy. I was able to determine that it has a Type 1 1200CC motor. I got it to turn over, but there's no spark. Checked the coil and getting consistent 9500 to 1000 ohm resistance and good output.
Pulled all the plugs and checked them...then cranked it with a plug removed (still connected to the distributor) and it didn't spark at all.
This is what I have:
I'm suspecting points issue at this point. I thought about mucking around with the points, but the electronic systems look so much easier to deal with. I'm looking at one of the following:
https://www.jbugs.com/product/1847A.html?utm_conte...UkQAvD_BwE
Pertronix
or
https://www.amazon.com/EMPI-00-9432-0-ACCU-FIRE-EL...&psc=1
EMPI
Just not sure if they'll work on this distributor or not. Anyone have experience in these matters?
Thanks! |
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jbsx127 Samba Member
Joined: February 18, 2015 Posts: 83 Location: FWB, FL
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Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2020 7:58 am Post subject: Re: Electronic ignition? |
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Did you ground the outside of the plug when cranking? |
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Lostinga Samba Member
Joined: October 11, 2020 Posts: 21 Location: Georgia
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Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2020 9:40 am Post subject: Re: Electronic ignition? |
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jbsx127 wrote: |
Did you ground the outside of the plug when cranking? |
Yup, sure did. Nada. |
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jbsx127 Samba Member
Joined: February 18, 2015 Posts: 83 Location: FWB, FL
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Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2020 10:04 am Post subject: Re: Electronic ignition? |
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I would think you should see what's up with points/distributor before getting electronic ign parts. Points, cap, rotor and condenser are cheap. Check point gap.
Also, plug wires could be bad. look at those too. |
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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76762 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2020 10:09 am Post subject: Re: Electronic ignition? |
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jbsx127 wrote: |
Points, cap, rotor and condenser are cheap. |
Not as cheap as they used to me. _________________ 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 |
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rayjay Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2008 Posts: 1501 Location: Buford GA
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Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2020 10:47 am Post subject: Re: Electronic ignition? |
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The contacts on the points are absolutely grungy so it's no wonder there is no spark. Just filing the points would probably get you some spark to see if the motor might run. |
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Lostinga Samba Member
Joined: October 11, 2020 Posts: 21 Location: Georgia
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Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2020 11:01 am Post subject: Re: Electronic ignition? |
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Thanks fellas. I'm in the middle of writing an essay at the moment, but will get back on that project Wednesday or so. I'll pull the innards and clean it up then report back!
Hope to get this bad boy back on the road within a month. Seats are going to be an interesting situation! |
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jbsx127 Samba Member
Joined: February 18, 2015 Posts: 83 Location: FWB, FL
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Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2020 11:02 am Post subject: Re: Electronic ignition? |
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Also, in case you don't know already, here's a good you tube on checking ignition, coil, and spark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GwTtrdtHbQ |
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Dale M. Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2006 Posts: 20366 Location: Just a tiny bit west of Yosemite Valley
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Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2020 12:45 pm Post subject: Re: Electronic ignition? |
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rayjay wrote: |
The contacts on the points are absolutely grungy so it's no wonder there is no spark. Just filing the points would probably get you some spark to see if the motor might run. |
Ditto...
Dale _________________ “Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns" - Thomas Jefferson.
"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
============================================================
All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ... |
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Lostinga Samba Member
Joined: October 11, 2020 Posts: 21 Location: Georgia
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Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2021 6:55 am Post subject: Re: Electronic ignition? |
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Thank you everyone. I was able to get it to turn over a few times. I finally enlisted the help of a local VW guy. He was able to figure out what was going on. Cleaned the distributor as y'all suggested. The electrics were a mix of 6v and 12v, so he squared that away. Rebuilt the brakes as well. It runs like the devil now. I've been having a blast.
Not being too familiar with the rules of this forum yet...
Can I post questions about other aspects of this build in this thread or do I need to create a new thread for each question? |
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oprn Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2016 Posts: 12633 Location: Western Canada
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Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2021 5:04 am Post subject: Re: Electronic ignition? |
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The unwritten rule is that WE NEED PICTURES! _________________ We had the stone age, the bronze age, the industrial age and now we are in the age of mass deception and mind control for corporate profit. (The mass media age) |
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Lostinga Samba Member
Joined: October 11, 2020 Posts: 21 Location: Georgia
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Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2021 6:25 am Post subject: Re: Electronic ignition? |
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oprn wrote: |
The unwritten rule is that WE NEED PICTURES! |
Hehehe here you go! |
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tasb The Distributor Distributor
Joined: April 27, 2002 Posts: 6371 Location: Pentwater, Michigan
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Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2021 8:33 am Post subject: Re: Electronic ignition? |
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You could go either way. you could start a "My Build thread", and post everything there or start a new thread when you have a specific issue. I would like to suggest that you use the search function before posting on option two as many issues have been covered multitudinous times in the last twenty-two years.
Your distributor is a "big cap" with the condenser inside the housing. They are good stable distributors but the weak point in the design is the point where the points spring, condenser wire and coil lead wire come together. Sometimes that assembly grounds against the inside of the distributor housing.
Your points hold down screw is pretty chewed up! Replace it with a screw from a core distributor. They are all the same size and thread pitch with different lengths.
In my opinion, you should stay with what you have as you won't gain much by going to a points replacement module except a lighter wallet. _________________ 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 |
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oprn Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2016 Posts: 12633 Location: Western Canada
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Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2021 9:57 am Post subject: Re: Electronic ignition? |
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Lostinga wrote: |
oprn wrote: |
The unwritten rule is that WE NEED PICTURES! |
Hehehe here you go! |
Yes! Love it! That is the definition of simplicity right there.
Now if that passed as street legal... bonus! I want to live where you do! I personally though would be tempted to add a pipe at steering shaft height starting at the front beam, welded to the steering loop and ending right behind the seat at the roll bar. That would stiffen up the chassis considerably and give you a wee bit of side protection in case someone "T bones" you in an intersection.
Man that thinks looks like fun! _________________ We had the stone age, the bronze age, the industrial age and now we are in the age of mass deception and mind control for corporate profit. (The mass media age) |
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Lostinga Samba Member
Joined: October 11, 2020 Posts: 21 Location: Georgia
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Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2021 1:05 pm Post subject: Re: Electronic ignition? |
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oprn wrote: |
Lostinga wrote: |
oprn wrote: |
The unwritten rule is that WE NEED PICTURES! |
Hehehe here you go! |
Yes! Love it! That is the definition of simplicity right there.
Now if that passed as street legal... bonus! I want to live where you do! I personally though would be tempted to add a pipe at steering shaft height starting at the front beam, welded to the steering loop and ending right behind the seat at the roll bar. That would stiffen up the chassis considerably and give you a wee bit of side protection in case someone "T bones" you in an intersection.
Man that thinks looks like fun! |
well it's tagged, titled and insured. Georgia is sort of easy like that.
Agreed on welding a "rollover" type bar to it. The entire front end needs to be rebuilt. I think the rods and all are fine - just need bushings. Brakes are all new.
It's a riot. It's got the smaller motor, but it rips really well. It's actually parked at city hall in that picture...wife drove it up there to do some work for the city. Everyone got a ride. |
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oprn Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2016 Posts: 12633 Location: Western Canada
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Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2021 1:53 pm Post subject: Re: Electronic ignition? |
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Lostinga wrote: |
Everyone got a ride. |
Sweet!
40 HP is all you need on a 700 pound Buggy around town and across the fields. Can't see it being used on the highway much but I could be mistaken. _________________ We had the stone age, the bronze age, the industrial age and now we are in the age of mass deception and mind control for corporate profit. (The mass media age) |
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Lostinga Samba Member
Joined: October 11, 2020 Posts: 21 Location: Georgia
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Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2021 2:33 pm Post subject: Re: Electronic ignition? |
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oprn wrote: |
Lostinga wrote: |
Everyone got a ride. |
Sweet!
40 HP is all you need on a 700 pound Buggy around town and across the fields. Can't see it being used on the highway much but I could be mistaken. |
Yeah, until it gets new tires, roll cage, lights, seats, seatbelts and front suspension there's no way I'm taking that death trap over 45mph!
Got a friend that's an expert welder and built his own buggy...going to drive it down there when it's got everything else fixed to get help with welding the frame. My welding looks like a 3 year old did it with their left hand... |
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EVfun Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2012 Posts: 5446 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2021 4:03 pm Post subject: Re: Electronic ignition? |
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Lostinga wrote: |
oprn wrote: |
The unwritten rule is that WE NEED PICTURES! |
Hehehe here you go! |
I'd roll that -- it's a go-cart with license plates! I would figure out how to get a working emergency brake.
Perhaps a round gas tank behind the seats, a type 3 cooling system on the engine, and a little more functional flat pickup bed as future upgrades. A practical farm cart look, on the street. _________________
Wildthings wrote: |
As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy. |
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Lostinga Samba Member
Joined: October 11, 2020 Posts: 21 Location: Georgia
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Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2021 4:41 pm Post subject: Re: Electronic ignition? |
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Thanks!
My goal is turn it into a camping rig. Fit a roll cage over the top withand windscreen of some sort and rotopax water and gas cans. Adjust the suspension so all 4 wheels can be the same size and mount a spare on the front behind a small electric winch.
The "bed" is probably going to be replaced with something bigger to hold my camping gear. The e-brake...I'm not so much worried about it as getting the loose throttle cable stowed. Still a lot of work to be done. The wiring is a mess too.... |
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oprn Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2016 Posts: 12633 Location: Western Canada
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Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2021 5:10 am Post subject: Re: Electronic ignition? |
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Mine doesn't have an E brake yet and I miss it badly. Every time I stop to open a gate I have to shut it off and put it in gear or it wants to roll away and this is flat country. I can't imagine how inconvenient it would be in the hills! _________________ We had the stone age, the bronze age, the industrial age and now we are in the age of mass deception and mind control for corporate profit. (The mass media age) |
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