Restoration Project: '68 VW Beetle (o\ _!_ /o)

[murtaza_murti]

Now that's a bummer!

Tell me about it man. I just hope it's the starter motor and nothing else.

[murtaza_murti]

So, the starter motor will go for repairs again on Monday. Delays like these come in between the process and take time.

Here are some pictures I took during the engine test start today.

[capsat]

laboring starter motor ? you got it overhauled ? define repair ?

it has completed few complete cranking cycles as per video, it sounds FIT.

if tappets are properly adjusted and ignition timing is in order it 'must' fire up.

how about tappet adjustment & ignition timing? distributor over haul?

[haseeb2288]

good going bro . u r back on project after long tym

[nmshaikh]

did you replace the starter bushing that fits in the bell housing? If you can find a self supporting starter from a semi auto beetle it would work like a charm.

[fedd]

I don't see Starter being a culprit in THIS scenario, although no doubt it IS cranking slow and this could be one additional cause but with the correct Firing Order, Ignition Timing, and proper Fuel Flow, it should catch it after a couple of rotations (in my opinion).

First simple way... Try a push start, if it starts, this will eliminate further discussion and we'd get to know that Starter is the culprit. Howver, IF not...

I doubt a few things here in your setup, I'm not dead sure as it is hard to tell from the video and photos but I see the Timing way too out, as well as Firing Order, again, to be sure we'd need to remove the Distributor Cap to check Top Dead Center on your motor.

Now it is possible to start the engine with the timing out but here it SEEMS way out and could be the cause of no spark at all. I'm sure your mechanic must've checked Points Gap, Coil, Rotor sitting properly on the shaft etc, sometimes such little things are overlooked even by the professionals and they end up in a headache.

Now for the firing order, I don't know why I doubt that Plug wires are connected 1-4-3-2 anticlockwise on Distributor. From the photos, they simply don't seem correct to me.

Next time you go to see the Blue, make sure you take AsadIshaque along, so he may check the orders and little details by himself as we always had our doubts on this mechanic but NOT on Asad ofcourse.

[murtaza_murti]

laboring starter motor ? you got it overhauled ? define repair ?

it has completed few complete cranking cycles as per video, it sounds FIT.

if tappets are properly adjusted and ignition timing is in order it 'must' fire up.

how about tappet adjustment & ignition timing? distributor over haul?

Yes, as per what the mechanic said it was overhauled. Tappet adjustment was done before hand, don't know about ignition timing. The distributor wasn't overhauled, the plug wires were only replaced with new ones.

good going bro . u r back on project after long tym

Thanks, I've been working on it since a year. But then delays come in between.

did you replace the starter bushing that fits in the bell housing? If you can find a self supporting starter from a semi auto beetle it would work like a charm.

The mechanic did say the guy who repaired the motor did replace the starter bushes. That would be a hard find, wouldn't it?

I don't see Starter being a culprit in THIS scenario, although no doubt it IS cranking slow and this could be one additional cause but with the correct Firing Order, Ignition Timing, and proper Fuel Flow, it should catch it after a couple of rotations (in my opinion).

First simple way... Try a push start, if it starts, this will eliminate further discussion and we'd get to know that Starter is the culprit. Howver, IF not...

I doubt a few things here in your setup, I'm not dead sure as it is hard to tell from the video and photos but I see the Timing way too out, as well as Firing Order, again, to be sure we'd need to remove the Distributor Cap to check Top Dead Center on your motor.

Now it is possible to start the engine with the timing out but here it SEEMS way out and could be the cause of no spark at all. I'm sure your mechanic must've checked Points Gap, Coil, Rotor sitting properly on the shaft etc, sometimes such little things are overlooked even by the professionals and they end up in a headache.

Now for the firing order, I don't know why I doubt that Plug wires are connected 1-4-3-2 anticlockwise on Distributor. From the photos, they simply don't seem correct to me.

Next time you go to see the Blue, make sure you take AsadIshaque along, so he may check the orders and little details by himself as we always had our doubts on this mechanic but NOT on Asad ofcourse.

I seriously have a doubt on the ignition timing as well.

I would really like to take Asad bahi with me, he is really busy with his work and everything. He barely gets time, he said he would pay a visit to the workshop sometime next week and will let me know going beforehand.

Thank you for your detailed reply I'll mention the things you've explained, to the mechanic when I go on Monday.

[nmshaikh]

I don't see Starter being a culprit in THIS scenario, although no doubt it IS cranking slow and this could be one additional cause but with the correct Firing Order, Ignition Timing, and proper Fuel Flow, it should catch it after a couple of rotations (in my opinion).

First simple way... Try a push start, if it starts, this will eliminate further discussion and we'd get to know that Starter is the culprit. Howver, IF not...

I doubt a few things here in your setup, I'm not dead sure as it is hard to tell from the video and photos but I see the Timing way too out, as well as Firing Order, again, to be sure we'd need to remove the Distributor Cap to check Top Dead Center on your motor.

Now it is possible to start the engine with the timing out but here it SEEMS way out and could be the cause of no spark at all. I'm sure your mechanic must've checked Points Gap, Coil, Rotor sitting properly on the shaft etc, sometimes such little things are overlooked even by the professionals and they end up in a headache.

Now for the firing order, I don't know why I doubt that Plug wires are connected 1-4-3-2 anticlockwise on Distributor. From the photos, they simply don't seem correct to me.

Next time you go to see the Blue, make sure you take AsadIshaque along, so he may check the orders and little details by himself as we always had our doubts on this mechanic but NOT on Asad ofcourse.

Good points...only I wouldn't recommend push starting a newly rebuilt engine.

Its most likely the ignition timing but could be the starter as well

[haseeb2288]

A year ???????? and its stating now??????
long tym bro

[murtaza_murti]

A year ???????? and its stating now??????
long tym bro

Lol, it didn't start now.

You can call it a slow restoration.

[fedd]

I seriously have a doubt on the ignition timing as well.

I would really like to take Asad bahi with me, he is really busy with his work and everything. He barely gets time, he said he would pay a visit to the workshop sometime next week and will let me know going beforehand.

Thank you for your detailed reply I'll mention the things you've explained, to the mechanic when I go on Monday.

It's okay if Doc is busy, I can understand how hard it can get to manage time for frequent workshop visits.

Okay no push starts as the boss has suggested;

Good points...only I wouldn't recommend push starting a newly rebuilt engine.

Its most likely the ignition timing but could be the starter as well

But do make sure all the above mentioned things are checked, re-checked before your mechanic starts to hammer the starter again.

I can post a few steps as what to check and how to if you think it is necessary... let me know.

[murtaza_murti]

I can post a few steps as what to check and how to if you think it is necessary... let me know.

I would really like that, much appreciated.

[murtaza_murti]

The stater motor went back to the repair guy today, I called up the mechanic and he said the guy will deliver it back by 7 o'clock.

Let's see what happens, will most probably pay a visit tomorrow.

[murtaza_murti]

The engine has been taken out because of it shutting off on idle. It needs valve clearance.

The mechanic took out almost everything apart, he's expected to crank it up tomorrow

Initially he thought the carburetor was causing the problem, he got ahold of a 30 PICT carb from another Bug but he found out that it wasn't the carb that was causing the problem.

Pictures as follows

The original carburetor Blue came with, currently dis-assembled. It's a 30 PICT.

The carb that was arranged

[murtaza_murti]

He could have done the valve clearance with the engine on but no he wants to do things his own way.

[nmshaikh]

He could have done the valve clearance with the engine on but no he wants to do things his own way.

from the look of it you are in the hands of a monkey with a wrench...good luck. I won't blame you if you decide to sell blue and buy a suzuki mehran instead.

[lazeez]

That was no reason at all to take the engine out again! No chance to change your mechanic?

[Xulfiqar]

Did your mechanic remove the plugs, squirt some oil in the cylinders then try cranking it??

It sounds like a badly deformed nose bushing for the starter (the one that is in the transmission housing). easy 5 minute job for a competent mechanic with half asleep brain.

If the starter spins the motor with no plugs with great speed then the motor is good, if it is still slow replace the main current cables both positive and negative then try it, Still slow - your starter armature needs to be tested on a growler and the field windings checked for polarity or even open circuit.

More seems like a commutator slot is open.

If the motor spins nice and easy then you have engine mechanical issues - like incorrect timing etc. I would seriously recommend squirting some oldschool straight weight SAE 30 engine oil in the cylinders to provide some lube for the dry running engine.

An aircooled VW is the simplest of cars to work on, specially in the wiring section, everything is coded to a circuit - if you are having cold feet in handing it over for wiring, I would suggest you do it yourself. It would be 10000000000% times better than any kallu/nanna/bawlaa/chew*** ustaad.

[murtaza_murti]

from the look of it you are in the hands of a monkey with a wrench...good luck. I won't blame you if you decide to sell blue and buy a suzuki mehran instead.

I know, I just want to get over with this as soon as possible.

That was no reason at all to take the engine out again! No chance to change your mechanic?

Nope, not at this time.

[murtaza_murti]

Did your mechanic remove the plugs, squirt some oil in the cylinders then try cranking it??

It sounds like a badly deformed nose bushing for the starter (the one that is in the transmission housing). easy 5 minute job for a competent mechanic with half asleep brain.

If the starter spins the motor with no plugs with great speed then the motor is good, if it is still slow replace the main current cables both positive and negative then try it, Still slow - your starter armature needs to be tested on a growler and the field windings checked for polarity or even open circuit.

More seems like a commutator slot is open.

If the motor spins nice and easy then you have engine mechanical issues - like incorrect timing etc. I would seriously recommend squirting some oldschool straight weight SAE 30 engine oil in the cylinders to provide some lube for the dry running engine.

An aircooled VW is the simplest of cars to work on, specially in the wiring section, everything is coded to a circuit - if you are having cold feet in handing it over for wiring, I would suggest you do it yourself. It would be 10000000000% times better than any kallu/nanna/bawlaa/chew*** ustaad.

He left oil in it overnight and said he'll crank it up tomorrow. Today was a strike, tomorrow is off. It'll be done on Monday.

I plan on doing everything by myself once the car leaves the workshop.