Volkswagen Club of Pakistan (VWCOP)

[Bruit]

i know it's a bit late, but did it have anything to do with the bushes uner the rear seat or the actual shifter rod? what was the actual issue?

NP, at least read your words. Anyways, according to the mechanic, somebody changed the gear with force, hence the lever's joint was misplaced.

[Aleem1]

I spotted another genuine Ragtop Bug in ISB a couple of days back. It's apparently a '59 RHD (like Asad's, but this one would have fooled me - looked exactly like a '61-'62 complete with fuel gauge, push-handles, black Wolfsburg badge and all), brown. Has popout windows and later slotted wheels, reg no. RIC 262.

It was too dark to take a picture with my crappy VGA camera phone, so didn't even bother. The car has recently changed hands and I very regrettably missed it. Apparently a local car, owned by an 'old' VW mechanic for many years.

Perhaps Romano can throw some more light on the car's history. Not sure whether the owner's a member here.

That seems to bring the known Ragtop Beetle count in RWP/ISB up to 4:

• This '59 RHD
• The '58 LHD owned by Mr. Yusuf in Pindi for many years
• The '63 LHD owned by Mr. Panni
• The '57 LHD Oval owned by Nasir (formerly mine)

Any others???? :-#

[parapilot]

Look what I found

[AsadIshaque]

A Very Happy Eid Mubarik to all readers!

.......

Now, the self prolongs when I try to crank the engine, and electrician here in Peshawar said its due to weak alternator.

Its been 13 months since I am trying to get my V-Dub on to the road but looks like new bottle necks are popping up M so jealous of all those beauties on road without any mechanical challenges popping up on weekly basis.

  A prolonging self crank is *NOT* due to a 'weak alternator' as your mech has made you believe. You have been rightly guided here that you need to get your starter motor serviced and at the same time get the using in the gearbox housing changed.

  Once you get a VW running correctly, that is have got work done without skimping on important points, you end up with a very reliable car.

[AsadIshaque]

about the regulator - I know for sure the internal regulators can be had for about 100 rs a piece on Lawrence road karachi - but you would have to sift in about 1000 pieces - I bought 2 for my Golf (benz 90 amp alternator) and they were super.

The VW alternator can be rebuilt with benz parts rotor etc. but only if you use the older style 40 amp ones.. And you can buy the straight angled regulator too (they usually come equipped like this in super older benzs)..

the axial play usually is the culprit of a missing wave thrust washer inside the housing or a broached bearing seat..

If the starter tries to overcrank the engine when leaving the key you can point it out to a sticking solenoid OR the mechanic who installed the starter and bushing in the tranny has applied grease to it, the bushing needs to be dipped in oil overnight and installed with a bolt rig tool (I made it with a long bolt, piece of metal and two smaller bolts to mount the starter ears).. Dont hammer it in

The spline shaft if greased will stick the driving gear - as clutch dust and heat cooks the grease, just use plain oil - and it will run smooth

   I like the most valuable input you share with us here. I hope to see more of your posts as you are hitting the nail bang on the head and providing us with many fine points like not using grease on the starter shaft.

   I visited the Lawrence road market a couple of months ago but noticed that they no longer have VW bits. One would be lucky to get anything VW or MB and perhaps now one would have to go through 10000 pieces to find a part that could be usable. Rs 100 per piece is a dream price as the scrappers at shersha would demand much more *if* they have a regulator in stock.

   I did not know one could mix n match benz alternator bits into the VW unit. Interesting. 

   You are very right about the possibility of a missing thrust washer in the alt Bruit has. To highlight this I was looking for an 'exploded view' diagram. I reckon some 'ustaad' must've dismantled the unit and forgot to install all the bits back.  

   Hope to see more of your posts here xulfiqar.

[AsadIshaque]

Yet another Challange...

AOA all,

My car is at painter's shop, when I tried to reverse it, the gear lever wouldn't move from its place at all. It's stuck in 1st gear, I can't bring it to neutral, nor 2nd gear nor reverse. It's not compromising at all. When I press the clutch, the car would start, but when I try to change the gear, it wouldn't allow me to. However, when I release the clutch, the car would move forward normally just as it does in 1st gear.

Any idea about this problem? I hope its not going to be pain in the butt...

Regards all,

 Though the problem is 'solved' Id like to voice my thoughts......

 First off, why do you keep your bug in gear?? I guess the handbrake is not working?? Suggest to get it fixed asap as its a vital safety feature. Let us know if you need any help.

 Some causes of a sticky gearshift lever would be:

--Incorrectly adjusted shift lever. A guy who knows VWs can do this for you. Make sure the two bolts holding the lever in place are not loose.

--Lack of grease in the shift lever mating area.

--Worn shift lever nylon bushing. Goes beneath the lever on the horizontal rod. One of the most tricky parts to fit onto a VW, so dont even bother asking a local ustaad as he is bound to screw up.

--worn rubber bushings at shift rod coupler under the back seat. A pair of rubber bushings go inside a metal cage here on the newer models.

--A low gear oil level in the cogbox and/or dirty/water contaminated gear oil.

   I suggest very strongly that you get the three bushings changed, whatever their condition is and get your gearbox oil drained. If at all your bug has been submerged in the recent floods, you may be having water mixed in the gear oil.......a great recipe for disaster. If the drained oil has *any* traces of water or looks like a creamy mess, do go for flushing of the 'box followed by fresh oil of the correct rating.

[AsadIshaque]

NP, at least read your words. Anyways, according to the mechanic, somebody changed the gear with force, hence the lever's joint was misplaced.

   Always try to think beyond what these 'ustaads' say. I would not feel comfortable until and unless I get to the bottom of the mystery of the sticking gear shift lever. Things happen for a reason always.

  Btw, I went parts hunting a few days before Eid. Do let me know if you would like to purchase a spare alternator as I have found someone having a couple of recently imported units. They are bound to sell very soon so please let me know asap if you want one.

[AsadIshaque]

I spotted another genuine Ragtop Bug in ISB a couple of days back. It's apparently a '59 RHD (like Asad's, but this one would have fooled me - looked exactly like a '61-'62 complete with fuel gauge, push-handles, black Wolfsburg badge and all), brown. Has popout windows and later slotted wheels, reg no. RIC 262.

:-#

Most interesting!! Another ragtop bug!

You should have snapped pics, however low reso, would have given us an idea of what it was like.

Push handles would make it a post 1960, unless someone changed the doors or had later handles fitted. The slotted 66-67 wheels let us know that some/many parts have indeed been swapped. What made you narrow the year model down to 1959?? 

Interestingly, early Euro-spec 59s, like my own would need a dash hack to fit the later square fuel gauge as they did not have a cutout to accommodate the same.

[AsadIshaque]

Look what I found

What a great find!!! Did you discover this at some weekly market book trader?? If you have, its a lucky find as these books are not available in the country. 

This Orange Bentley manual has a blue colored sister,covering the earlier models. These are one of the most authoritative pieces of tech literature in the Dub world.

[parapilot]

Dr. Saab,

It was bought via Amazom.com back in 2003 and was missing in action for quite sometime. Used to have a Beetle at the time.

[Storm]

I spotted another genuine Ragtop Bug in ISB a couple of days back. It's apparently a '59 RHD (like Asad's, but this one would have fooled me - looked exactly like a '61-'62 complete with fuel gauge, push-handles, black Wolfsburg badge and all), brown. Has popout windows and later slotted wheels, reg no. RIC 262.

It was too dark to take a picture with my crappy VGA camera phone, so didn't even bother. The car has recently changed hands and I very regrettably missed it. Apparently a local car, owned by an 'old' VW mechanic for many years.

Perhaps Romano can throw some more light on the car's history. Not sure whether the owner's a member here.

That seems to bring the known Ragtop Beetle count in RWP/ISB up to 4:

- This '59 RHD
- The '58 LHD owned by Mr. Yusuf in Pindi for many years
- The '63 LHD owned by Mr. Panni
- The '57 LHD Oval owned by Nasir (formerly mine)

Any others???? :-#

i saw a post-oval ragtop day-before-yesterday, was silver and have not seen it before.

[Storm]

I did not know one could mix n match benz alternator bits into the VW unit. Interesting.

the more time goes by, the more parts i've found that MB & VW share...

[Storm]

Look what I found

GIMME GIMME GIMME!!!

if you want ot get rid of it i'm waiting with cash,.. and will scan and share with anyone who wants a copy.

[Aleem1]

Belated Eid Mubarak all!

@Storm - silver ragtop most probably the 63 owned by Mr. Panni (Pindi no)

@Asad - didn't think it was a '59 either, except that the owner said so. Dash didn't look at all hacked, fuel gauge was almost certainly original - also had the white semi-circle steering like my 61, so I do believe it to be later than a '60. No semaphore slots either, but then I've had bugs which have had these 'filled in' (like yours).

@Parapilot - that manual's a very nice find indeed. The sole manual I have is a Haynes manual from the late 1980s, that covers 1200 Beetles (UK market cars) from 1954 to 1977, bought this from London. Never been able to get my hands on VW literature here though - owners tend not to be 'hands on' here in PK, and our Desi mechanics tend not to be erudite scholars of detailed automative literature

[AsadIshaque]

Dr. Saab,

It was bought via Amazom.com back in 2003 and was missing in action for quite sometime. Used to have a Beetle at the time.

   Its a great manual.

   One can never have too many of these manuals as each covers a certain aspect in more depth than the other. A good VW 'library' would have the two Bentley manuals, the two (or more if you want to include the Super bugs) Haynes manuals and the John Muir 'Idiot book'.

   Btw, guys, can anyone source a set of ball joints and tie rod ends for a 74 bug??? Someone wants it real badly.......the Karachi market is out for now so I need help from the isloo and Lahori crowds.

[AsadIshaque]

the more time goes by, the more parts i've found that MB & VW share...

Then maybe, just maybe, in theory at least, its possible to upgrade a VW alternator to higher output by raiding the MB parts bin??? Wishful thinking or a possibility??

[parapilot]

Sameer,

You can have it for scanning and return it back to me. I have to locate one more manual. Can't remember the name but it was concise. It had a lot of underlining and grease/oil stains as I used to consult that while working on backside of the Bettle :)...................

[parapilot]

Found Haynes "VW Beetle and Karman Ghia 1954 -1979 manual". Current status downloaded 4%.

Will update once downloaded and can burn disc if someone is dying for it.

[parapilot]

Done (H)

[parapilot]

One more