Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Chug Chug
Had lots of problems trying to get the engine running properly. The
idle was fixed by stripping and cleaning the carb (finding the pilot
jet blocked), but then the engine would just backfire, spit back and
die under throttle once it warmed up. After rebuilding the carb twice
I eventually looked at the tappets, and found that the gap had closed
right up on several. Upon restarting I found that it would only run on
three cyclinders. Removing and cleaning the spark plug on the
offending cylinder did not work, but replacing it with an old one did.
So now she runs and drives, but still misfires until about 3000rpm. I
will replace the plugs and see if that helps, and start rebuilding the
weber carbs so that I can fit them as soon as practical.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
MOT passed!
Pleased to announce that the beetle has now passed it's MOT!!!!
However she is running very rough, and I have not received my
insurance docs so can't get tax just jet. Also she doesn't want to go
where she is told; I think that the tracking being out is causing
major tramlining.
However Dad and I did spend yesterday freeing up all the joints on the
track rods, and I have set the tracking by drawing lines on the garage
floor so hopefully it will now be a bit closer.
I suspect the rough running could either be a fuel pressure issue, or
lack of inlet manifold and intake air. So I will put the proper
original air filter box with the warm air feed to see if that helps.
Friday, August 18, 2006
MOT deadline looms!
Well quite a lot of progress since the last posting. The main thing is
that I have booked the MOT for Monday 21st August!
The doors are now resprayed, waxoyled, and have been fitted. Am
waiting on some trim clips to arrive before I can fit the trim panels
properly, but they are fitted to the doors anyway (just not very
tidily). I think that I need to adjust the alignment of the windows
though as there are some gaps with the hood seals (never had to sort
that before as the seals were so bad anyway...)
I put the new Gunsons Gas Tester to good use and after fiddling with
the carb for a while to get it to idle properly (or at all at first)
was surprised to see that it reports CO at about 1.5% vs 4.5% needed
to pass as I understand it. So hopefully the gas tester is not lying
and there won't be a problem with emissions.
I had a bit of a problem with one of the headlamps as an adjuster had
seized up completely solid. Got it freed eventually with mole grips
and penetrating oil.
Am a bit concerned about the tracking. Now the front is dropped it
looks like there is a fair amount of toe out. I've only looked at one
side so far but the track rod end was seized up and could only move it
about 1/8 of a turn. If the other side can't be freed then I suppose I
might need to fit new rods and ball joints before doing too many miles
and chewing up the tyres.
Jobs to do over the weekend then are finish fitting trim and seals to
the doors, clean remaining two wheels, replace rear indicator bulbs as
the orange paint is coming off, adjust rear brakes/handbrake, bleed
brakes, fit crankcase breather pipe and anything else I spot before
Monday!
