How to change the Generator Belt

This guy is nutz!  Although it is kinda cool.  I might be silly enough to try that.

 

Timing Correct…almost

I recieved the new vacuum can yesterday and put it ont he distributor today.  It didn’t really fir as well as the 851, but it does fit.  I got everything installed and the timing will advance,  I only set it to 23 degrees at 3200 rpm.  Old Volks says 22-25 at 3800 RPM, so Ill check it next week when I tune it up.  I wanted to do it today but the rain got int he way.  I have some interior work to do too, which I’m not happy about.  The three screws holding the Z bed together pulled out along with two of my cabinet doors.  Poor quality workmanship. I know it was a rush job and that pisses me off too.  ALWAYS CONDUCT YOUR OWN BUSINESS . . .   then this would not have happened.

 

Dixie Bus

We finally made it to our first sanctioned bus event!  Dixie bus in Mt Vernon OH.  We stayed at the Rustic Knolls campground with 38 other buses.  It was a beautiful campground.  We even had water and electric hookup.

The trip down was rather exciting, 12 hrs in all.  Of course we were not without problems.  Right before we got to Ft. Wayne the oil light came on when we slowed to a stop light.  Of course I was paranoid.  This was the same thing the other motor did before it seized.  We stopped for a while to let it cool.  This had not happened on any other trip before, so I began thinking and the only thing I could think of is that Alex put the rong weight oil in when I changed it.  Not his fault either.  I didn’t specify.  We found a Wal-mart and changed it to 30 weight.  The guy put locktight on the oil plug, which I wasn’t happy about.  The Oil didn’t work. It got hot again, so I felt if we could make it to our destination, I could get the help I needed.  I followed some others to the swap meet and Kermit began to over heat again and lose power.  I pulled over to give him a rest.  The fellow I was following gave me a thumbs and and I returned a thumbs down.  Before I could get out of the bus, Rick was looking at the motor.  He said the engine wasnt hot just the cylinders and we were only 10 minutes away.  When we got to the show he mentioned a couple of things.

• My fuel filter in the engine compartment was a disaster waiting to happen and that I should get a piece of fuel line and put the filter under the bus where it belongs.
• Get a bigger jet for the carb. Since this is a bug motor, I may be jetted too small and that could cause the issue.

I did what I was told and spent $5.00.  I took the fuel filter out before we came back home.  The top was melted and compressed causing a fuel constriction.  This could have been the disaster if the pressure disconnected the fuel line.  It was hard to get to the jet so that will be chcked and replaced another time. Before we left on Sunday, I set the timing, which was a few degrees off and once again Rick came over to look over my shoulder.  Once I had it set he increased the RPM and noticed that I was not getting any advance.  Damn.  Cant fix that there.  So we slowly made it to Michigan to spend the night in Athens.  A storm was beginning to brew and we made it about 3 miles east of town and one of the bins blew off the bus.  The only thing we lost was the lantern that I melted on Friday…..  Needless to say I was a little distrught by the time we arrived Friday evening.  We got up early on Monday and drove 45mph all the way to Chicago.  Never overheated.  I pushed it a little to almost 60 in the city and still nothing.  It was somewhat cooler, but not significantley.  I fould a new vacuum can on the samba and it is on the was.  I pulled the distributor today to see if a cleanng would help but I think the can is shot.  The ground cable to the points is about shot too.  I should get the can next wek and Ill out him back together and see if I can get it running.  Then I throw in a tuneup for the Bean Blossom Festival.

 

Finally!

I got the bus over to Dave Ellis on Monday and he got the electrical NAILED!  He soldered the ground in the back and ran a new wire.  He also adjusted the valves, which #2 AND #4 were sticking, adj the clutch, and brakes.  He also gave me a laundry list of things that need to be resolved:  Rear wheel cylinder is leaking, Need new axle boots and fill the RGB, Trans fluid, tightened the fan belt before vacation.  I need the king pins on the passenger side and oil pressure switch. RGB and Sterring box maintenance  Here is a pict out side his garage with a Ghia that matches the bus . . .  .  Too bad the camera on my phone blows

 

Electrical Problems Back / Bug In

It started with an intermittent right tail light, now things are back to where they were originally.  I think Ill take Kermit to this guy in Evanston to get this straightened out once and for all.  I have a suspicion that it may be the light switch.  We’ll see.  I also orderd a wheel and jack for a spare for our upcoming trips in August.  Last weekend I went to the Bug-In at Fox Valley VW it seemed like it took for ever to get out there, but it was fun.  I may enter Kermit next time, or maybe even Gonzo.  Either one would have fared as good as any other. I have found this week I have become hooked on Karman Ghia’s.  Maybe some day.  They are still affordable. I saw this one at the Bug-In.  Not really a Beatles fan, but I find this one unique.

 

Engine Notes

I’m trying to dig deeper into this poor mileage thing I got going on.  Last week I checked the tune-up and the Dwell was 26 and the timing was also correct.  I checked the plugs and they were pretty black.  I assume that was due to the fact the carb was running rich before it was rebuilt.  I cleaned the plugs and reinstalled.  I have been driving Kermit to work every Wednesday so I have a place to park when I get home.  I filled up last Wednesday and my mileage was almost 15mpg, a 3 mpg increase. The next thing is to adjust the valves.  I am very nervous about this since it is the first time doing this.  I still have not decided if I will take it to Stanley or not.  I need to minimally have him verify the work.  I have not checked the compression as I’m afraid what it will tell me.  The motor is running strong and I don’t have any money to rebuild a motor right now.  I found some good articles on the CB Performance page they have a series of articles on how to build a 40mpg motor called PROJECT MILEAGE MOTOR.  Of course it was a bug, but i”ll mark the page and see how it will apply to the bus.

 

We Made It!

We got into Battle Creek around 4:30PM on Saturday afternoon.  Didn’t do much except cruise around and go to The Office, my favorite watering hole in Athens.  Sunday was a pretty big day.  Clay, Taylor and I assembled the Roof Rack

While we were doing that Dad was working on the windshields.  I needed to change the drivers side because it leaks.  We found that the drivers side was the original glass and went in in about 20 min.

The Master

The pinch well was in very good shape I was very happy to see that.  We sealed the rubber between the body to ensure that it won’t leak.

This looks like a big mess, however it cleaned up very nicely with some mineral spirits.

The passenger side was a royal pain to change.  First of all it was not the original glass and was thicker than the original.  Finally after fighting the installation for most of the afternoon, we decided to take a 1/4 inch off the top of the glass, and it went right in bus.

Finally the trip back to Chicago.  We took M60 to Sturgis then took US 12 west all the way to Burns Harbor, In.  The speedo is ~ 7mph slow per my GPS.  I kept it around 50 MPH as the speedo read and Kermit ran real strong. Probably could have went faster, but there wasn’t a real need.  He did creep up to 55 mph but I backed off.  I got around 16mpg.  I would like to improve on that if I can.  I’ll have to look into what I can do.

We were slightly delayed due to a Memorial Day parade.  Fortunately, we found parking in a gas station and watched the parade.  The boyz had a great time chasing candy in the street.  At that point we got on the expressway to avoid the rougher neighborhoods and rolled right into Chicago.

Finally, I had to get this picture . . . .  Kermit at the faux Nuclear Power plant in Michigan City Indiana . . .  This cooling tower is actually for coal burning power plant.

 

Try Again

Well I got a call and Kermit is ready to go.  I got a call from Dad and it was only $40.00 to fix the issue,  I was close, just a couple of wires were wrong.  I guess me and the boys will take the train home this weekend and bring him home! Pete told me that I needed a new wiper motor since it is a 6v motor.  I may just use it till it goes.  At least Ill have some wipers.  I need to adjust the valves next.  I wish I had gaskets so I could have someone show me how to do it.  Maybe I’ll try to do it and then take it to Stanley to check.  I’m still paranoid about blowing another motor.  I bought a tool on the Samba to make the job easier.

This will allow me to hold the feeler gauge and adjust the valve at the same time.  I also found a movie

Courtesy of Costa Mesa R&D Automotive Machine Shop

 

Getting Ready for Summer

Well . . .  I thought I was going to bring Kermit back home today, but I just can’t get the electrical right.  I may have made matters worse .  I had everything working and the bus wouldn’t start.  DAMN . . . novoltage to the coil.  I saw the the coil wire the the ignition was not connected.  When I connected it . . . POOF. .  a little smoke.  I discovered that the coil wire from the coil was on the wrong fuse.  I corrected that and everything was fine… well except that when the lights are on, so are the brake lights…. of corse no break lights and the right turn signal doesn’t work.  With the lights off the right signal in the rear is realy the flashers . . .  Dragola . . .  BUT.  I did find a guy in Coldwater that has experience in VW electrical work, so I left the bus with him.  The good thing though is when I did take him out, he ran strong at 50 / 55 mph (according to GPS).  The speedo cable broke so when the electrical is fixed, I’ll replace it.  Another positive note is that I got the wiper moter going.  Just tok it apart and worked the armature for a while, but when I connected the wires . . . POOF . . . Hopefully Pete will get me going again.

 

Happy Easter

Went home over the weekend to visit Kermit.  Put the new signal switch on and it did help matters at all.  I still have both tail lights flashing when when I turn right.  I blew a fuse and went up to the local NAPA dealer for a fuse.  One of my friends offered to give me a labor discount if he could drive the bus around town!  Replaced the fuse and started looking closer at the wiring and a piece broke off the fuse block.  That needs replacing.  Then I got to thinking . . .  hey . . .  I don’t have the ground strap connected under the bus.  Of course I didn’t think about that until last night after I was already home.  AND the speedo cable broke.  On the highside, the he started right up and ran like a top!  I think Ill go back in May and bring him back home for the summer.  Dad is going to put some tinted glass in the windshield and Ill rebuild the windows.