The Compleat Idiot

rokemester · Post by **rokemester** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 5:36 am

I'm in big trouble! I was trying to verify TDC on my 66 bug last night with a pencil. If I wasn't crying I'd be laughing. I was moving the generator pulley back and forth getting a feel with the pencil as it moved up and down as it rode the top of the No. 1 cylinder head. I wasn't getting the feel I needed so I pulled the pencil to switch to the point end. I was shocked to find that the eraser head had been chewed off and was in the cylinder! Now I'm really @#$%%!. I guess that's why amateurs shouldn't be working on Bugs! HELP and please don't tell me I've got to pull the engine for this!

Blue Baron · Post by **Blue Baron** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 3:41 pm

All I can say is why on earth would you use this method to find TDC? There are two marks on the pulley for 7 degrees and 10 degrees before top dead center (assuming the engine is a '66), and TDC is about a half inch to the left of the left mark. If it's just for adjusting valves, you don't even need to be exact. So long as you're close, you're fine.

At any rate, I'd probably just run the engine, and hopefully the combustion will smash the eraser to bits and blow it out the exhaust valve. Otherwise you have some disassembing ahead of you.

scruffy · Post by **scruffy** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 8:54 pm

eraser shoundn't be a problem,hopefully that metal band will clear your exhaust valve!

rokemester · Post by **rokemester** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 9:42 pm

Some of the things you pick up in forums are useful and some things are not. The pencil thing is one of those things. Straw, pen, toothbrush end, anything would have been better including not sticking ANYTHING into the cylinder! I was trying to be so precise in finding TDC. Anyway I found that the 009 distributor was installed 180 off. Did a static at 9 BTDC and got the car running and idling reasonably well. What i read is that 28-32 BTDC with a strobe at 3,000RPM is how I should set the timing. I only have a 12V engine analyzer and strobe so I guess I need to find a 6V equipment. Hopefully I won't be hearing any expensive noises down the road.

Blue Baron · Post by **Blue Baron** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 10:53 pm

Either method of setting the timing should work right. I've found that static timing my own 1300 to 9 degrees BTDC works best for me. But what you should really do is get it close, and then experiment to see how your own engine runs best. This is how the first person ever to time a Volkswagen engine did it.

rokemester · Post by **rokemester** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 9:09 pm

My lovely bride and I took Murray out for his first drive in 6 years. It was sweet, sweet, sweet! She's been pretty patient with me as I've been obsessed with getting him running again.

BERHAN · Post by **BERHAN** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 2:37 pm

I would remove your spark plug and try and get a vacuum hose over the spark plug hole, this may get the eraser out for you.....good luck

Blue Baron · Post by **Blue Baron** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 8:25 pm

In order to use vacuum, there must be an air suction source, so the crank must be turned so that a valve is open.

rokemester · Post by **rokemester** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 2:56 pm

I changed the oil last night and found some soft material around the oil screen. Eraser remnants maybe?

Blue Baron · Post by **Blue Baron** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 3:47 pm

Sounds good. I'm sure the car barely burped.

The 1966 VW Beetle Forum

The Compleat Idiot

The Compleat Idiot

Murray Hits the Road