Useful information from Paruzzi magazine and from our YouTube channel :
ignition timing - static In air-cooled Volkswagens from August 1970, the notch in the crankshaft pulley is used to dynamically adjust the ignition timing. The static adjustment with the test lamp is then only suitable for temporary adjustment on younger models.
voltage drops The electric consumers of your classic Volkswagen expect the full 6 volts or 12 volts (or more) to function properly, which is unfortunately not always the case. Especially the 6 volt version sometimes complains about slow running windscreen wipers, weak headlights and direction indicators that pinch too slowly.
testing the condenser Without the condenser, the ignition will really not work properly and the contacts will burn in quickly. So it is important to measure at regular intervals if the condenser in your VW motor is still working.
Engine overhaul - video 13 replacing the crank seal During a complete engine overhaul, you will need to replace the crank seal. But replacement may also be necessary, when you discover an oil leak behind the flywheel, which will impair the operation of the clutch. We show in this video how to disassemble and reassemble the crank seal.
spark plug heat range The construction of the part of the spark plug that is screwed into the cylinder head determines the degree of heat. The spark plugs are screwed into the cylinder head, which is the warmest spot of the engine. Temperatures can be as high as 1000°C. The electrode part of the spark plug extends into the combustion chamber of the cylinder head.
Engine overhaul - video 07 TDC compression in practice In video six, we explained the operation of the four-stroke internal combustion engine through animations. In this video we will look at how to determine the top dead centre of cylinder 1 in practice. We will also learn how to find the compression stroke of cylinder 1, different techniques will be shown.
spark plug codes Spark plug manufacturers use different codes to identify their spark plugs. It can be very confusing if you are not familiar with their own brand names. At the end of this article, we summarize again the coding structure, so that everything becomes crystal clear.
6 volts and 12 volts Until the early 1970s, the VW Beetles were equipped with 6 volts in their 1200 cc version. The 1300 cc Beetle was first equipped with a 12 volt system in 1968. The VW Bus and type 3 VWs were increased to 12 volts in 1967. Types 4 are in 12 volts, as they were only introduced to the market in the late 1960s.
(dis)assembly of the spark plugs It seems like a simple job, replacing or checking the spark plugs of your VW. Yet we see that it is not always done according to the rules. Spark plugs that are not properly assembled or have been disassembled carelessly can cause a lot of problems with the engine.
measuring the coil Everyone knows that the capacitor will protect the contact points from burn-in. But what few people know is that the capacitor also plays a very important role in transforming the low voltage of the battery (6V or 12V) into a high voltage (more than 10,000V) needed to create a spark between the electrodes of the spark plug.