Useful information from Paruzzi magazine and from our YouTube channel :
checking the Dwell angle There are several devices available to dynamically measure the Dwell Angle. These are usually combined devices that measure battery voltage, Dwell Angle and advance. Others can also be used to measure the CO content of exhaust gases.
crimp terminals Replacing the complete wiring loom seems the most obvious solution. We have them all in stock for every type of VW. But this is a very drastic job that you will probably only do when a total restoration is at hand. And, is it really always necessary?
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.
(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 electric current To measure current, you must interrupt the circuit through which the current flows. The ammeter must be connected in series. Therefore, that a current clamp is a better solution. This type of ammeter does not affect the circuit to be measured, it measures the magnetic field around the conductor (induction principle, see edition 26).
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.
vacuum advance Both the vacuum advance and the mechanical advance were used for the VW Beetle, Karmann Ghia, VW Bus, VW Thing, type 3 and type 4. You can't stick a year of manufacture or type of engine on it, both systems do the same thing in the end, they bring forward the ignition time depending on the engine speed.
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.
finding the top dead center What does Top Dead Center (TDC) actually mean? If you study the theory of the operation of an internal combustion engine - or the "petrol engine" - it will become clear. Without going into too much detail about the theory, we have to talk about the otto cycle, better known as the four stroke cycle.
testing the coil You can easily check if the electrical voltage in the primary circuit of the coil is correct by using a multimeter. High voltage measurement at the secondary circuit cannot be performed with a standard multimeter.