The All New, New "What have you done to your Bay today" thread.

Try turning your headlight knob clockwise, it's the dash light dimmer.
If it goes round and round and crunches, it's broken by someone trying to unscrew the knob without using the small hole in the stalk to stop the stalk turning.

 

Maybe that was the case, the bore is definitely smaller being aluminium sputtered round the top now. Cant tell much from the rings, they have worn down and have grooved in a couple of places . Its just interesting its that one cylinder, with the others, the rings still show some sign of being newish.

I think that this was the first time I have run a large distance using the number 3 spare distributor. I have now changed the condenser on my usual distributor and put that one back in -
The usual Bosch took the bus through very hot weather this year and last year with the same carburettor jetting, and running at the same kind of speeds without the slightly higher running temperatures.

That seems to be the only thing that was different between the run to and from Techenders , was the distributor.
Plus having the whole engine well roasted following an encounter with a VW specialist garage.

Like when the AA man asked - was I taking the bus to a garage for it to be fixed or taking it home, and realising I dont have a regular VW garage any more ..

I am pretty sure the bearings etc are OK, the oil pressure behaviour has not changed. I decided that the risk of getting dirt in the bearings and pinching the shells if I did a strip down, plus getting oily mess everywhere was higher than just leaving them as-is.

The only issue I met with putting the engine back in was the bit where I forgot the throttle cable, but that only took about 10 minutes to pull the engine off - as I realised at the 4 bolts stage - and put the engine back in again.

So today I basically completed the job, got the engine back in and got it started, after putting in 3.5 L of oil and cranking for pressure to fill the full flow setup with the plugs out.

It tries to idle too slowly (but the crank was easy to turn by hand without pistons and cylinders on the block , dont think bearings are an issue) , but maybe the choke had heated up too much by the time I tried to idle the engine. Spent more time tidying away tools and equipment, went in, had food.
Tomorrow I will set it up, double check timing, idle mixture etc. and take it for a drive.

 

My first headlamp switch had the wire worn through by much use so there were little C shaped bits of resistance wire falling around inside

 

Sorted out my Big Drills. Very soothing.

 

How would a different dizzy make it run hotter, Mike? Do you think it was over-advancing, somehow?

 

It was a Chinese Accuspark thingy.. It always seemed to make the bus a bit more lively . But that may have been the vacuum advance, not the total advance.

 

Ingenious! Resealable freezer bags


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I've made some panels that infill the windows on the bus.

they fit nice and snug and have a foam seal around the outside so seal to the window rubbers.

making winter camping a little more bearable with less heat being directly in contact with glass..

and can still open the slider.

works well, utilised the holes that PO made to hold a rogue cupboard..

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Checked the engine idled at more like 850 RPM when warmed up.

Didnt feel like going for a drive in it today .. felt a bit under the weather .

Did a plug drop and it was pretty even on all 4 cylinders at idle. More fun when I pulled off no1 and No2 together by mistake and it just about idled.

Ordered a cheap set of bore gauges to check the old cylinders.. wondering if they warped with the first overheating ..not accurate but should be able to spot out- of-round.

Ended up sticking bits together in my wifes Peugeot 307 sunroof after being dripped on in the rain this morning.

Then the nasty thing decided somebody had their hand trapped in it and it kept on reversing just as it was about to close. Almost had the duct tape and plastic sheet out ... fortunately starting the engine gave it a bit more allez-allez and it shut..

 

Did a bit of rivnutting.

 

Then a bit of bodging and filling...

 

Tidy.

 

Was the old one too far gone to clean it out with an M10 tap ?

 

I'd clipped the threads getting the frozen bolt out, so thought I'd improve things as my towbar weighs a bloody ton. Schofields couldn't remember whether they used welded nuts or rivnuts...but obviously used rivnuts (unless the restorer didn't use the rails I gave them).

Hole slightly too big, but tightened up nicely, solid as a rock

 

I went out for a test drive, I went on the M60 to see what effect my Butty’s throttle lever had. I was pleased to find that at 60 I had some room still under the pedal, unlike before when I had it buried for anything over 55, result!

My gearshift felt much better, but I still have dramas at the lights when it doesn’t want to go in first. It’s fine with the engine off, not so when it’s hot and running. Checking the manual there should be 10mm play at the clutch pedal, I have 50mm. When I get the chance I’m going to take the back wheel off and try tightening the adjuster.

 

50mm is way too much. The clutch won't be disengaging fully, so you'll be fighting the gearbox to get it into gear.

 

Quite likely the clutch not releasing fully.
You can get at the adjuster without taking the wheel off. Just slide under and reach up. Less chance of it falling on you.

Look for the bracket under the suspension tube being snapped off, also lengthening clutch cables are often starting to break as strands go, the cable unravels and lengthens.
However some replacement clutch cables may need additional spacers ( washers ) at the bracket on the side of the gearbox if you run out of adjustment at the far end of the cable, pushing the end of the Bowden tube towards the front of the bus with washers threaded on it.

The Bowden tube from the bracket under the suspension tube to the bracket on the side of the gearbox should have a curve in it. If it doesnt the clutch will be harsh and probably juddery.

 

Took Sammy for a drive after a few weeks off. All worked well and after a nice drive and walk with wiffie, we rewarded ourselves with a tea and plate of chips....diet starts tomorrow!

 

Took it out for a drive, far enough to warm up. Got up to 45mph on the only 60 limit road left in the village.
Constantly changing speed.

Feels OK, idle good once warmed up.