2.0l bus hot start update

A quick update to any who have been following the voodoo'd bus thread...

Well, I ran the thing about 60 miles each way for a total 2-day trip of 120 miles over the weekend. 70 east out here in Maryland is a -straight- shot, and did the ole italian tune up on her. Going 90+ MPH in a old bus is scarier then doing it on an old harley. Regardless, it seems to idle pretty good now, but the starting problem is not resolved. It does, however, start RIGHT up with a jump from a spare battery I keep on the other side of the engine tin. Battery voltage is 12.6 before starting, and 13.8 or so when running. I think I just may have an alternator or regulator problem.

Any suggestions on how to isolate one or the other?

On an interesting random coincidence side note, my clutch cable gave out as soon as I pulled into the driveway. Amazing that after stop-and-go for an hour on rt 29, it gives out when I try to pull it into the garage!

Happy Easter--

-Matt

Reply to
matthew j henschel
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prolly the attachment at the pedal. If it is the strange pin they used, drill it out slightly and use a universal 1/4" pin & cotter key then stick it back together real quick before someone sees that you "modified" it with non-metric non-OEM part!

bus thread...

2-day trip of 120

a -straight- shot,

a old bus is

seems to idle pretty

does, however, start

other side of the

13.8 or so when

regulator problem.

cable gave out as

stop-and-go for an

garage!

Reply to
Busahaulic

I don't think it is the pedal attachment, but something is up. The cable is still connected and pulling, though the throw-out arm on the tranny only moves about an inch. Is this correct?

The clutch pedal itself has been a little noisy as of late, and shifting was occasionally getting really tricky. I get the feeling the cable is frayed somewhere, or just not adjusted right. I'm having a bitch of a time turning that wing nut in any further, and I'm having no luck getting any good leverage to move the throw-out arm forward to lesson the tension and ease the adjustment of the wing nut. I don't think its anything too serious, although the clutch would occasionally shudder if I didn't engage it just right. Maybe the pressure plate gave out on me? Guess we'll find out soon enough... *sigh*

The good news of the weekend seems to be the #3 exhaust seat probably isn't dead, or I'd think it would've either fallen out considerably, or not run so well for miles at speeds above 80.

...back to the studies. exam tomorrow morning.

-Matt

Reply to
matthew j henschel

up. The cable is

the tranny only

late, and shifting was

cable is frayed

of a time turning

getting any good

tension and ease

anything too serious,

engage it just

we'll find out soon

seat probably isn't

considerably, or not run so

The lever doesn't move very far... I use a small vicegrip on the cable right where the threaded end is swaged on. Did you by any chance look to see if there is "new" space between the engine and tranny?

I was thinking the same when I read your post. I figured if it wasn't toast before, it should be by now! Then again, when I was having all the trubs with mine, I was inadvertantly running a 10.9:1 CR! I couldn't figure out why it ran so hot all the time! Had the speedometer needle back at start a few times (almost!) I have a few L-Jet tricks (had) now Soobey.

-BH

Reply to
Busahaulic

"new" space? Hmmmm, I can't say I follow. I am concerned about your 'the lever doesn't move very far' statement though. Is the clutch cable adjustment supposed to just get the cable tensioned, or does it actually pull the lever forward more and more as the clutch wears? The only other manual gear box I own is on the hog, and it's got to spots for adjustment; one on the pressure plate itself (very easily accessed) and the other on the cable. The cable just gets adjusted as it streches, and the pressure plate screw is adjusted as the clutch wears. So I'm still confused as to what gives with my clutch on the VW; the tension is high enough now where I can't really move the wing nut in any further by simply gripping the cable and turning the nut, as it now takes more effort to turn the nut then I can throw at it. hmmmm

nice :-) I'd consider the subey option myself, but there's too much rust/denting/fiberglass on this freebie to really warrent anything more costly then a top end job. *sigh* I'm getting really attached to the thing too... I never liked VW's much before now, but damned if they aren't charming little vehicles!

...sticky valve or no, it really doesn't get hot at all, even at 90mph with the warm air ducts missing and a leaky exhaust. I couldn't IMAGINE running that needle any past 90 though, it's scary enough persuading the thing to stay straight just above the speed limit!!

-Matt

Reply to
matthew j henschel

Okay, hera ya go... From fully engaged to fully disengaged at the point on the lever where the cable attaches, exactly 1/2" (one half)

What I meant by "new space" is the engine and tranny parting company as in loose bolts / studs or missing.

THE adjustment is the wingnut.

I had a mixture gauge at the dashboard, a 4-cylinder headtemp gauge, an instant mixture adjustment slide-pot to add up to 2k ohms additional to headtemp sensor, plus I had the coldstart injector hooked up to a pushbutton on the dashboard. For that a-hole you really need to get past, about bottom of 4th gear, hit mixture full rich, downshift to 3rd, wind as far as you dare, hit 4th, push and hold coldstart injector switch until the idiot you're passing (aka "the OTHER idiot") looks down at his speedometer and sees he's doing 100mph and backs off in a helluva hurry or something worse happens. Never quite had the something worse, but it was close a few times. Now I've got the power at any speed and it just isn't as important anymore!

I've got moderately wide tires and the mags I have are really meaty at the hub, adding 2" of track width right there. It handles quite well for what it is. So far, every time all 4 wheels have left the ground they all returned reasonably together! Kinda scary when that happens though!

- BH

Reply to
Busahaulic

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