On Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:41:42 -0500, Vic Smith
wrote:

On Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:14:59 -0700, jps wrote:

On Sat, 17 Oct 2009 13:39:05 -0500, Vic Smith
wrote:

On Sat, 17 Oct 2009 11:11:04 -0700, Jim wrote:

Vic Smith wrote:
Found in another group.
Looks neat.
But don't even think about it.

http://www.youtube.com/user/VOLKSWAGNUT#p/a

--Vic

The first time is the hardest.

Yep. Once the belt is stretched it must get easier.
Funny thing is, though I rebuilt my '64 engine myself and could get
the thing out in about 10 minutes for a clutch change, I don't
remember anything about the generator.
Can't even remember ever changing the belt.
Forgetting that stuff used to bother me.
Doesn't now though. Forgot how to get bothered.

--Vic

You must have used the generator pulley to turn the engine during
valve adjustments. Spark plug socket on a 3/8" ratchet. Does that
spark a memory?

Nope. Just makes me remember .006" and .008" for some reason.
That's probably wrong too.
But I really think I would have turned the crank pulley for that
without using the gen pulley. Seem to recall that I could easily turn
it by just grabbing the belt.
You know these engines?
I put a Bosch centrifugal advance distributor on mine straight off
when I bought the car and did the jugs. Think the jug/piston/ring set
was only about 60 bucks. The dist about the same.
Ever hear that high-pitch noise coming from them?
A little white lube on the dist cam follower fixes that right up.
I took care of mine and it never let me down, but those engines
were always going to suffer blow-by after about 60k miles.
Metallurgy more than anything else I think.
They were so simple they were fun to work on.

--Vic

Fond memories of greasing the dist cam.

I recall .004 and .006 but that could be wrong too. My first car was
a '61 VW with a pull-back sunroof and a blown engine ($125). $250 in
parts and the manual and I was in business. Think I rebuilt that
engine a couple of times. It ended up a baja bug. It's sale financed
my move to S. Cal.

I worked on 'em for the next 5 years, earning a living while going to
school. Not an easy living but totally worthwhile. Worked my way up
to a dealership in L.A. that sold VW and Porsche and built a large
inventory of tools.

Lusted after the six cylinder version of that aircooled engine for
years. What a lovely sound they make.