Just purchased a '58 Beetle that needs some work on the engine (i.e. has a busted valve on cylinder one), reading Muirs it says I should not try to drive it all with little or no compression...but i need to move it from a Car Transporter depot (Altona) to Melbourne Docks (Spirit of Tassie). Is it safe to travel this distance (20 odd ks) or should I look to getting it towed?
H
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what i meant was that I know I really should not be driving it, but is 20ks long enough to get the thing warm and cause the oil to heat up and crack the crankcase and stuff like that? Assuming travelling at roughly 60 clicks.
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I would drive it , if the motor stuffs it on the way , another would turn up for $50.00
depends if it's the original motor with matching numbers. if you wanna keep that motor then don't. What's wrong with a tow rope and another car?
Where's the valve head?
Pay your debts, CxxT
If you are prepared to chug along at only 60 klicks, I would consider removing the spark plug from the offending cylinder to minimise stress on the engine.
I'd also put a sign on the back of the car that says something like. SORRY. LIMPING HOME. SICK ENGINE. Then other motorists will not get angry with you for being so slow and getting in their way. They'll probably toot and wave and feel sorry for a poor sod in another clapped out old Beetle.
Then after you trick it up you can have the last laugh.
I'd second VWCOOL's comment - if its got a 'busted valve' has it actually dropped the head off of the valve, or is it burned, or whatever ?
I thinkI'd want to know a bit more about the damage before I gave an opinion. Having said that , there is always the option as mentioned above to disconnect the spark plug so it wont fire on that cylinder and have a go......
nice idea, but dropping spark plug lead won't stop a valve smashing shit out of the engine... all the bits are still going up and downand round and round
[ Edited on 3-8-2006 by VWCOOL ]
Pay your debts, CxxT
As long as the end of the valve (valve head) hasnt snapped off and is rattling around the combustion chamer i would give it a go. I would how ever take the rocker gear off the offending cylinder so the valves arent moving. Need a bit more info on the damage ie is the valve cracked or snapped off and rattling around in there.
Its definantly do able if there arent any bits in the chamber tho. Take it easy and take off the rocker gear... just cruise.
hmmm I was planning on taking it easy...from what i gather from previous owners comments, the valve is stuck in cylinder one (guesing burned or leaking since the only obvious sign is a loss in power), could i still take out the spark plug and start up, surely not!
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gull wrote:I would drive it , if the motor stuffs it on the way , another would turn up for $50.00
$50.00?? Where the bleep do you get your engines from?
Yea, it should start up with the spark plug out. Its not getting power from the cylinder anyway. You might want to bump the idle up to compensate.
😏 i think i might tow it, anyone free friday 11th?
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Could you take off the rocker cover, take off the rocker and pull out the pushrods on the offending cylinder... shouldnt take very long and this would mean your valve isnt moving at all... just a thought 😉
Another thought, what if it isnt a stuck valve at all? Spoke again to the lady bought the car off tonight, seems that she has been running the car on three cylinders for some time without green light coming on or the engine smelling hot...so what could this be? would a blown head gasket be possibility?
Any bet it will be off to the mechanics next week to be sorted out!
[ Edited on August 6th, 2006 by Ich fahre ein Kdf ein Tag ]
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If its got next to 0 compression on that pot then its most likely a valve. It could be stuck, snapped or cracked.
My bus's head had a valve crack and loose a little chunk. Wud hav been a tiny lil bit 5mmx5mm and that chamber was pretty well useless. loss would have been more than 1/4 in power (not only is it not firing, but the engine is still moving the piston up and down)
76camper wrote:If its got next to 0 compression on that pot then its most likely a valve. It could be stuck, snapped or cracked.
My bus's head had a valve crack and loose a little chunk. Wud hav been a tiny lil bit 5mmx5mm and that chamber was pretty well useless. loss would have been more than 1/4 in power (not only is it not firing, but the engine is still moving the piston up and down)
Yeah i understand the concept and can except that, but what i dont understand is the process of elimination the problem has taken. Surely no compression you would think valve first, but the car has had fuel tank, pump, carbies rebuilt first before the idea the valves might be the problem came up....the car runs fine apparently until you head uphill. And the compression test was done (no compression in cylinder one) when the battery was almost dead...new battery in now...plan to do a compression test this weekend.
Volkswagen ist der strassekoning - Vergnügen fahren finden!
