Motor stalls when it feels like it

HGFS Wolfsburg Wizard

531 posts · joined Feb 2005 · 14 Sep 2006, 5:39 pm

#534190

The other day when I drove the bug home it had a major flat spot when taking off thru an intersection, virtually stalled and was stumbling whenever I hit the gas. Somehow it kept running only just and it worked itself out and I got home. Was probably only 1km from home when it happened.

When I got it home it didn't run much in the driveway, but was low on fuel, put a bit in it and it now started and idled well for 10mins so I went and filled it up. No problems.

So I took my wife for a spin around the block to show her how "good" it was and what do you know it didn't idle well coming up to an intersection and then died. Was running only for about 2 minutes. Didn't fire back up either so I pushed it home.

Got it to fire up in the driveway but still not idling well, now it doesnt fire up at all. Splutters a bit and sounds like it wants to fire but no go.

Its a standard 6V 40Hp, history unknown. Carby has been cleaned out and I'm told looks OK. New distributor cap, points & plug wires, think I put new plugs in it a while back. Dizzy came from a wrecker as the vac advance on the oldie didn't work. New fuel line along edge of pan & mostly new hoses.

Where do I start? Ignition? Fuel? I'm a bit stumped.

1954 Oval long term project going nowhere
1958 Beetle drag car project
1959 Beetle project I need to sell one day
1969 Squareback

bond Veteran Volks Folk

2,456 posts · joined Jul 2003 · 14 Sep 2006, 5:54 pm

#534197

sounds like some crud from the tank has gone through the carb when you began to run out of fuel. if its an original 40hp im assuming like pre 62? and if its the original tank, then crud has potentially worked its way to blocking a jet.

im thinking carb strip and cleaning of jets etc and go from there.

nick

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 · 14 Sep 2006, 5:56 pm

#534200

i know u said the carbys been cleaned out but it does sound like the jets could be blocking up
specially if u been running the tank low

-Joel

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 · 14 Sep 2006, 5:59 pm

#534201

damn too slow LOL

-Joel

HGFS Wolfsburg Wizard

531 posts · joined Feb 2005 · 14 Sep 2006, 7:20 pm

#534223

Yeah someone else told me the same thing this arvo. Took out the idle jet and blew it out, motor started but would only run at high revs. Have taken out the jet at the bottom of the float bowl (main?) and the idle again and blown them out but the bloody battery is flat from too much cranking so its on charge for the night. Fingers crossed for tomorrow.

Carby was cleaned at the workshop but the fuel ran low since then so that's probably the problem. Was in too much of a rush after leaving the workshop to pick the kids up from school that I forgot about filling up.

1954 Oval long term project going nowhere
1958 Beetle drag car project
1959 Beetle project I need to sell one day
1969 Squareback

HGFS Wolfsburg Wizard

531 posts · joined Feb 2005 · 14 Sep 2006, 7:22 pm

#534224

BTW carb is a 30pic so I think thats late-ish 40Hp like 66-67? Not sure what year the motor is but its not the original motor

1954 Oval long term project going nowhere
1958 Beetle drag car project
1959 Beetle project I need to sell one day
1969 Squareback

bond Veteran Volks Folk

2,456 posts · joined Jul 2003 · 14 Sep 2006, 10:32 pm

#534299

my bad 🙂

nick

kombikim disfunctionally capable

1,521 posts · joined Dec 2002 · 15 Sep 2006, 8:16 am

#534354

I had exactly the same problem with the 54, after running low on fuel, thought it was ignition, but ended up pulling carbie to bits & blowing through everything with carb cleaner, & also blowing back through fuel line, with reserve tap on both setings, I think the reserve tap had got clogged with yerky bits, so that when the engine, & therefore fuel pump, was at low revs the pump could not get enouigh suck on fuel line, miserable coupla days before I did that, but no problems since, so worth a try

[ Edited on 14-9-2006 by kombikim ]

Please, I need drivers side window regulator (winder mechanism) for my '54

PurpleT3 Fahrvergnugen

880 posts · joined Apr 2003 · 15 Sep 2006, 9:36 am

#534390

I would check your point gap. Sounds like it may have closed up. have had this happen several times. Often happens with new points as ridges on the plastic block wear away, allowing the point gap to close.

Certainly worth checking before pulling the carbs apart.

Ain't nothin' like the wind in your hair.

HGFS Wolfsburg Wizard

531 posts · joined Feb 2005 · 15 Sep 2006, 6:10 pm

#534514

PurpleT3 wrote:I would check your point gap. Sounds like it may have closed up. have had this happen several times. Often happens with new points as ridges on the plastic block wear away, allowing the point gap to close.

Certainly worth checking before pulling the carbs apart.

I think I will look at that, the car has been running well this arvo after blowing out the jets so I thought it was fine, then its died again on the way home from the shop.

I was going to take it to a club dinner tonight, really pissed off with it now. It was running good for at least 1/2 hour to an hour , just enough to give me the confidence to take it somewhere. Had to carry the 1 year old home about 1km or so.

I must have bad karma with this VW or something

1954 Oval long term project going nowhere
1958 Beetle drag car project
1959 Beetle project I need to sell one day
1969 Squareback

pod i`ve got to finish this thing one day

4,980 posts · joined Dec 2003 · 15 Sep 2006, 6:15 pm

#534515

make sure your coil is not going west as well, they will let you go somewhere but as it gets hotter it will just die out and no way will it start till its cooled down👎

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HGFS Wolfsburg Wizard

531 posts · joined Feb 2005 · 16 Sep 2006, 8:39 pm

#534893

Its all OK now. Motor runs good and I drove it heaps further today than the other day and didn't miss a beat. The fuel filter I was coming home with the last time it died has now been installed so I'm hoping that's the last of the dramas.

After the drive today with no problems I haven't looked at the ignition side and I think I'll leave it alone for now. Unless anything else goes wrong.

The big test will come tomorrow on the club run down to Victor Harbour, its about 100k's each way. Not wanting to tempt fate I'll have my wife there in her car just in case...

1954 Oval long term project going nowhere
1958 Beetle drag car project
1959 Beetle project I need to sell one day
1969 Squareback