1970 1500 beetle.

We have spark, points spark, timing light flashes.

When the engine turns, it seems that it wants to fire and then the starter stops, as if it cant push because of the compression.

Mainly when spraying aerostart in the carby.

When there is nothing to fuel it, it just spins freely not starting.

The plugs are a little black, when sitting outside on metal spark fine.

Flattened 2 batteries then had enough.

When turning the distributor different ways, we seem to notice the compression thing more.

Only twice in the whole time it fired by about 2 clicks and that was it, nothing to even call trying to start.

Whats going on?

Thanks
Kuch

Sounds like you timing is way way out. Have you had it running with the current distributor, distributor gear setup ?

What has happened since last time it was running

Which dizy does it have ? 009 vacum advance ?

Have you been playing with the wires at all ?

Have you checked your compression / valves to make sure you haven't dropped one ?

More info needed.

Spark plugs wired up wrongly (order or position) to distributor? (This might make the engine feel like it's firing 'a bit' & wanting to run.)

Condensor failed (open circuit)? (This allows a juicy spark to be seen at the points, maybe enough at plugs to feel like it's going to start, but then not enough of one at the plugs to sustain running.)

Was due to the condensor not being connected to the dizzy/coil.

Vaccuum advance dizzy.

Havent checked compression.

Next problem - idles fine, however sounds like a diesel when you rev it.

Now, when you do the timing on a vw, what do you line the mark up to?

And need a new carby ASAP due to a few things bent on the accelerator side of things.

Kuch

You line the mark on the pulley up with the centre of the case (where it joins together at the top)

To time a VW engine if you dont have a timing light....

Best to do it at night....

You:

Turn the engine over till it's on top dead centre, take the distrubutor cap off and rotor button.

Loosen off the distrubtor clamp nut.....

Turn the key on....

Turn the distributor till it sparks, go back and forth till it is turned onto the spot where it sparks.

Tighten the nut up...

The engine is now timed!

I personally use this system on a 6volt engine as the timing light doesn't work with only 6volts.

Hope this helps

And is that a 32pict Carbie?

Cheers Will

The distributor sparks in many directions, with every car.

And i have a timing light.

Kuch

where in sydney are you located?

St Clair Western Sydney.

Ok, hows this for a quiz -

I have replaced the dizzy cap, rotor, adjusted the points, replaced leads, replaced condensor, replaced coil.

On idle is fine, adjusted the timing to the second mark (as well as the first). Either idle fine. You start revving the the timing light hesitates. Flash, no flash, flash flash. On any cylinder.

This is the problem. What is causing this? Once this is done, it will be fine.

Kuch

It was the points!

Adjusted them to .40mm to widest open point and now its perfect.

Thanks and keep this in mind for your own boxer engines.

Kuch

And there are those that say "chuch out the points !* ", and would miss these many hours of fun... !! ?

* & condensor -- and replace with some more modern electronic bits.

It took me 4 nights... not seeing my bed until after midnight each night...