Guys and gals,

My bug has developed a new noise, its a whin / whirr sort of noise, which appears at about 3500rpm and gets louder from there. Its definetely engine related, as it is still present in neutral.

My best guess is the Alternator bearings / bushings, I will pull the fan belt off sometime to check if this is the case.

If its not that - any ideas what it could be ?

Any body had the bearings / bushings go in their alternator / generator before ?

My alternator is 2nd hand and has been on my engines (3rd one now) for over 6 years, so if it is that I can understand I guess.

Also, since I have put a gasket kit through the kadrons myself, and had the throttle shafts rebushed, the car takes about 10 seconds of cranking to kick and catch - it started first pop before. It seems to me like its filling the fuel bowl all over again everytime it starts, as if you pump the accelerator, it kicks but wont catch - suggesting I've just squirted the last of the fuel left in the accelerator pump circuit out, and it is then waiting for the bowl to fill.

Once its warm, it starts and kicks first time.

Secondly, I now have a flat spot, where I didnt have one before. Not having touched any of the jets, or mixture screw, I can only think it might be that some air leaks are now sealed up, and the accelerator pump is no longer set up right ? I didnt touch the settings on that either.

I've been told Kadrons have a power valve in them - is this true, or is it just that the accelerator pump is a diaphragm ?

Has anyone got an exploded view / schematic drawing of a kadron ? I havent been able to find one in my travels, and it would be handy.

Thanks in advance. You've done well if you read all of this mammoth post !

Cheers !

bump

Any ideas people ?

Hi Doug,

could it be a vacuum noise....???

I guess it could be, but it really sounds mechanical and is not present when you give it a bootful at 2000rpm (when I would expect the motor to generate highest amount of vacuum).

Good idea though.

I pulled the fan belt off of it today after work, and it is definetely the alternator bearings that have gone. They have that nasty crunchy feeling and sound to them when you spin the alternator by hand.

Anyone got any experience with replacing bearings in alternators ?

I seem to be learning alot about my beetle, just by having to repair it a bit lately......

If you want to know about kads take this link

http://www.lowbugget.com/main_page.html 

He's the kad king

yep, hes the king alright. Good resource page but doesnt have a schematic drawing anywhere.

oh yeah and


BUMP

PS for those that care, I konw what the flat spot is - no accelerator pump on either carby !

When I rebuilt them, I cleaned a whole head of crud off the accelerator pump pushrod. This crud was serving a purpose though - it was holding the spring out so I was actually getting accelerator pump movement. Now they are clean, the spring sits back a bit further, and I get no movement !.

So all I need to do is get a spacer in there (just like it says on AJ's website), and then set the amount of squirt and hopefully goodbye flat spot !

I'm sure if I just go and hack a few do-nuts in the dirt it will help the crud come back.....

Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy - finally someone cares ! :thumb

Be just typical if I fix it, in 12 months time I'll have too much (as the crud return) accelerator pump, and then I have to back it off again!!

Curiosity question - is there a bush at the top of the steering column ? cos mine rattles a bit over bumps and its annoying.

Yes there is a thin one - almost like a shim

I have seen 2 different sorts
One was plastic and one was steel.

Are you sure it aint the big rubber donut at the bottom. That sort of holds the steering rod in and if thta is shot it will rattle.

I have pulled a few to pieces and reckon only 25% had that thing installed right. It is the big one you get toi at the bottom of the tube near the steering box

Could be either - I've never had the column out of the car (though it has had the little bearing at the bottom end replaced, as it was destroyed).

Another one for the 'when I get a spare weekend' list I guess....

Had no idea there was a rubber thingy in there as well. Guess I'd better read my service manual !

PS - how do you have time to live / eat / sleep ? With 3700 posts that is !!!!!!!!!

yoikes

a) i'm a vw nut

b) i have a job where i sit at a computer all day

c) i joined this site MANY moons ago. I can remember when we were happy when we hit 300 members :alien

Me too, I am happy to be Member # 275 !!!!

Scary to think that I have been on this forum for more than 2 years....... and still learning heaps everytime I jump on it.

PS I wouldnt park your bug next to mine as I might just steal your front struts and wheels What are the lowered struts worth ?

about a grand from last time i looked so im making my own

Oh really ? whats involved in making them ?

ive got the seats spun off on the strut housing and im moving it down and rewielding it in place 2 inches lower. but most of the ones that you buy are adjustable. vintage has the maxx struts and richard at v force has his own.

I guess if you only drop it 2" you wouldnt need different springs or shocks yes ?

How did you remove the bottom spring seat ? I guess if you were real careful with an angle grinder you could just take the weld out and reposition them.......

I'm sure I could do that.

Sounds like a good plan - be sure to post some pics when its done please ?

Wonder if its legal or not..... Should be as you arent cutting springs or anything like that.

should be the same shocks as we are only moving the spring seat. i got the spring seat turned off by a engineering firm that does a bit for my old man. its legal cause if it wasnt my old man wouldnt let me do it ill get pics when we do it cause im sure your not the only one. and im getting a boiler maker to wield them so it will be strong

Sweet.

I have access to a huge workshop and helpful fitters / welders etc at work too, so should be no probs.

To be honest I'd never even thought of doing it that way before....

yeah well it was my old mans idea since the struts are so expensive. i may even not go the full 2 inches. im going to do a mock up first. ill get back to you on this one mate