Picked up a buggy today that is running like an absolute shocker. The car was built in a garage over 4 years and occasionally drove up the driveway and around a cul-de-sac.

I drove it home today...well, as far as I could....

For starters, it needed a lot of pedal to keep the engine from dying (1600 motor). When it stalled (which I did a few times trying to leave the driveway), the subsequent start would be slower from the battery, until it gave in and needed clutch starting. Eventually I kept it running....

Changing up gears....it laboured for a while until it seemed to settle itself in gear......only to labour again on the next gear change....

Then, it stopped at a set of lights (as in, engine stopped). No cranking, not even a hint. From here, we towed it home.

I reckon the following, but would love your advice:

- buggy needs a good tune.....the fact it runs at high revs but ran badly in gear, etc. Timing?
- suspect battery or charging system
- possible crook starter motor (charged battery this arvo, power, only click from starter, nothing else)

Ideas? Am I on the right track?

battery and timming i would say

On the point of the battery, I have been charging it this afternoon......as of now I have good strong power to lights, but turning the key just produces a click at the back, no cranking. Still possibly battery? I originally looked at this but am now thinking maybe starter...unless a low battery can still power lights OK but not be enough to crank.....

Most VWs found after they have been sitting in a garage etc for many years....
even if a [Non VW] mechanic has tried to tune it unsuccessfully...
The car will do the things You said happened to Your Buggy..

Check the points - timing of Distributor - 009 is 32 degrees
but it doesn't have to be spot on...
Check Auto Choke - is it connected to Power? Is it working? does it get hot when the ignition is On..?
Is it on all the time? Choke flap in carby throat is closed?

The problem with the VW starting system is:
the power from the battery has to go from the battery to the ignition switch then all the way back [past the battery] to the starter motor... [samewith the ignition system]
Ignition key switch is very old and the contacts are burnt from years of service...
So, not all the power is getting thru the switch....
to the Starter Motor & Solenoid....

Clean all the terminals at the battery & starter motor...
including both ends of the heavy starter & earth cables...
wipe inside the distributor cap with WD40 or similar...
run a points file thru the points if they are burnt or pitted..

This should be enough to get the car to start and run correctly....

a relay in the starting system is needed.... to fix the starter circuit....


ALL copper connections need to be cleaned....
Copper connections get contaminated after many years...
so the fuse box needs to be cleaned so all the copper connections are shiny... fuse ends too... shiny...

Any Questions just ask...

Most VWs go after a bit of a clean up & tune up.... and it doesn't have to be spot on..... just near the mark....

Lee

http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug 

hey phantom...bought a buggy! cool!
i'd buy a new battery for starters...sitting that long with occasional use it will probably never be anygood even if the charger does its thing.
plugs/points etc if they don't look real new..then see what happens after a tune up

Is it still 6 volt??

does it have a 009 distributor? or the original vacuum advance type?

We are guessing the valves are opening & closing OK....

so, if its getting Fuel... OK...

check by looking down the carby throat... when the accelerator is pressed... does fuel squirt down the throat...
If it doesn't then the accelerator pump in the carburetor isn't working....

this can be the ball bearing in the carby is stuck...
[I have 3 carbies with stuck balls] hard to fix...
or the accelerator pump diaphram is cracked and not pumping....

this will make driving the car very difficult.....

Lee

It is 12 volt.....but thats about as much as I know about it yet. I intend doing a lot of research on this thing in coming weeks.

Thanks for everyones help, looks like a few things to look at. I need to isolate the starting hassle, then work on the other, whether its timing, connections, whatever. Once that is all fixed I can look at the other small things that need doing.

Thanks all.

check for air leaks at the inlet manifold as to why it wont idle properly as well

short the 2 termanals out on your starter motor, see if it throws out.
oh make sure its not in gear when you do this

I would check the leads are also on the correct plugs.
From experience and it did what yours was doing.

Cant believe I admitted to putting the leads on the wrong way.
Ah well.

Cheers
Dave

I've done it too, don't feel so bad.......I bet others have done the same trick.

I can confess to doing most things wrong at one time or another but I can't really remember crossing the spark plug leads over....

I have seen many Mechanics mark all the spark plug leads etc
so putting them back is easy....

If You mark the bakelite spark plug connector... on the spark plug end.. no one can see it....

Back to 61 Buggy: You will need to know what engine it is...
& the timing... Early engines are static timed with a light...
Engine NOT going....
Late engines : especially with 009 Distributor need to be timed at 32 degrees approx at full revs.... Engine Going..
with a strobe timing lamp....

Carburetor May need to be cleaned or unscrew the mixture screw to check the pointed end hasn't been broken off...

cheers

Lee

if its been sitting for that long then replace all the fuel line and clean up the pump and carby
mite have alot of sh!t in it - blocked

starting sounds electic - fused wires, rusted started terminals ?

yeah it could be off fuel.
It goes off after a while

or rusty tank, solids etc.......