Hi, I am still getting used to my "new" '70 beetle, I bought it last month and am trying to use it as much as possible to find all the problems,
So far it seems to run great when accelarating, and running at over 80kph, but below that it gets a bit jerky, I'll take a look at the points I think.
But the really annoying thing is this rattle from the gearlever when cruising, when I move it about the rattle disappears for a while then returns, is there a rubber bush or something that has probably perished?
There is also grey gunk radiating from the rear hubcap onto the wheel,but no grumbling from the bearings??

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hi,
Well firstly don't keep driving or they grey stuff which is coming from Your gearbox runs out...
No oil in the gearbox and they don't go long...

there is a small inexpensive plastic bush on the gearlever shaft on the rear side of the tunnel..
which can be found thru the gearlever hole....
I've never replaced one as yet but many people have...
its a very fiddly job... not quite impossible...

the main thing is... mark where the base plate on the gearlever goes....
otherwise You will have great difficulty finding the gears..
and You should have to push the gear lever Down to engage reverse...
If You don't the gear lever base isn't in the correct place..

check the 4 brake hoses - front and back, if any cracks, even though they don't leak, replace them....
Wheel brake cylinders aren't expensive either....
Your car should have disc brakes front and Drum on rear...

Buy an oil change gasket kit from a VW shop... $2 - $4
and change the engine oil... it will be very dirty...
Use Castrol GTX 2 oil... You take the drain plug out to drain the oil, then undo the six small nuts, and take the straiiner out and clean it... in petrol or similar...
make sure its perfectly dry before replacing...
take the two old gaskets off and replace them and use the new copper washers on the six small nuts and don't tighten these too much as they strip the threads very easily...
and they usually strip inside the engine...
engine oil needs to be changed in Our climate every 1000 miles or sooner...

as You can see, I'm presuming You haven't had a beetle before.....

the tappets need to be adjusted with the engine COLD...
because of the heat they are subjected to..

the Timing is very important in an air cooled engine...
also You need to know if you have a vacuum advance or 009 Bosch distributor... You will need a strobe type timing lamp for the 009 dizzy... My engine has a 009 dizzy..

Best to buy a couple of Workshop owners manuals...
Haynes is good, also the Australian SP/Gregorys manuals are also OK...
You can buy the Aussie ones on ebay all the time...

cheers

Lee

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

[ Edited on 20-11-2006 by 68AutoBug ]

Hi,

I just read Your details and see You have owned beetles before...
just remember that beetles are over 35 years old and maybe haven't been well looked after...
also with the heat we get in the summer... 36C+
the engine needs to be in tune....

cheers

Lee

Thanks,

I would have never havethought that the gearbox oil is coming out of the wheel hubs, I will take it back to Wolfsburg automotive for them to have a look at it, they put new oil in the engine when they put the new piston and floor in. They can also do the gearstick whils they are at it now that I know it's not an expensive fix.

hopefully I will have it back to go to the big VW day this weekend.