Gretchen wall

[Amskeptic]

Set timing to zero degrees at idle with vacuum hose off and plugged. Disconnecting vac hose and plugging seemed to have no effect on idle speed. Idling at about 800 rpm.

It won't have any effect. This is the classic era of statically timing VWs with the engine off and a simple test light that John Muir made famous.
'course the factory wanted it appear that it was in the 20th century so its specifications may call for the engine running, t'aint no difference.
Colin

[ruckman101]

I would think timing it at idle would be more accurate than static. I've static timed to get a fresh engine up, or in moments of whacked out confusion, but never a driver. Seems odd Bentley would have me disconnect and plug the vac line when it didn't change anything.

Anyhoo, it is running smoother. New points sometime on my weekend (Monday, Tuesday), now that I have the right ones. The guy who mounted my tires waxed nostalgic over the front tires that the tread was separating from, remembering selling containers of them in 1978! The back two were the bad ones, and mismatched. Suspension sure clunks. I guess lubing it is the first step. Checking tire pressure after I get off work, 18 in front, 27 in back, then running her up to Amboy. Woohoo, looking forward to the twisty turny curvy cornery parts.

Spring weather with barely a hint of rain ever since I got the carport canopy up. Typical, eh?


neal

[hambone]

I do all my timing statically, works like a dream.

[ruckman101]

I do all my timing statically, works like a dream.

Really? I always thought that was kind of a rough approximation. Have you thrown a timing light on to double check ever?


neal

[hambone]

Never use a strobe-gun, no need. If it's wrong it'll tell you by running like crap, bad acceleration & gas mileage etc. A nice thing about early type1s!

[ruckman101]

You're braver than I. Must be my nervous nature.


neal

[hambone]

YEARS (years...) of nervous trial and error and failure my friend. I've learned to take it slow and methodical.
If it's not right, it'll tell you!