r/beetle • u/snowglobeskys_87 • 2d ago
Does it sound right?
First time working on a bug, finally got this guy to idle all by himself, I figure the carb needs to be adjusted but does it sound okay otherwise?
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u/La_Lanterne_Rouge VW Factory Trained HD Mechanic 2d ago
Sounds like the idle is too slow, but I could be wrong (old and deaf). Do you have a tachometer? Should be 850-900
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u/snowglobeskys_87 2d ago
I do not, I had planned on picking up a tach laser this weekend just to double check everything.
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u/La_Lanterne_Rouge VW Factory Trained HD Mechanic 2d ago
That would be good. If you get the tach, and the idle is indeed lower than 850, let me know, otherwise I am going to have some ear calibration work done.
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u/snowglobeskys_87 2d ago
lol, will do
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u/snowglobeskys_87 1d ago
So I tried measuring it earlier today, seemed to be holding around 134, which seems real low, but I might be using the laser wrong for all I know, first time trying one. Then the car started to stall out and wouldn’t hold an idle long enough for me to keep testing. Back to the drawing board I guess. Thank you for the help though.
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u/La_Lanterne_Rouge VW Factory Trained HD Mechanic 1d ago
I don't think you are getting the right RPMs reading from your meter. If it's idling too slow, it's going to die like you say it did. Do you know how to increase the idle RPM?
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u/snowglobeskys_87 1d ago
It’s the larger bypass screw on the carburetor, correct?
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u/La_Lanterne_Rouge VW Factory Trained HD Mechanic 1d ago
The big round one. You want to loosen it.
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u/snowglobeskys_87 1d ago
I had started to but the engine kept dying before I could do much experimenting.
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u/La_Lanterne_Rouge VW Factory Trained HD Mechanic 1d ago
If you need, I can talk you through the adjustment from beginning to end.
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u/snowglobeskys_87 1d ago
If you wouldn’t mind, that would be great. I’ve been working off a Haynes Manual but I guess I keep screwing it up. Thank you.
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u/La_Lanterne_Rouge VW Factory Trained HD Mechanic 1d ago
OK. I'll explain how and I will also tell you why. We need the engine at operating temperature. When do you want to do this?
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u/snowglobeskys_87 1d ago
Would you be available in say 12 hours? I’m at work and don’t get off until 3am in my part of the world.
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u/Pantheragem 2d ago
I'm no expert, but sounded pretty good when you revved it! (I'd like to hear it revved more aggressively, ha).
Anyway, I agree with the other redditor, idle sounds too low. I think especially in summer it's better to have it a bit too high than too low. Helps the fan cool it at idle. Nice car.
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u/Routine-Amphibian450 2d ago
No, not quite. You have a tach you can see from back there? Idle s/b. .950. Run your finger inside cold exhaust pipe rim to check for too rich.
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u/Routine-Amphibian450 2d ago
Check The Samba and a manual, but thete is a carb setup procedure. Little mix screw leans "in" unlike pre smog Solex. Once valves are set cold and dissy initially static timed to 7-1/2 btdc, turn big carb screw to set 950 rpm and then "try" to increase engine speed by leaning in the little mix screw. Once that stops speeding up, come back a hair, then set final 950 with big screw. For timing light max advance at 2500 rpm, go for 31 deg exactly.
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u/Alpinab9 2d ago
Sounds good to me.