Date:         Fri, 20 Jan 2017 17:05:18 -0800
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Distributor rotor heat damage? (Solving intermittent engine
              stall)
Comments: To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <CY1PR20MB0029607EA84B0914F1FB96E5A0710@CY1PR20MB0029.namprd20.prod.outlook.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

I've forgotten exactly how the distributor shaft goes, but maybe that's
loose... I recall there's a bevel gear that's driven off the intermediate
balance shaft... that may be loose somehow, allowing distributor shaft and
the rotor to move up too tightly against the contact on the distributor
cap...
  For my Franken-motor, I had to replace the distributor shaft bevel drive
gear with one that fits the ABA (2.0 l) intermediate balance shaft... That
allowed me to keep my Digifant distributor (from the 1.8l inline ) and not
change anything else from the Vanagon electrics or wiring harness, or the
head, and keep the body stock.. Didn't even have to re-time it..
 I don't remember if you took all that stuff apart during your ABA
install... Could be something to consider



On Jan 20, 2017 2:35 PM, "Dennis Haynes" <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:

> Looking at that rotor you could have more than one issue. A question to be
> answered is what caused the material to melt near the center contact? There
> is no evidence of arching there, only at the outer blade. Some arching wear
> there is normal.
>
> Is the engine getting so hot that heat transfer is melting the rotor? Or
> is the heat damage electrical?
> Since this is an inline engine there is another possibility. The bushings
> could be worn to the point the shaft has to much play. If I recall the
> shaft is also supported by some shims including a fiber spacer under the
> rotor. Maybe this set up is damaged-missing making the gap for the
> electrodes to great causing excess heat from the arching. I have seen these
> distributors fail in this way. Pull it out and check it. Measure the rotor
> height in relation to the cap.  Check for excess paly or movement.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> From: Neil N [mailto:musomuso@gmail.com]
> Sent: Friday, January 20, 2017 3:04 PM
> To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
> Cc: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
> Subject: Re: Distributor rotor heat damage? (Solving intermittent engine
> stall)
>
> Thanks Don and Dennis. Cap, rotor were Bosch. Old one was also scorched.
> I'll recheck cap seating but I'm 99% it was on right when new anD currently
> is ok. Hopefully, cleaning the hall connector and male connectors at dizzy
> will have cured the issue.
>
> On Thursday, January 19, 2017, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com<
> mailto:d23haynes57@hotmail.com>> wrote:
>
> Was it an actual Bosch Cap and Rotor set. Some of the other stuff is not
> made of the correct material.
>
> Dennis
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Neil n
>
> Blog: Vanagons, Westfalia, general<http://tubaneil.blogspot.ca>
>
> 1988 Westy Images<https://picasaweb.google.com/musomuso/New1988Westy>
>
> 1981 Westfalia "Jaco" Images, technical<http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/>
>
> Vanagon-Bus VAG Gas Engine Swap Group<http://tinyurl.com/khalbay>
>
>