I was driving @60 mph when the tranny failed. I was able to get off the highway in 2nd gear, I think it was 2nd. Certainly fourh was gone. It sat for four years. When I pulled the engine I drilled it for a full flow oil filter. After installation, I cranked the engine, with coil unplugged, to get the oil light to go out. I tried to start it a few times then decided to go to basics and check valves timing etc. I have not run it after the four year hiatus, but only because it didn't start. Could it have been symptomatic four years ago but I missed it? What are the symptoms of what is virtually a weak spring? Besides some excessive valve train noise. Dean On Apr 18, 2013 1:14 AM, "John Sroka" <john.at...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Dean, if the sequence of events was: > > Drove fine for a year, tranny failed. > Sat for 4 years. > New transaxle in. > Adjusting valves, noticed problem. > > Did the engine run or was it cranked at all after putting the new > transaxle in? Or prior to first-time startup, were you adjusting the > valves and noticed the problem? I'm trying to visualize what could have > happened that would suddenly make the keeper slots on the valve strip out. > > > On Wed, Apr 17, 2013 at 2:57 PM, John Medwid <j...@medwid.us> wrote: > >> Dean,**** >> >> ** ** >> >> Another suggestion for a VW machinist is Richard Sedoris in Youngstown, >> OH.**** >> >> ** ** >> >> He doesn’t have a website at this time but below is a link to a feedback >> thread about him on thesamba.com. He has done some engine work for me >> and I was very happy with his service.**** >> >> ** ** >> >> >> http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=321579&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=40&sid=2b612f5ba725e27de345486ec45af4b3 >> **** >> >> ** ** >> >> John Medwid**** >> >> ** ** >> >> ** ** >> >> *From:* vintagvw@googlegroups.com [mailto:vintagvw@googlegroups.com] *On >> Behalf Of *Dean Johnson >> *Sent:* Wednesday, April 17, 2013 1:21 PM >> >> *To:* vintagvw@googlegroups.com >> *Subject:* Re: [vintagvw] Valve spring retainer keepers. gone missing?*** >> * >> >> ** ** >> >> Dan, >> >> The spring on the bad valve is not compressed as much because the valve >> is stripped and the keeper is closer to the end of the valve allowing it to >> expand more than the others. I'll take another spring off and make sure >> they are the same height, but I suspect they are when relaxed.**** >> >> >> Bill, >> If the keepers didn't touch at both sides I'm sure they do now, with the >> valve stem being stripped. **** >> >> I'll take a closer look at the keepers and take some pics, right not the >> head is at my new friend's house. (anyone with as many VWs as he has is a >> friend to me)**** >> >> Dean **** >> >> ** ** >> >> ** ** >> >> On Wed, Apr 17, 2013 at 1:10 PM, Dan Moy <sole...@gmail.com> wrote:**** >> >> There is a clue in what you said, if there where swivel feet, than it is >> really important that the push rods are cut to the appropriate length to >> insure that there is no binding, in addition to installing >> the appropriate shims.**** >> >> ** ** >> >> Also what does this mean: "The spring wasn't as compressed as the >> others" the springs should all be the same height?**** >> >> ** ** >> >> Regards, >> Dan**** >> >> ** ** >> >> On Wed, Apr 17, 2013 at 12:58 PM, Dean Johnson <dean.g.johns...@gmail.com> >> wrote:**** >> >> I also want to know why. I'll report what I can after I get the valve >> out. The keeper grooves are gone. I don't know how the keepers could be >> installed any differently. They look in good shape but I really haven't >> looked closely for damage. When it was still together there wasn't anything >> odd, they fit well with the retainer. The spring looks normal too. The >> spring wasn't as compressed as the others, but that was due to the retainer >> sitting closer to the end of the valve stem.**** >> >> I'll look more closely and see what I can tell you. My guess if bad >> material. The head came on the engine from Strictly Foreign with swivel >> ball adjusters, and spacers under the rocker shaft. I don't see how the >> geometry for that valve would be any different from the others, which were >> in pretty good adjustment when I discovered the bad stem.**** >> >> I adjusted the valves on these many times over the past 30,000 miles and >> didn't notice that valve needing extra adjustment (perhaps it did but not >> enough for me to notice.) **** >> >> I can do basic valve lapping (at least to the level needed for lawn >> mowers) but don't feel up to grinding and lapping multiple angles etc.*** >> * >> >> So, how do I find a good VW machinist who can do the job and get my head >> back together? I suppose it can be anywhere as I'll have to ship it anyway. >> **** >> >> Thanks,**** >> >> Dean**** >> >> I really wish I had a spare engine, a nice reliable 1600 in the stock >> configuration.**** >> >> ** ** >> >> On Wed, Apr 17, 2013 at 12:36 PM, Dan Moy <sole...@gmail.com> wrote:**** >> >> Dean,**** >> >> ** ** >> >> Do you mean stripped of the keeper grooves? I would want to know why >> this happened:**** >> >> ** ** >> >> (1) was the valve material bad**** >> >> (2) Is the spring different than others**** >> >> (3) where the keepers improperly installed**** >> >> (4) as is what does the valve train geometry look like**** >> >> ** ** >> >> If you are going to replace the valve with a new one you will need match >> it to the valve seat otherwise it will leak.**** >> >> ** ** >> >> On Wed, Apr 17, 2013 at 12:21 PM, Dean Johnson <dean.g.johns...@gmail.com> >> wrote:**** >> >> I took my head to a local VW guy (not a machinist), he checked out the >> head. The valve guides are good and all the other valves are good too. ** >> ** >> >> The bad valve was stripped of its grooves for some reason. I'm just going >> to replace the one valve. While I hate to ask for advice and not take it, >> the local guy feels confident this will work. He and the VW mechanic turned >> high school science teacher have both had bad experiences with machine >> shops and VW heads. **** >> >> But wait! Does the valve need grinding, or at least lapping. **** >> >> ** ** >> >> Dean**** >> >> ** ** >> >> >> Now, I need to decide how far to go with this.**** >> >> 1. buy an intake valve and keepers and replace just the bad one.**** >> >> 2. Buy a set for all valves in both heads and rebuild them myself.**** >> >> 3. Send heads to a machine shop for rebuild.**** >> >> 4. buy one or two heads.**** >> >> ** ** >> >> -- >> Visit the VintagVW archives at >> http://mail-archive.com/vintagvw@googlegroups.com >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "VintagVW - Air Cooled Volkswagen Discussion List" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to vintagvw+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >> To post to this group, send email to vintagvw@googlegroups.com. >> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/vintagvw?hl=en. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. >> >> **** >> >> ** ** >> >> -- >> Visit the VintagVW archives at >> http://mail-archive.com/vintagvw@googlegroups.com >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "VintagVW - Air Cooled Volkswagen Discussion List" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to vintagvw+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >> To post to this group, send email to vintagvw@googlegroups.com. >> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/vintagvw?hl=en. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. >> >> **** >> >> ** ** >> >> -- >> Visit the VintagVW archives at >> http://mail-archive.com/vintagvw@googlegroups.com >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "VintagVW - Air Cooled Volkswagen Discussion List" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to vintagvw+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >> To post to this group, send email to vintagvw@googlegroups.com. >> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/vintagvw?hl=en. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. >> >> **** >> >> ** ** >> >> -- >> Visit the VintagVW archives at >> http://mail-archive.com/vintagvw@googlegroups.com >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "VintagVW - Air Cooled Volkswagen Discussion List" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to vintagvw+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >> To post to this group, send email to vintagvw@googlegroups.com. >> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/vintagvw?hl=en. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. >> >> **** >> >> ** ** >> >> -- >> Visit the VintagVW archives at >> http://mail-archive.com/vintagvw@googlegroups.com >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "VintagVW - Air Cooled Volkswagen Discussion List" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to vintagvw+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >> To post to this group, send email to vintagvw@googlegroups.com. >> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/vintagvw?hl=en. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. >> >> **** >> >> -- >> Visit the VintagVW archives at >> http://mail-archive.com/vintagvw@googlegroups.com >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "VintagVW - Air Cooled Volkswagen Discussion List" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to vintagvw+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >> To post to this group, send email to vintagvw@googlegroups.com. >> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/vintagvw?hl=en. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. >> >> >> > > -- > Visit the VintagVW archives at > http://mail-archive.com/vintagvw@googlegroups.com > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "VintagVW - Air Cooled Volkswagen Discussion List" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to vintagvw+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > To post to this group, send email to vintagvw@googlegroups.com. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/vintagvw?hl=en. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > > > -- Visit the VintagVW archives at http://mail-archive.com/vintagvw@googlegroups.com --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "VintagVW - Air Cooled Volkswagen Discussion List" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to vintagvw+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to vintagvw@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/vintagvw?hl=en. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
