newbie with a possible electrical issue
-
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2012 3:56 pm
newbie with a possible electrical issue
greetings to all from Florida. I have a 69 vw powered trike 1600cc. Purchased several months back and havent had any sort of issues. Its always ran well, started quickly, etc... I drove it a few weeks ago for a few miles and parked it (in the garage). Went to start it the next day and it turns over fine but doesnt try to start at all. The day i rode it I heard a pop of some sort from the rear but had thought i ran over something. Dont know if that has anything to do with my problem. When i turn her over now i can hear what sounds like air being sucked in. I didnt notice this noise before this issue started. Now im no mechanic by any stretch.. i can work on motorcycles all day long but air cooled vw motors are another thing. Any expertise offered will be greatly appreciated.
- Dale M.
- Posts: 1673
- Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 8:09 am
Re: newbie with a possible electrical issue
The thing is pretty simple its just a 4 cylinder motorcycle engine as opposed to a two cylinder (or 1 cylinder) motorcycle engine.... All basic trouble shooting thing that apply to motorcycle engines apply ACVW engines...
All basic fuel availability checks should be done and all ignition functions checked (it is supplying spark?), and timing check should be done (static timing is about 7° BTDC at #1 cylinder TDC)....
Problem may be as simple as points in distributor have slipped closed or wire has come off coil... Check spark plugs to see if you have not blown one out of head (pulled threads) ...
Might be to your best interest to head over to local book store or library and find a shop manual for VW's ... You will find they are not much difference that a motorcycle....
Dale
All basic fuel availability checks should be done and all ignition functions checked (it is supplying spark?), and timing check should be done (static timing is about 7° BTDC at #1 cylinder TDC)....
Problem may be as simple as points in distributor have slipped closed or wire has come off coil... Check spark plugs to see if you have not blown one out of head (pulled threads) ...
Might be to your best interest to head over to local book store or library and find a shop manual for VW's ... You will find they are not much difference that a motorcycle....
Dale
"Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns" - Thomas Jefferson
1970 "Kellison Sand Piper Roadster"
1970 "Kellison Sand Piper Roadster"
- Marc
- Moderator
- Posts: 23741
- Joined: Thu May 23, 2002 12:01 am
Re: newbie with a possible electrical issue
Since you say it doesn't even try to fire, I'm with Dale that the most likely culprit is a basic lack-of spark problem. Do pull the aircleaner and see if fuel is being squirted out of the accelerator pump nozzle when you crack the throttle open. If not, you could have a fuel delivery problem (bad pump/clogged filter) or maybe just the accelerator pump circuit is plugged up. It usually takes either a functional choke or accelerator pump, if not both, to get a cold motor to light.
As for that "pop", there are a bunch of possible causes (but ignition trouble's still near the top of the list). Inspect the carburetor, there's a softplug staked in near the middle of the venturi - about the size of a dime, looking right at you - if it blew out the carb's only going to work on the idle circuit, which might not be good enough to fire the engine up.
Term 15 is the positive coil terminal, the black wires from the ignition switch (and to the electric choke and idle cutoff jet, if equipped) go here.
You probably don't have backup lights on your trike, but this is also where power to the backup light switch on the trans comes from, through an inline fuseholder.
As for that "pop", there are a bunch of possible causes (but ignition trouble's still near the top of the list). Inspect the carburetor, there's a softplug staked in near the middle of the venturi - about the size of a dime, looking right at you - if it blew out the carb's only going to work on the idle circuit, which might not be good enough to fire the engine up.
Term 1 is the negative coil terminal, the (usually green) wire going to the points/condenser connects here. Also the tachometer, if you have one...but nothing else.Marc wrote:For the benefit of anyone running points, I give you Kettering troubleshooting 101:
Disconnect the Term 1 wire from the coil, leaving only the power from the ignition switch hooked up to Term 15. Using a jumper wire between Term 1 and ground, see if you don't get a decent spark each time you disconnect it. (If not try another coil).
Next hook the Term 1 wire back up and see if you can get a good spark each time you open the points; also try rotating the engine so that the points are open and then bridge across them with your screwdriver tip. If the screwdriver makes better points than the points do, they need attention. If you get a good spark under these tests but not when the engine's cranking, and the voltage to the coil isn't being dragged down excessively while cranking, then the condenser is suspect.
Term 15 is the positive coil terminal, the black wires from the ignition switch (and to the electric choke and idle cutoff jet, if equipped) go here.
You probably don't have backup lights on your trike, but this is also where power to the backup light switch on the trans comes from, through an inline fuseholder.