Vapor Lock?? Help!

Heidi · Post by **Heidi** » Wed Feb 13, 2002 6:16 am

OK, I have a daily driver '71 Westy. Stock everything. Timing, valves, everything in perfect running order. Well except for......
The last couple of days, while driving home from work, the engine would start to buck, then virtually no power. I downshift to try to get R's, but nothing. Acting as if it ran out of gas (been there).
Pop the lid, fuel line-to-carb is warm. Fuel pump is very hot. Engine running normal temp. Let cool for a minute, starts right up,
but can only go about 1/2 mile or so before the whole thing starts (or stops) again. Could this be vapor lock? Or what?
Thanks in advance for any and all advice.
Bill

rich2481 · Post by **rich2481** » Wed Feb 13, 2002 6:42 am

Sounds like a few things, how is the point gap? they tend to close when warmed up and the carb could have crap in it, I have never heard of vapor lock on a VW but on chevy's I have used wooden clothes pins with some aluminum foil in the jaws to draw heat away from the steel line

ray greenwood · Post by **ray greenwood** » Fri Feb 15, 2002 1:56 am

That is also characteristic of silt clogging the sock filter in the gas tank. Drain it, take the line out with the nut on the bottom, and hose it out into a pan. You would probably be shocked at the S**T that runs out. Ray

Pablo · Post by **Pablo** » Sat Feb 23, 2002 9:49 am

-- and valves that are set too tight will also give these same symptoms. Have your valves clearance checked. It's a 20-minute job.

Paul

Heidi · Post by **Heidi** » Tue Mar 05, 2002 10:42 am

Ok
It was the fuel filter! Packed with rust deposits from tank. I'm going through a filter per week now, so I suppose it's time to remove and buy that Eastwood kit. Yuk.
Thanks, again, for all your help.