A lot has happened over the last week or so. I started reconnecting all of the gas vapor lines and charcoal canister but had a difficult time finding the correct metric-size hoses. I could have used ASE sizes, but I still couldn’t find any 1/2″ hose for the breather. So, I dropped a local VW friend (Snoopy) an e-mail to see if he could recommend any import parts places in the Charleston area. He told me to give Ken a call in Summerville. I called Ken, and not only did he have the metric sizes but also the larger 13mm that I needed for the breather hose.
I headed up to Summerville to pick the hose up and come to find out I knew Ken. Ken turned out to be Ken Irwin and owns Aircooled Automotive. Ken and I were charter members of the Lowcountry Volkswagen Club in Summerville in the late 80’s. I had no idea he was still in the area, so we spent a little time catching up, bought my hose and was on my way.
I came home to hook everything up, and I loved how the correct hose sizes were installing with ease. I also stopped by Lowe’s to pick up a brass fitting to run the 13mm hose from the charcoal canister to the breather. I also picked up a slide-on fastener for the canister strap. I get everything hooked up and crank her up…and she dies. Try it again, and the same thing. She’ll run for about 5 seconds on starting fluid, and that is all. I unplugged all of the vapor fuel lines and tried again… the same thing. It was almost like she was getting any fuel.
After a day of scouring for more progressive carb info, I found the jets screws’ locations and removed them and gave a few shots of carb cleaner and compressed air. She started up…not perfect, but at least she would start and run a little longer. There must have been trash in the charcoal canister, and when I fired her up, it blew it all into the carburetor.
I have now removed the carb, cleaned the exterior really well of the years of grease and grime. Now, I will remove the idle screws and jet and clean them again. I’m debating on picking up a rebuild kit and rebuilding it while I have it out. I plan on running it for only a short time as I’m working on the new PDSITs I have for installation.
I PBblasted the intake nuts tonight, as I will need to remove the intake and clean everything up on top of the engine, then reinstall with the clean carb.
Also, I picked up a pair of little wheels for the engine lid rod that helps keep it open. It took about five minutes to install, and now all is well…at least with the engine lid.