Burned valve, or retreated valve seat, probably intake, since you are
seeing rich conditions on the other three (the fuel from #1 is not
staying in #1, but being sucked back to the other 3).

There is a VERY SLIM chance the lifter is jammed/stuck and the clearance
is wrong on #1, holding the valve open. Try re-adjusting the valves on
#1, and see if your compression changes... I doubt it will.

Pull the motor. Trying to do head work with the motor in the van is like
trying to have sex without taking your clothes off. It *can* be done,
but it is far tougher than dropping the motor with your clothes off, or
having sex once the motor is out of the van.

:-)

Developing business and guiding change since 1996,

G. Matthew Bulley
Bulley-Hewlett
Corporate Communications
Business: www.bulley-hewlett.com
Alliance: www.ntara.com
Call tollfree: +1.877.658.1278

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
Of Mark Sheflo
Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2002 1:17 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Air-cooled engine help!

Seems like most of the talk about heads on the list revolves around
Wasserleakers.  I need some opinions on an oil dripper (oops, that
should be
air-cooled!).

Here is the story:

    Noticed a general lack of power so did a bit of looking about.

Timing spot on.

Compression check:

1 = 0
2 = 110
3 = 115
4 = 110

Symptoms:

No excess crankcase pressure
Wet (gas) but clean spark plug in #1
#'s 2,3 and 4 have lots of black soot on the plugs (too rich)
No back-firing out the exhaust, even with some small leaks in the
exhaust.

My thoughts tend to lean towards a bad valve, but which one, intake or
exhaust?

Also, for those with the experience, should one drop the engine to
remove
the head or can I do it with the engine in place?

Mark
82 Westy