On Mon, 25 Aug 2003, Paul Wies wrote:

> 82 Vanagon with original type distributor and Weber carb.
>
> According to St. Muir air cooled engines should be timed using the static
> timing method.

First off, I'm going to express a slightly controversial opinion.

Muir was very good at writing practical, non-intimidating mechanic's
guides.  His books got me started.  The thing is, he was also a bit of a
luddite.  Static timing is common on diesels but gasoline engines are best
timed with a strobe light.  They're not very expensive these days.  The
specs in the shop manuals for later model engines (after the mid-60's)
assume you're using a strobe; they're not correct for static timing.  I,
and most other people, will recommend that you use a strobe and a dwell
meter to set up your distributor.

> This keeps occurring.  If I set the timing, then start it, and then re-check
> it, the timing is off.
>
> What gives?

I'm not sure but I'm guessing it has to do with the gear lash in the
distributor drive, which is a lot more apparent when you're turning the
engine over by hand.  Try checking the timing with a strobe, with the
engine idling, and see what happens.  If the timing mark dances around a
lot you may have a worn distributor.  Oh, and remember to disconnect the
vaccuum line to the carb and plug it first, to temporarily disable the
vaccuum advance (unless the shop manual says otherwise, the last gasoline
VW I timed was a '75.)

David Brodbeck, N8SRE
'82 Diesel Westfalia
'94 Honda Civic Si