Quick and easy excessive endplay check on any ACVW engine.......

With engine OFF(!), grab crank pulley with both hands, and try to push and
pull to determine if endplay is excessive; more than barely perceptible
movement fore and aft is excessive (Too-loose Letrec!)
  Desirable play is .003" which feels like almost none at all!  You can back
this up with an actual dial indicator measured off the pulley from the case.
  Excessive crank endplay allows the distributor drive gear to be able to
rotate a little either way, and this will affect the timing.  2 degrees
change at the dizzy is 4 degrees change at the crank, because dizzy turns at
1/2 crank speed..........

Mike B.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Greg Potts" <greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, December 18, 2006 8:49 PM
Subject: Re: Sloppy timing?

> Hi Nathan,
>
> A bit of play is not unusual on a well-worn engine.
>
> It could be the distributor, or it might be the end-play on the crank
> bearings. If it's a high-milage engine I would bet on the latter.
>
> Happy Trails,
>
> Greg Potts
> 1973/74/75/77/79 Westfakia "Bob the Tomato"
> www.pottsfamily.ca/westfakia
> www.busesofthecorn.com
>
>
>
> On 18-Dec-06, at 8:26 PM, Nathaniel Poole wrote:
>
>> Setting the timing on my '80, it kind of bounces around a bit, a
>> few degrees
>> either way. I haven't had to do a manual timing in decades and don't
>> remember if this is normal. Time for a distributor rebuild?
>