hi John,.
sometimes a VW distributor clamp can get bent and not clamp right..
though I have not seen it about  500 vanagon distributor clamps.

use a 6 point socket..
3/8ths drive is better..

if nothing else...
tie thye didtributor  to something so it can't rotate ..
like with wire to the oil breather tower or whatever.

or remove the clamp and inspect and work it over really well.
I have dozens if you want to buy one.

Don't be afrad to take the dist out and examing the clamp carefully.
the dist only fits one way on the drive
( though it 'half fits' the wrong way ..but it only sits in the drive dog
properly the right way. )

just note where the rotor points before you remove the dist.
*never* rotate the engine with distributor removed !
and not just because you might loose the timing..
if the driveshaft lifts up rotating the engine ...that can be a servere
problem.
Just don't turn over or ratate the engine at all while the dist is out.

scott
turbovans

----- Original Message -----
From: "John Lauterbach" <jhlauterbach@BELLSOUTH.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, December 12, 2011 12:34 PM
Subject: Setting time timing - unexpectedly need help.

>I had hoped to turn this problem over to my mechanic, but when I called
> him this morning, he said was totally booked up for the remainder of the
> year.  Thus it setting the timing correctly is a must DIY.  I have done
> this many times before, but the usual is not working.
>
> Distributor is tending to creep towards more advanced timing.  The clamp
> that supposedly holds the distributor in one spot may not be doing its
> job, or I am not tightening the bolt enough or something else.  One
> problem is getting a grip on the bolt head.  I am using a 10-mm socket
> with a 1/4-inch ratchet,
>
> Would appreciate some step-by step instructions on moving the
> distributor to take the timing from around 10 degrees BTC to TDC.  I
> know this sounds dumb, would appreciate the help.  I have an electronic
> timing light.
>
> John