Aircooled VW South Africa

I can’t say it’s a regular thing, but it does happen. I’ve just never had one fail with the symptoms as you describe.

you need to learn to use your other hand

everything fails at some point

acpaterson wrote: Sat Sep 28, 2019 5:15 pm
If it's NOT that, then it's an Engine drop to get the alt out, correct? I cannot reach that nut at the back of the fan housing.

Years of mechanicking have made me almost completely ambidextrous. I can even write legibly with my left hand now.

It's a bit of a fiddle and difficulty is dependent on your engine set-up (twin carbs, etc), but it is quite possible to pull an alternator/generator without removing the engine.

First task is to loosen the 36mm nut that holds the fan on (actually, no, as with all jobs, first task is disconnect the battery!). These have a surprisingly low torque setting; if it's been overtightened then you have a challenge as it's difficult to get sufficient leverage. Once you have the nut loose, the rest is quite straightforward: remove single carb or dual carb linkages and air filters; disconnect alternator and loosen strap and remove the 4 screws that fasten the backing plate to the fan housing. Then you can lift the alt out, leaving the fan behind in the housing.

Thanks Bud

I did strip it all last weekend, and THEN realized it wasn't my baja and I can't just take the fan off that easily.. So, lets see what happens after the Regulator change.. If it doesn't solve the issue, I'll put the bus up on my ramps, and maybe can get tot he rear fan nut from below, not sure, will deal with that when the time comes.

Stay tuned.

Al

Can I just plug it in without mounting it, or removing the old one? Just to test if it IS that? If it isn't, I'll have wasted time mounting it etc? Does it need to be attached to Earth when test running the car in other words?

just mount it properly. Its an electrical item which Midas is unlikely to take back if they see any signs of it having been connected, so in the end you'll likely fit it anyway, just because it is newer.

YAY!.

So the kid came round to help. took him the best part of 10 minutes.. Long thin arms, so all good. Screwed the new Regulator back onto firewall, nipped up the screws, and pushed the plug back on.
Jumped in, fired him up, which he did quite easily.. Idling, voltage meter in back showing 12.7 to 12.8 volts, revved him up and the volts went to 13.7 volts. Back down to 13.0 and 12.9, rev, back up to 13.7, 13.8 volts..

So, there you go, all good as far as I'm concerned. Those interested can put this one away in their memory banks for future.

Symptom.
Car started to gently stumble, like a small mis-fire, while cruising at 60 to 80 kmh.. like dirt in the carb kind of stumble.
When I got to the guys house and attempted to leave later on, I couldn't, but that was probably due to the "old" battery being really flat. I had o jump-start with my large camping battery.

Charge light on dash NEVER came on, not even when idling.

Voltmeter showed 13.0, MAYBE 13.1 Volts at high revs (4 K).

Plugged in the Regulator, volts back up to 13.7\13.8 Volts revved up..

Thanks for the help gents, appreciated.

Have a great, safe weekend.

regards

Alan

Very happy you came right and did not have to take the fan and Alty off.

Happy Volksing.

Herman

Danke', me too.. Was NOT looking forward to having to do that.

Al