Start-up help!?

[Nisse89]

I have a 1976 baywindow. 2 litre 51kW. Last started about ten years ago. Now with a broken ingition lock(?)(is it called that?) and some wiring problems.
My question for you is: Is there any other way to start this baby up? Things i should check before attemping to start?

PLEASE help me!!

[Pine]

A 2litre Bus engine will most probably have 2 carburettors, and a bit more 'plumbing' (read: fuel lines) than a standard single carb engine. That is exactly what I would check first - the condition of the fuel lines, all the way from the outlet in the fuel tank, the filter, the fuel pump, the Y-junction, the clamps etc. You don't want the fuel anywhere else than INSIDE the carb. Next is the carbs. Were the filters on? (In other words, are the carbs clean of junk - you certainly don't want that in your engine.) Then the oil. If I recall, the 2litre engine takes about 3 litres of oil, of which 500ml is in the oil filter. Is the oil level between the 2 marks of the dipstick? Is the oil clean (black is still 'clean', I mean is it not white due to water contamination?) Does the engine turn by hand? (If not, there might be a valve stuck.) Is the fanbelt on? (Not essential for cooling, since the fan is on the crank, but nonetheless for the charging of the battery.) Now get a fire extinguisher close, and ensure you know how to use it. You basically need power on the positive terminal of the coil, and power on the starter to crank the engine. With the battery connected, you can short the small terminal of the starter with the large 'bolt' of the positive battery wire on the starter, with a large screwdriver. It would make the starter turn, although it might be difficult to reach underneath the Bus. I suggest you jack the Bus up, remove the rear right wheel, and lower on support stands. ENSURE THE BUS IS IN NEUTRAL, AND PUT BRICKS TO THE FRONT AND THE REAR OF ALL THE WHEEL STILL ON THE GROUND. Maybe you can short the starter while someone else operates the throttles of the carbs? A little bit of petrol inside the carbs (or quickstart) will do miracles. Expect a LOT of gunk to come out of the exhaust once she fires up!

[Chris]

First make sure that you change the oil and Sparkplugs.
Tell us what elecrical problems you might have and we can try a help you sort it.But I would think the first thing to do is try and find a new ignition.

[Pine]

Petrol that is in a tank, might become 'stale' and lose its combustion properties. If you open the filler cap, and what is inside smells funny, drain the tank first, and install a new fuel filter.

[Nisse89]

Petrol that is in a tank, might become 'stale' and lose its combustion properties. If you open the filler cap, and what is inside smells funny, drain the tank first, and install a new fuel filter.

I'm familliar with that but how do I drain the tank? Through the filler or somewhere else?

[Nisse89]

First make sure that you change the oil and Sparkplugs.
Tell us what elecrical problems you might have and we can try a help you sort it.But I would think the first thing to do is try and find a new ignition.

When i bought the bus the wiring was all messed up. Basically all cabels were unmarked and blue... I have a diagram from a 68 Bay over the fusebox. Is it the same?
I bought a new ignition yesterday. 2,5 USD....

[Nisse89]

A 2litre Bus engine will most probably have 2 carburettors, and a bit more 'plumbing' (read: fuel lines) than a standard single carb engine. That is exactly what I would check first - the condition of the fuel lines, all the way from the outlet in the fuel tank, the filter, the fuel pump, the Y-junction, the clamps etc. You don't want the fuel anywhere else than INSIDE the carb. Next is the carbs. Were the filters on? (In other words, are the carbs clean of junk - you certainly don't want that in your engine.) Then the oil. If I recall, the 2litre engine takes about 3 litres of oil, of which 500ml is in the oil filter. Is the oil level between the 2 marks of the dipstick? Is the oil clean (black is still 'clean', I mean is it not white due to water contamination?) Does the engine turn by hand? (If not, there might be a valve stuck.) Is the fanbelt on? (Not essential for cooling, since the fan is on the crank, but nonetheless for the charging of the battery.) Now get a fire extinguisher close, and ensure you know how to use it. You basically need power on the positive terminal of the coil, and power on the starter to crank the engine. With the battery connected, you can short the small terminal of the starter with the large 'bolt' of the positive battery wire on the starter, with a large screwdriver. It would make the starter turn, although it might be difficult to reach underneath the Bus. I suggest you jack the Bus up, remove the rear right wheel, and lower on support stands. ENSURE THE BUS IS IN NEUTRAL, AND PUT BRICKS TO THE FRONT AND THE REAR OF ALL THE WHEEL STILL ON THE GROUND. Maybe you can short the starter while someone else operates the throttles of the carbs? A little bit of petrol inside the carbs (or quickstart) will do miracles. Expect a LOT of gunk to come out of the exhaust once she fires up!

Thanks! I'll try to decipher all that into Swedish No it's no problem. Top grade in English so...
A change of oil and sparkplugs too?

[Nisse89]

Thanks for all your help though I'll probably need even more. Connected a battery to the solenoid and the starer today and the engine spunn like a cat...almost. Everything turned and sometime the next few days I'll attempt to start it up for real.

Thanks!