Aircooled VW South Africa

Good day, some advice to a novice please. I have a 1973 1600 twin port beetle. A while back it started acting up like when the fuel filter is dirty, I replaced the fuel filter but it did not correct the problem. It worsened and eventually refused to start. I changed the points and condenser, adjusted the carburetor, reset the timing as shown on google, but still nothing. The engine turns over but will not start, it sounds as if it does not get spark, but I tested and it gets spark up to the spark plugs. I also replaced all four spark plugs. Any advise on what can still be wrong?

Get someone to spray Quikstart into the carbs as you crank it over if it starts you have a fuel problem, most probably a dirty fuel filter in line or on the outlet of the tank.

Do not spray too much..

Herman

Sprayed Quickstart, poured some fuel directly into carb, took carb off and cleaned, still no luck. Any chance of it being the regulator?

Has it still got compression on all cylinders?
Could it be that the cam is not turning anymore? This is a question for the vw boffs here.

How do I test that?

You need a compression tester and preferably a helper that could swing the motor while you hold the compression tester.
You obviously need to remove the spark plugs for that.
You should also feel resistance when turning the engine by hand. Leave plugs in and make sure you don't get spark by removing center HT lead.
You can heard when the cylinder has compression but not how much and you probably won't know which one.
You could also remove spark plugs and try plugging hole with your finger lightly while swinging engine. If compression it will lift your finger.

Before doing the compression test, check the basics. If you have spark and fuel, the car should start. Do the basic things first.
Check whether your valve clearances are within spec. 0.006" for your engine. Statically time your distributor as a rough starting point. Fill your carb float bowl with fuel. Even though compression might be low the car should still start or make an attempt.

JWK444T wrote: ↑Wed May 13, 2020 4:04 pm A while back it started acting up like when the fuel filter is dirty, I replaced the fuel filter but it did not correct the problem. It worsened and eventually refused to start.

A little more detail here would also help the gurus. Was anything done to the motor before this started happening, any out of the ordinary noises
was it only starting problems or also during running? etc. etc.

Nothing was done to the motor before this happened. Last service was done last year June and since then it ran fine. Then all of a sudden it started jerking and shuddering while driving. It would start up, but would start to jerk as if starved of fuel once the revs pick up. No strange noises or anything else out of the ordinary.

Did you take out the fuel outlet in your tank.......

There is a filter in there, did you clean it...

Did you blow out the fuel pipe between the tank and the engine ...

you see if you have an earth strap between engine and gearbox, is it making good contact...

Did you take out the plugs after trying to start and are they wet or dry.....

If they wet, no spark...

If they dry, no fuel.

Is your battery fully charged ... if not charge it 1st....

Did you try to push start it, if it starts, its your battery connection and /or your battery and/ or your earth strap and /or your ignicion switch /steering lock

Good luck

Herman

JWK444T wrote: ↑Thu May 14, 2020 12:01 pm ... all of a sudden it started jerking and shuddering while driving. It would start up, but would start to jerk as if starved of fuel once the revs pick up.

I had this once and it turned out to be the coil.