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Archive => Archive board => Engine Shop => Topic started by: Beetleboi -Greg- on June 27, 2008, 10:14:40 PM

Title: Thermostat
Post by: Beetleboi -Greg- on June 27, 2008, 10:14:40 PM
If thermostats are so important to the VW Engine? Why aren't they available? They are on the Samba used... but how can you trust that they work?
I'm going to check tomorrow for the pull rods that you check behind the fan housing tomorrow. VW-Resourses said if you have pull rods you have flaps. Hopefully I just need new tin and the 50 dollar used thermostat.   m-d
Title: Re: Thermostat
Post by: matt on June 27, 2008, 10:30:10 PM



  THermostat cant be stretched out, in fact there is a tolerance height to them, dont have the book in front of me,

but if you have a few vw books, that specification will be in one of them...........


M
Title: Re: Thermostat
Post by: Beetleboi -Greg- on June 27, 2008, 10:44:50 PM
I don't get what stretched out thermostats have to do with anything. Or is that what usually happens then they go bad? The last thermo I replaced was on my 65 Ford Falcon and that was a lot easier than this lol.
Nothing like finding out that you're missing parts   :'(
Title: Re: Thermostat
Post by: matt on June 27, 2008, 10:51:49 PM



Engines get hot

Engine heat expands the accordian-type  thermostat

this expansion pushes up on the rod to the flaps to open them

Bad thermostat, one has expanded slightly or grotesquely
slightly, will not move the rod the distance it should
  hence flaps are not opened to the degree they should be when your engine ishot.........
really expanded ones....well, you could not fit under the car at all.


Last year dissasembled and old engine that had a thermostat which was expanded over a foot ( I remember it was over 2 feet, but dont want to seem too crazy  c23 - so I'll say a foot. ) wish I took a pic of it, it was unbeleivable!

the fish that got away


Matt
Title: Re: Thermostat
Post by: Beetleboi -Greg- on June 28, 2008, 01:03:33 AM
That makes sense. I'm going to have to look in he bently book and see if there are diagrams of how the thermo is set up. I know I need a bracket too. I'll look for those measurements in the Muir book for the thermo expansion.
Title: Re: Thermostat
Post by: lovebus (jack) on June 28, 2008, 10:45:21 AM
you can buy a new kit from cip1 for around $25.

Someone just posted all this stuff, READ!!!
Title: Re: Thermostat
Post by: Beetleboi -Greg- on June 28, 2008, 11:32:22 AM
i checked there before i wrote the message. they dont carry it ne more. unless there is a secret link that i am unaware of. aircooled was suppose to carry the kit as well but they no longer carry it.  :wallbash:
Title: Re: Thermostat
Post by: skymath on July 15, 2008, 02:29:51 PM
check out http://www.ratwell.com/technical/Thermostats.html it will give you all kinds of info. 
Title: Re: Thermostat
Post by: skymath on July 15, 2008, 02:30:12 PM
but basically if a used thermo is expanded it's probably no good
Title: Re: Thermostat
Post by: Beetleboi -Greg- on July 15, 2008, 02:54:25 PM
thanks sky ;D
Title: Re: Thermostat
Post by: lovebus (jack) on July 15, 2008, 04:34:18 PM
Great article Sky and good to see your doing your homework, so many people don't know why that stuff is improtant.
Title: Re: Thermostat
Post by: njgt-1 on July 15, 2008, 05:00:15 PM
Sky,

thats about the best explanation I've seen as to how these things work. I'm not so sure his repairing one is a great idea but if all else failed, who knows. Keep in mind your bus has the type 1 motor so the flaps & thermo arrangement is a bit different than those with the flat shroud motors. Anyway its a bit warm to worry about them right now!
Title: Re: Thermostat
Post by: skymath on July 16, 2008, 10:53:48 AM
I've been reading a lot of the articles on that site (and whereever else I can find what appears to be good info).  When you're completely ignorant there's a lot of stuff you need to learn!
Title: Re: Thermostat
Post by: njgt-1 on July 16, 2008, 12:26:54 PM
QuoteWhen you're completely ignorant there's a lot of stuff you need to learn!

ignorance is temporary if you have the will to learn and an open mind.

Title: Re: Thermostat
Post by: Beetleboi -Greg- on July 16, 2008, 12:57:02 PM
Reading that article, I realized that I don't have the wheel, the wire and possibly even the flaps.  >:(


Title: Re: Thermostat
Post by: skymath on July 16, 2008, 01:12:30 PM
Quote from: njgt-1 on July 16, 2008, 12:26:54 PM
ignorance is temporary if you have the will to learn and an open mind.

amen!  I was curled up with my Idiot book last night before bed...  The more I learn about VWs the more I want to learn.  It's becoming obsessive... :)

Title: Re: Thermostat
Post by: njgt-1 on July 16, 2008, 02:12:40 PM
QuoteReading that article, I realized that I don't have the wheel, the wire and possibly even the flaps

Greg,

go back and read it again, it referrs to a type II engine not whats in your beetle.  :wallbash: You don't have the wire, wheel or those type of flaps.

Quoteamen!  I was curled up with my Idiot book last night before bed...  The more I learn about VWs the more I want to learn.  It's becoming obsessive... :)

Sky,

the idiot book is a good start but if you want some real excitement try curling up with the "Bentley Manual". much racier!
Title: Re: Thermostat
Post by: skymath on July 16, 2008, 06:48:44 PM
what is the Bentley Manual?  I've seen references to it....
Title: Re: Thermostat
Post by: njgt-1 on July 16, 2008, 07:45:16 PM
Quotewhat is the Bentley Manual?  I've seen references to it....

its the "factory" manual for different year VWs. No cutsy drawings or home made tools like the idiot book but lots of heavy duty tech stuff. When you get bored with Muir then its time for bentley but be ready for some tough terminology. the idiot book is great for the newbie and later on the bentley will fill in the blanks that Muir misses.
Title: Re: Thermostat
Post by: skymath on July 16, 2008, 11:21:55 PM
excellent I'll have to get one.  maybe it will explain how to get the windshield defrost heat to turn off.  not that i'm complaining--it was raining monday morning on the way to work and I was very glad it worked.  but in 92 degree weather it's probably not as important.... heheh

sky
Title: Re: Thermostat
Post by: Beetleboi -Greg- on July 16, 2008, 11:55:53 PM
 ;D Well that explains everything. 

These were the flaps I was talking about.   http://vw-resource.com/vanes_thermostat.html

I'm going to recheck for the linkage in the front of the dog house before work. My luck I will need a complete cooling system.
Title: Re: Thermostat
Post by: 6T5 square on July 17, 2008, 06:13:17 AM
Quote from: njgt-1 on July 16, 2008, 07:45:16 PM
its the "factory" manual for different year VWs. No cutsy drawings or home made tools like the idiot book but lots of heavy duty tech stuff. When you get bored with Muir then its time for bentley but be ready for some tough terminology. the idiot book is great for the newbie and later on the bentley will fill in the blanks that Muir misses.

stick with the Muir manual until your comfortable enough to do most work yourself.  It may be "cutesy" but it's a hella of alot easier to understand when your just starting out with these cars. You can buy a Bentley for $75 but it's probably going to work as a $75 paperweight for you for at least another year.
Spend your money on parts first.
Title: Re: Thermostat
Post by: Beetleboi -Greg- on July 17, 2008, 10:43:52 AM
john's right about that sky. i start with muir the check the vw resource site and the check the bently. if had the best of luck using the vw resource site. stay away from hayes unless your can buy it off the dollar menu.
Title: Re: Thermostat
Post by: njgt-1 on July 17, 2008, 11:15:46 AM
Quotea hella of alot easier to understand when your just starting out with these cars
Its true, Bentley is good if you need specific details like the angle of the valve seats or what the tolerrance of valve guide deflection is. Stick with the idiot book for now and if you can't find an answer theres always the club or the internet. Sometimes I forget that not everybody wants to get deep into the interworkings of their car and the basic stuff is just as important.
Title: Re: Thermostat
Post by: skymath on July 17, 2008, 12:35:44 PM
nods--yeah there is certainly PLENTY for me to learn in the muir book.  the questions I have that aren't covered are so far things like "what does this lever on my dash do?" rather than real hardcore technical stuff.   "how do I reconnect the bench seat to the body of the car?" (don't hit me Jack I know you already showed me where it connects--just an example...)

oh here's a question: my left front blinker doesn't work.  the amber plastic cover is broken on one side and that let in moisture and if you remove the bulb, there are two little electrodes, and one of them is darn near rusted completely away.  someone mentioned maybe putting a spot of grease on it to improve the connection..?  it seems to me (I haven't tried it yet) that I should be able to access that socket from the back, inside the cab.  anyone have a trick for fashioning myself a new socket?  maybe soldering on a bit of flattened wire to the right shape?  something like that..?

thanks guys.  I absolutely love how everyone in this group is so helpful.  it gives me a warm fuzzy feeling that goes well with my hippie bus :)

..sky
Title: Re: Thermostat
Post by: 6T5 square on July 17, 2008, 12:57:07 PM

Sky do you have a decent printer and plenty of ink for it? Go to this web site

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/type2.php

Find your year VW manual. click on it. You can then print it out. I've done this with all my cars- it gives you a vw dealer manual that usually comes with your car and can answer some fairly technical questions every now and then.

hope it helps.
Title: Re: Thermostat
Post by: skymath on July 17, 2008, 02:19:25 PM
John,

Thank you SO much!  That'll help a lot!

..Sky
Title: Re: Thermostat
Post by: njgt-1 on July 17, 2008, 03:15:53 PM
Quoteoh here's a question: my left front blinker doesn't work.  the amber plastic cover is broken on one side and that let in moisture and if you remove the bulb, there are two little electrodes, and one of them is darn near rusted completely away.

Sky,

you could try cleaning them and also the inside of the socket where the bulb sits. You need good contact all around and also a good ground ( thats the gold part of the bulb with the 2 pins. If all else fails get ready to reolace the socket, I'm sure one of the suppliers would have the right part.
Title: Re: Thermostat
Post by: skymath on July 17, 2008, 03:41:16 PM
John,

The manual answered my main question: what do those levers do? (two are for fresh air, two are for heat--now I can finally turn off the heat in 90 degree weather!)

Bob,

Yeah the one electrode was pretty well rusted away but maybe if I clean the rust off the bit that's left will work.  It did seem that there was enough there that it ought to make contact but probably the rust was interfering.  How best to clear rust off an electrode?

Thanks again for the help guys,
Sky
Title: Re: Thermostat
Post by: 6T5 square on July 17, 2008, 05:37:35 PM
sandpaper or small file. Or if your a real old timer- a scout knife! :icon_thumleft:
Title: Re: Thermostat
Post by: skymath on July 17, 2008, 07:33:03 PM
nods.  thank you
Title: Re: Thermostat
Post by: lovebus (jack) on July 17, 2008, 10:19:44 PM
You can have my light assembly off my parts bus for a small fee. $10
Title: Re: Thermostat
Post by: skymath on July 22, 2008, 10:40:23 AM
it's a deal!  thanks Jack.

does the $10 include you showing me how to replace it?  :)
Title: Re: Thermostat
Post by: lovebus (jack) on July 22, 2008, 03:15:04 PM
No, thats 40$
Title: Re: Thermostat
Post by: skymath on July 22, 2008, 03:59:10 PM
aw poo.  alright well I'll stick with the $10 part and hope for the best :)

when can I pick it up?  signaling a left by sticking my arm out the window is getting old :)