70 beetle won't start

[dgentry]

My beetle was running rough. When it set idling it ran fine. You could run the rpms up and the engine wouldn't miss a beat. When I would drive it...it would try to stall. So I bought a new carb. Installed it and it did run better but still not smooth. I tried turning the distributor, reset the points, was going to check the timing. Well before I did that, I made sure that the distributor was in the proper place (with the test light and at top dead center). So I get ready to crank it to check the timing and now it won't start. It will turn over but not getting fuel to the carb. Check the fuel filter, its ok. Recently bought a new manual fuel pump so its ok. When I try to start it without the air filter, I get no gas going to the fuel filter unless I hold my hand over the top of the carb. Then it draw some fuel though not much. Still won't start. Will try to start if I move my hand off the top of the carb and then back on. Sort of a vaccum motion. Is my problem in the fuel system or will the points and all cause the thing not to start? Any help would be appreciated.


Don

[ridge_runner]

i would clean out your gas tank and fuel lines... happend to me...they clogged up

[dgentry]

I put new tank and fuel line...about the only thing that isn't new is the distributor. I know very little about motors so this may come off as a dumb question. Everything was atleast running until I went and moved the distributor. Could the timing of the points and crankshaft effect the fuel system. I am getting no fuel to the filter or carb. New filter, new carb, and new fuel pump. Also when I bought the fuel pump it seems like it said the fuel goes in from the bottom valve and out the top. The fuel pump is from Brazil, not sure who made it.

Thanks,
Don

[ridge_runner]

it should come in the top tube and go out the bottom..

[Doug Rodrigues]

I think that the next logical step would be to disconnect the fuel hose from the fuel pump to the carburetor. Have someone crank the engine while you hold the fuel hose into a bottle to see if fuel is being pumped. Are you sure that you've got those two hoses on correctly? Take a look at another bug engine to confirm that the hoses are in the correct position.

The distributor....can only go on in one position unless you've rotated the body way too much in the process of installing it and got the timing too far off. When the timing mark is on the crankcase split, it's either on number one or number three. The notch on the distributor body is where the rotor should be pointing at number one. It should be very close to that mark or the timing is way off. The points should be set to .018 inch or about 45 degrees dwell angle when using a dwell meter. Did you check if the push-on connector in the distributor may be shorted to ground? Sometimes if the condensor lead-in wire is installed a bit cockeyed, it grounds out against the inside of the distributor body.

[BoatCop]

Check the push-rod length on the fuel pump. There are 2 different lengths of rods. If you changed the pump style, the rod may be too short, and not activating the pump.

Also check the idle cut off valve. It should be on the left side of the carb near the bottom. A wire goes from it to the coil. With the key on, engine off, remove the wire. It should "click" as it activates. The valve shuts off fuel when the key is turned off to avoid run-on. If it's hooked to the wrong terminal on the coil, the engine won't idle.