VW 1302 maintenance

Making use of Silver Week Holidays(we call so these 5 day holidays in Japan), some repairing procedures were performed for air-cooled VW 1302 Super Beetle 11AD. One is the replacement of boot on the left steering linkage rod inner connecting rod doing knuckle and tie rod. 19mm holed wrench and a special tool separator shown in the picture were required. Though relatively long time must have been passed, included chrome molybdenum grease prevented rain water and dust from coming in, so physical performance of ball joint is alive. As a replacement part, OHNO Rubber Company DC-2103 was applied, the quality of rubber material, such as life and flexibility are far better than an original foreign made boot.
Hard handle movement for front right side glass sliding was improved by guiding channel disassembling and re-tightening, and grease applying on pinion and guiding ruched spring, became lighter than before, but still remained some sliding resisting on the touching area with newly replaced rubber weather strips in and out, leaving its inconvenience as it is.
Thanks to some precise adjustment of basic A/F mixture control on genuine Solex 34 PICT3 carburetor, acceleration became linear and powerful, also after cold start phase. But, very little inconvenient phase remains which must be caused by the lack of the closing action of the thermostat that controls cylinder heating by closing the door on the cooling air way activating just while the initial moment of cold start phase, it's within my acceptance.

New commers

An unexpected affair happened, 4-cycle motors came to me at hand from my old friend who closed his shop a few years ago and he has been keeping his favorite good in his garage room and he made up his mind to change his residence to an small apartment just because of age, he does not have critical disease at all. Remembering my past about 40 years ago, I knocked his Radio Control Model shop by chance, story begins at time, I enjoyed to fly model air plane at his specially prepared model airplane air port for several years, I was young and had enough energy to do that at time.
After that, I made up my mind to attend F3A field and I changed the flying places into different group, some of the represents of Kansai area were there automatically my skill was upgraded to revel with them. Though some silent period with him existed for several years, the connections had been kept.
For the sake of friend ships, he gave me some model airplane good that he had been keeping this time.
Now I show Saito twin 4-cycle motor installed on Cub model that is now under my maintenance procedure. Some clogged phenomena was observed in valve movement, lubricant application there solved the problem and keeping enough compression, actually this motor was not used much just test running only? Some important modification was done, insertions of insulator system between the motor case and motor mounting. Applied rubber mounting material prevents vibration comes into servo sliding resistors well and another important moving part such as hinges and horns.  Battery and elevator servos and a rudder servo were mounted in the rear part to meet with the adequate Center of Gravity. More some few days maintenance period time would make it possible to fly this Cub model, if possible I want to take him to the place, however old this geriatric person might be, he would come with me if I call him up.
The similar one had no motor nor no servos is ready to fly with OS 40LA, as this one had no aileron, so designed as rudder control only, applied it in addition, though some destruction of appearance occurred, I need aileron control system at any rate if I try to enjoy freely and safely.

Positive Trapezoidal theory in wheel alignment

Remembering my past 20 years, I had been paying attention to the thrust angle measured from rear axle construction too much, but recently I have realized that the establishing the Positive trapezoidal figure from upper point of view while straight running is prior to the conventional way of thinking. Though driver's weight is put on the seat, the theory does not prevail at all under the actual dynamic conditions on the way. However hard and however many times I might do it, constructive axle supporting structures and wheel alignments measuring and adjusting have not been favorable at all. So, I did change the point of view of alignment of vehicles into the idea of forming Positive trapezoidal while straight running. Finally, all the trouble events of straight running were wiped out and diminished like some different world. Of course, the so to speak Thrust angle is not zero when adjusted to form Trapezoidal figure, but the steering feel is noting but comfortable and the steering wheel is fixed at the centric position with tackiness and no symptoms is felt to change lane so easily as ill-setting cars. The thrust angle is not correct numerically, but the driving feel is the best if the Trapezoidal figure is established.
As we know, indispensable conditions should be satisfied before that, the axises of front and rear should be parallel each other meaning the elimination of Setback and Swung rear discrepancies and lateral offset also leading to the equilibrium of wheel bases each other, camber values should be the same, front and rear promptly, not only that caster values also.
in short symmetric conditions should be supplied anyway, this is why I mentioned about the figure of Positive Trapezoidal figure from the upper point of view.
Though I have made up desert TOYOTA SXE10 Altezza with 30,000km use at the beginning, I feel some strong regrets attachment and lingering affection after this critical wheel adjustment. Just because of inconvenience for model airplane handling and stowage(rear gate convenience). Also, my lovely VW1302 Super Beetle still remains with the same reason.

VW1302 thrust

It's my holiday today, so made up my mind to adjust the thrust angle of Air-cooled VW 1302 Super Beetle so precisely as much as I can. Considerable discrepancy was observed, reminding the history of the replacement of the trailing bushes into genuine parts, 4 pieces of bulky horned rubber mass material, they must have caused some permanent distortion by the stress of use. Recently, realized I that the key to success of this complicated and muscle hard work is the constructive centric position of the toe direction of front wheels in order to establish the positive trapezoidal figure when judged from the upper direction of view. Frontal toe direction is marked on the handle column and the thrust should be precisely adjusted by the rear total toe direction keeping the standard value of total toe. Of course, lateral displacement of the frontal axle and rotational distortion should be checked before the work, Setback and Swung rear end. Remember that the change of the frontal toe direction causes the difference of wheel base value, this is why the frontal wheel direction should be established prior to the rear alignment adjustments. The weight of the driver should be put in the account when measured and adjusted, so I make it a rule to to put 3 of 20L plastic tank containing water on the driver's seat. This weight balance is indispensable for wheel alignment measuring procedure. It goes without writing that I realized some better, stable and comfortable steeling response immediately after that as usual.