Author Topic: Hi from Slovakia (Read 2426 times)

eben80 · « **on:** June 21, 2011, 09:03:25 AM »

Good morning all,

Introductions first. I'm Eben, a South African who just moved to Slovakia after living in the UK for 7 years. I recently bought this 650 FSM 126p. I'm very familiar with the "other" aircooleds and have run www.aircooledvwsa.co.za since 2005. So I thought half an aircooled would be even simpler and even less likely to break down

....

Anyway, I did my homework up front and bought an in-distributor electronic ignition module which I fitted and which works very well.

I am however being surprised non-stop by this little car (bought it "Dobry stav" = Good condition)... the surprises are things missing and/or falling off

Here is a short list:
Driving it home after I bought it the two bolts that hold the switch on the starter fell off...
The engine and gearbox was only fixed to the body with two bolts instead of five.
The brakes are very weak, handbrake adjusted as far as it will go...
The exhaust brackets have broken twice, playing havoc with the elbows which seems to loosen themselves....
The one rear shock doesn't have a bottom bolt to fasten it anymore.
Steering is very creaky..
Wiper only one speed...
Fuel gauge only shows full and fuel reserve light only off when there is half a tank of fuel..

Anyway so I guess I want to know if these are the usual problems and I am very interested in solutions for the exhaust mounting and stripped exhaust stud issues... What do you guys use that doesn't strip or loosen themselves?

PS my previous aircooled was a '67 VW Type 3 Fastback

'82 FSM 126P

Rusty's Uncle · « **Reply #1 on:** June 21, 2011, 11:50:10 AM »

Hi , the car looks good in the pictures so I guess you would say that it has "potential". Because 126s were a cheap car as they got older some owners did not want to spend any money on them . When I got my car the previous owner of some 7 years was well known at Proetti in London for only wanting to spend the absolute minimum . I have kept the car going and even after over 3 years I am still having to deal with things.
As for the exhaust I tend to fit studs into the head rather than use bolts. Also when fitting the exhaust I find it best to get everything in place then tighten the bracket end first (although I just had a real mare with a badly fitting exhaust) then tighten flange to ebow and finaly elbow to head.

eben80 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 21, 2011, 12:03:05 PM »

Hi and thanks for the reply. It had the studs fitted but the loose exhaust seems to have wrecked all of their threads(helicoils ordered). Do the dome-nuts improved things at all once the brackets are properly fastened? One of the studs is a step-stud.. now I'm looking for a solid insert supplier over here to get it back to all M8.....