[200q20v] Re: 200q20v digest, Vol 1 #611 - 18 msgs

[Derek Pulvino]

Mike and company,

I'm going with Bernie on this one, especially since I was so miffed at
replacing the whole distributor for one broken part in my way back when.
Yes seals leak, but replacing the entire distributor to cure this is more or
less baby with the bathwater material.  Would you replace the entire oil pan
if the pan gasket leaked?

Having access to a metal gear would not only allow you to eliminate the
plastic gear issue, but make replacing seals a non-issue; to my knowledge
the inherent brittleness of the plastic gear is one of the key reasons why
nobody has replaced, or even attempted to replace a leaking seal...at this
point.  Try pulling off and replacing the gear to get at the seals, and odds
are it's going to break.

A good parallel situation is the 16v VW's.  Leaking distributors are also a
problem there (read another horizontally mounted distributor).  The reaction
of this group was to figure out a way to replace the seals, as VW's leaky
distributor solution also complete replacement.  I know there is at least
one thread/web site out there that details 16v distributor seal replacement.
  The 16valvers have been able to successfully find viton seals that can be
used to replace the original worn seal.  Voila, leaking problem eliminated.
Not that it's central to this argument, but I'd almost guess that the seal
they use for their distributors is the same size as needed for ours
vehicles.

But we've digressed; really what we're trying to do is eliminate the plastic
gear timebomb.  Worthy project given the possible aftermath.  That we could
also replace leaking seals concurrently is really just icing on the cake.

As such, it's got my vote.  I'm willing to help out however I may.

Derek Pulvino

PS, Isn't it true that we can use the cam out of the 7A (that's the code for
the NA 20v right?) in the 3b?  If so, then the new distributor gear is too
there benefit as well.  But I think maybe I'm late to the party.  Has not
somebody else already established this.  If this is the case, can somebody
forward this message to the NA 20v list.  Let's get a read on interest.


---------------------------------------------------
Message: 16
From: "Mike Miller" <MikeMilr at blackfoot.net>
To: "Bernie Benz" <b.m.benz at prodigy.net>
Cc: "200q20V mailing list" <200q20v at audifans.com>
Subject: Re: [200q20v] Re: [audi20v] distributor gear
Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2001 21:05:02 -0700


----- Original Message -----
From: "Bernie Benz" <b.m.benz at prodigy.net>



>Go for new, your choice and cash.  But once out for gear replacement, the
>seal is trivial.  Why are you concerned or considering a new dist. if you
>replaced only a couple of years ago?
>
>Bernie
>

I am NOT considering a replacement - I already have a metal gear. I was
merely trying to warn people that just replacing the gear might not be a
cure all. Most dist, AFAIK, seem to leak in the first 100k mi.  Might be
something else  to consider. Maybe a group buy on seals too :-)

mike
> > From: "Mike Miller" <MikeMilr at blackfoot.net>
> > Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2001 13:33:31 -0700
> > To: "Bernie Benz" <b.m.benz at prodigy.net>
> > Cc: "200q20V mailing list" <200q20v at audifans.com>
> > Subject: Re: [200q20v] Re: [audi20v] distributor gear
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Bernie Benz" <b.m.benz at prodigy.net>
> >
> >> Hi Kevin,
> >>
> >> You must be aware that there new distributor group buys being talked up
on
> >> both the 20V and 200-20V lists.  The only alternative to spending $250
for
> >> new is your gear project.  Your machinist should have been able to give
> > you
> >> a price quote on an arbatrary quanity of, say 20, 30, and 50 pcs, with
> > which
> >> you could go back to both lists and get comitments or at least
interest.
> > If
> >> it is $50 or less it should be an easy; sell.  What's the hold up?
> >>
> >> Bernie
> >
> > With the way the distributor seals fail and leak oil, I think if I was
going
> > to the trouble to pull mine out, I just might as well put in a new one.
> >
> > mike
> > helmville mt
> > 91 200q with a new dist a couple yrs ago.
>

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