[Vwdiesel] Remember smoke?

[Todd Braman]

I know it's been a while. Sorry. I got so much good information (which I have saved), I haven't had time to try it all, yet.
 
To refresh your memory: 81 Rabbit, 164K, 5 year lay-up, hard starting & smoke(white), new timing belt, retimed from book(first time).
 
I tried fresh diesel fuel-no change.
 
Tried hillbilly timing- I made a scribe mark on forward facing pump ear and mount plate. Found that rotating the top of pump toward the rear of the car so that the scribe marks are separated approx. 3/64th's makes things pretty hunky-dory. Starts first try, smooths out after about 25 seconds, no smoke, smooth reving( previously had a flat band from idle . 45-50 degrees F. ambient temp. I figure this is advancing timing, right? 
 
I will admit that my timing procedure could be faulty, but I followed the book and it seemed to go well. I am aware that there are different pumps /different settings but according to the book this should be a post yellow dot pump (I could not find a yellow dot anywhere.) I set it to .034 in. lift.  I remember Hagar mentioned that tired engines liked to be a little off-time. Could this be what I am dealing with here? 
 
Pump Dataplate info:       Robert Bosch  usa
                                      VE R88-8    0 480 494 077
                                      VW oooo    088 130 107 A6
                                         927 147 18882
                                       Bosch germany  O
 
I cant find any info to positively identify pump to determine timing. Is this info any help?
  
I did replace the O-ring on the start shaft during my previous work. This required taking the arm off the shaft. I was in a bit of a quandry as to how to index it. I tried to put it back so the run position (all the way in on the knob) had no lift on the cam. It seems to work correctly. During the smoky running it did run better with the knob out till it warmed up(when warm it didn't seem to make much difference). As timed now, I pulled it out for start and after about a minute pushed it in- runs good in or out.
 
Injectors were checked. Runs smooth. Is there any downside to operating off time? Engine damage? Power loss? Poor economy? 
 
I have my Lubro Moly Diesel-Purge and Diesel High-Test but I haven't used it yet. Could this situation be caused by something that Purge might fix?(assuming that the timing was set correctly).
 
Thanks,
 
Todd Braman
Yakima, Wa. 


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