[Vwdiesel] Banana Rabbit--Bad news...

[LBaird119 at aol.com]

In a message dated 1/30/2011 7:37:17 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
davevw at yahoo.com writes:

> If I am lucky and the engine can turn over loosly and freely, do you all 
> think I could get away with trying to retime the engine with a new belt and 
> see if it'll run?  Will there be obvious signs that a valve bent for sure 
> to look for?  (from above) If it runs, would you go ahead and drive it?  I 
> guess I'm saying, is there any way I might possibly get lucky and not have 
> to pull the head?
> 
> 

  If you can get the crank to turn back a few degrees, the cam can 
then turn freely.  Pull the T-belt and then rotate the cam through 
TDC of each cylinder and check the valve clearances.  If they're 
all somewhere near normal then put a belt on it and don't look back. 
If you get some that will fit a screwdriver, kitchen knive or small 
rodents through the gap (instead of /004 to .020") then you've got 
a bent valve or more.  I've had a no-bend situation twice out of about 
5 belt breaks or jumps.  One was a jumped tooth, the other stopped 
but was just above an idle and decelerating.  Only saw one cam break 
though.  
  Kinda odd to be right on TDC and not turn, without a bent valve 
though.  To be there, they either have to be closed or jambed shut. 
Crank should turn one way or the other with a bit of grunt.  You're 
not likely to bend or break anything else just by turning the crank 
with a 1/2" drive hand tool.
    Loren