Injection Pump Dial Indicator

[Jolly1977]

Im looking to purchase a dial indicator that I can use to re-time my '80 (1.6L IDI) Rabbit.  Anybody know where I can get one?

[fuslit]

I got a timing kit set off of e-bay, and it came with one.

If you just need the dial indicator and not the rest of the stuff, I would say that you could pick up one from harbor freight fairly decent priced.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=623

$8 bucks at the moment.

The one I got with the kit I have is in inches so I had to figure out the conversion from inch to mm is but it works.

And as long as you're not dropping it from 10' to concrete. If this is all your gonna use it for I think a HF one would work fine... and be the cheapest route. If you are going to use it for more than this, I'd say look into a more expensive indicator...

my 2 cents.

-Todd

[dieselsnowmobile]

http://www.volkswaparts.com/VWDieselDialGauge.htm

Only $58 with shipping included.  This is the cheapest on I have found.  Most others want $100.  These include the dial plus the long tube that threads into the pump.  Just a dial alone will not let you get the reading off of the pump.

[RabbitGTDguy]

The only problem I've had with this gauge is that I worry about its accuracy, etc. Its a SAE gauge, not metric...and it is a very cheap gauge as well. Will get the job done in the ballpark, but IMHO, not precision.
I currently have this gauge/holder and haven't been too impressed. I miss my original VW timing tools that I lent out to a trusted someone...then NEVER got them back. The manufacturing of them was alot better and you could just tell by the movement of the dial indicator that it was a much better engineered unit.
I'm currently now searching for another set and/or replacing this indicator with one of a better make.

Joe

[TD_Bunny]

I have a dial indicator i will sell to you for 50 shipped. I will have to check and see if it is metric or not. I have the dial and the tensioner tool for 50 to your door.

[dieselsnowmobile]

RabbitGTDguy - Did you buy the guage from http://www.volkswaparts.com/VWDieselDialGauge.htm or from Habor Feight Tools guage?

[RabbitGTDguy]

from the first link... I imagine the Harbor Freight one would be a bit better IMHO.

Joe

[TD_Bunny]

while on the subject of dial indicators. Could I find out what my rabbit is timed to without loosening the bracket and taking the valve cover off? I got my rabbit timed at a shop and am being to wonder if they set the timing right. I have my dial indicator but did not know if i could insert it in for just a current reading.

[Vincent Waldon]

Sure.... especially if  can peer into see the cam lobes for #1 thru the oil filler hole (ie if your car doesn't have a cam spray shield... not stock on 1980 but may have been retrofit)

If so, it's just a matter of finding TDC on the tranny and cam, insert the dial indicator, rotate backwards till the gauge stops moving, zero the gauge, then rotate to exactly TDC to read the timing.

I do this pretty much anyways whenever I set the timing... do it once, rotate the engine a couple of turns, and then recheck, pretty much ignoring the cam.

If you can't see the cam lobes for #1.... I'm thinking it will still work hypothetically since the plunger that you're measuring does a stroke for each half-revolution of the crank,  so any TDC should do.  However, if the pump is worn slightly differently between lobes you might not get the exact same setting as the shop saw... close enough for telling if you're in the ballpark for sure... but for best accuracy I hope you can see your cam lobes thru the oil filler hole.

[TD_Bunny]

well no i cant unfortunately for this :cry:  TD came stock with the oil guard that I am aware of which mine has so too bad for me i guess. I know i would not have to worry about the pump since Giles just rebuilt it but i will give your tips a shot thanks