Intermediate shaft

[murphus]

Is the intermediate shaft timed? What does it drive, if anything? Newbie question, I'm sure, but I couldn't find an explanation in the FAQ section. Thanks.
Richard

[rs899]

No, it is not timed. It drives the oil and vacuum pumps.

[Vincent Waldon]

Newbie question, I'm sure, but I couldn't find an explanation in the FAQ section.

All good... welcome to the forum !!  There are no stupid questions here.  

Well OK, there's one:  "how do I add a BOV/CAI/divertor valve/electric turbo/smoke machine to my Rabbit??"    

Since you asked... you get to be subjected to a little bit of history.. at least history as I understand it. The 4 engineers tasked with coming up with a diesel engine for VW were also tasked with reusing as much gasser stuff as they possibly could....parts, castings, molds, etc.  There was nothing wrong with the oil pump system on the gasser so they kept it, and the distributor access port on the block casting was a perfect place to mount  and drive the vacuum pump.

The only issue was that they needed more belt drive area against the injection belt sprocket because of the high drive forces involved, so the timing belt wraps around the timing belt sprocket and then runs against the IM sprocket in the opposite direction to the gasser.  The drive gears on a diesel IM shaft/oil pump are therefore cut in the opposite direction so that the oil pump spins correctly.

Aren't you glad you asked??!!  

[rs899]

Vince-

Didn't they also make a special intermediate shaft seal that was grooved internally in the opposite direction as the gassers to keep oil on the shaft ( now spinning opposite the gasser)?

[honda_is_the_best]

vw used alot of threaded sealing surfaces, to keep the oil moving, and to keep it in the engine.

everyone remember the threads on the crank pulley of an a/c vw?