Adapting '81 1.6N/A for "industrial" use

[tyb525]

I'm going to pull the 1.6 N/A out of my '81 rabbit soon. The rear strut towers are completely rusted through, but the engine is still good.

I don't really want to part with the engine though, as it seems like it could be the perfect small diesel engine to power something, and it seems like I have found myself looking for something like that from time to time. One thing that comes to mind is a firewood buzzsaw I've been wanting to use that doesn't have a power source.

The one catch I haven't figured out yet is how to get the power from the engine to what I'm powering. I've had the transmission apart to replace the clutch several years ago, but I forget what it looks like in there, as far as shafts go. All I really want to do is mount pully(s) on the output shaft. Is there a bellhousing adapter of some sort out there that replaces the transmission? I don't necessarily need a clutch.

Curious to see if anyone on here has adapted an automotive 1.6 to another use, and how they transferred the power from the engine.

[theman53]

you could use the bell housing end of a 4 speed trans or any junk trans. Then you would have the starter and bits needed to put something together. No one makes anything for these economy diesels that are 30 years old, you will have to machine, weld, fab, etc your own stuff.

[tyb525]

Yeah, I plan on doing fab work on it, no problem there.

I did find an Ebay seller, "recycledjack" aka Recycled Inc., that has bellhousings for various VW Industrial engines, speed reducing gearboxes, and flexplates, among other things, apparently they got a lot of inventory from the USA VW Industrial Division when it closed.

That stuff costs money though, and I already have a "GP" 4 speed on the motor, so might as well use it if I can. I have a friend with a machine shop, and I'm no stranger to fabricating, so I'm sure I can make something work.

I'm just interested to see if anyone here has used their VW engine to power something other than a vehicle.

Edit: Looks like they've also got a brand new injection pump for a 1Y generator motor, most likely has a governor, which is something else I need to come up with, but not for $900!

[ORCoaster]

I would also look at the marine use of this engine.  That setup might get you some mileage.  Then they were used in industrial refridge units too.  The generator/water pump also was a use in some areas.  Getting to a setup that allows the engine to run but not power your blade or generator might be tricky.  The standard clutch is activated through the input shaft of the transmission.  Not a normal setup on the clutch and pressure plate either, unless it is a VW you are working on.  German engineering can seem backwards to us Yanks.

[libbydiesel]

You might consider a vanagon diesel bell housing.  It allows use of a typical flywheel/clutch assembly.  It will also house the starter.  The clutch slave is also mounted to the side of the bell housing and activates the clutch release lever.  The 'other edge' of the bell housing is also a flat face which bolts to the vanagon trans.  That would still require some fabrication but might be a more convenient starting point.

[RabbitJockey]

if you're just going use a v belt pulley or something you could probably just run it off the front of the engine, then mount a flywheel and bell housing just so you can mount a starter, i don't know if vanagons are the same, but audi bellhousings would mount the starter behind the engine instead of in the front, or an older 010 automatic bell housing and flex plate.

[turboedbug]

Build a generator.....

[tyb525]

I will need a way to govern the engine. I know I can buy a governed industrial injection pump for the 1.6 ($$$$$), or I can buy a belt-drive governor, which seems to be hard to find, and also not cheap. Can the normal injection pump be modified to act like a governor? Could I use the cruise control off a diesel VW?

[VW Smokr]

Re. speed control: most vehicle cruise controls do regulate engine speed, but only to achieve a driver-selected road speed for the vehicle.

OTOH trucks that have Power Take Offs to run hydraulic pumps, water pumps, winches, agricultural equipment, generators, etc. frequently have simple locking vernier knob handles that pull on a (usually long) cable connected to linkage that adjusts engine speed. Universal cable setups are commonly available for $50 or less, and a truck dismantling yard might have a functional used unit for much less. A tachometer mounted on your engine's "control panel" would be useful to help you adjust the vernier knob to your desired engine speed. Normally a tap on the button in the center of the control knob releases the setting & returns the engine to its idle speed.

Ancient technology... but it's cheap and it works! BTW got the same plan here for an extra 1.6D when its priority number comes up in my projects list; y'know... that list right behind the 'honey-do' list!

JR
SoCal

[vanbcguy]

With some messing about you should be able to set up any VE pump to use an uncaged spring style governor.  The VW system is a "min/max" governor rather than a constant speed governor.  It'd be as simple as swapping the governor spring assembly out of the pump with one that has the features you want.  The rest of the pump would be fine...

Now, finding the bits, that's another story.  A junk Cummins VE pump would be a good starting point - it would have the correct accelerator lever and spring assembly.  Depending on the running speed you're looking for the Cummins spring may actually work for you as-is but it'd just be a matter of finding a soft enough spring otherwise.

Found the attached picture of a Cummins governor - essentially the stiffer that spring the higher max RPM the engine will do; you can set the accelerator lever stop to your desired RPM and that style of governor will try and hold that speed by adding or reducing fuel as the engine load changes.

(the truck style PTO speed control referenced in the post above depends on the pump having this style of governor; it won't work with the VW stock governor.  Most trucks have uncaged systems)

[Big Daddy Roth]

My gramps had this exact situation.

Weld one of the axles so it can't spin and use the other to drive a farm style hydraulic PTO.

Leave the car otherwise intact.

[theman53]

My gramps had this exact situation.

Weld one of the axles so it can't spin and use the other to drive a farm style hydraulic PTO.

Leave the car otherwise intact.

How long did it last? The spider gears should double the speed with one being locked and the diff should explode after a while of use if done that way

[Big Daddy Roth]

It did just that. But it lasted long enough to cut the winter wood up.

He welded up another trans for the next season. He liked keeping the car complete. Easy to roll around by lifting the front bumper with the tractor. It kept all cooling/electrical/Exhaust ect systems complete. The cabin was also a nice warm place for a coffee/smoke break.

[vanbcguy]

Opening up the trans and welding the spider gears up would provide a much longer lasting solution...

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