VWDiesel.net The IDI, TDI, and mTDI source.
General Information => General => Topic started by: aximiliei on April 18, 2011, 03:29:22 pm
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Hey, Just curious has anyone bought tools from this seller? How was the quality (Don't want something that will break the first time I go to time my vdub)?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.m748&item=330554890503&viewitem=&_trkparms=clkid%3D8551062650011705500
Thanks, Aaron
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Search "prothe". Although the tools needed are very rudimentary, he doesn't have the best reputation for quality. I'm on the fence about ordering a 1.9 camplate from him.
Some of the things he sells are decent quality, so it's buyer beware. If I had to do it again, I'd just order a decent gauge and adapter with 360* tension. The adapter I have with a set screw is finicky.
-Todd
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Thanks, that is actually the seller I was looking at. I'm curious of where you would have gone to get your tool instead? I am itching to get my rabbit back on the road.
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I bought my set on eBay from a German seller. Price was about $100 shipped, but it's the adapter that I don't like... definitely usable, though.
There were some nice Schley gauges on eBay, recently. The gauge was probably about $80 shipped, so it's almost what i paid for my kit. My kit didn't come with a tensioner, either.
Some people use a deep socket as the lock pin and a flat file or door hinge as the cam lock. You can definitely piece a kit together, on the cheap.
-Todd
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I'll be one of the first to tell you to not buy from that seller, however...
I still haven't found reason to replace the timing kit I bought from him through Ebay several years ago. As a machinist, I can say the finish is on par with a high-schooler just beginning in shop class and the lock pin needed the knurl turned down a bit to fit all the way into the alignment hole. The cam lock is rudimentary but it's been surface ground to just the right thickness for a nice, tight fit in back of the cam with absolutely no angular variation while setting things up.
In short, it's just fine for a home mechanic but don't show up to work with that kit...
Ultimately I ended up buying a commercially made pump locking pin from another vendor that I also won't ever do business with again...
Chris
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Alright that's the sole purpose for it. Is once and a while for personal use when I change my timing belt.
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I have to agree with ToddA1. The set screw on the dial indicator adapter sucks. Both on the Prothe and the German guy's kit. The other tools on the German guy's kit is better, but it has a stupid adapter too. You can make it work, but you never know where the set screw will end up. On mine, it always seemed to line up perfectly with the glow-plug buss bar. Piece of $hit. I ended up buying the tension adapter and pin from Snap on for like $20. Well worth it. If I had to do it again, I'd just get this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140520851217&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
And then make my own lock pin and plate.
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I thought about it but the guy won't send to Ontario. I'm sifting through the internet to try to find another option. But I would like to get this done soon gas is rising steadily up here and showing no sign's of letting up and my V8 truck is eating my pay cheque's before I even notice they have been deposited. >:(
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I have this set. It is just as good quality as any. I have timed half dozen idi's with these tools. All have run great. Three of the four tools listed, are chunks of metal.. cant screw that up. And the gauge is more accurate than you need for this purpose..
Why pay $40 more for the exact same thing? just because it was sold by a German guy? I mean the German guy MUST know what he's doing on vw diesels right? lmao.
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In short, it's just fine for a home mechanic but don't show up to work with that kit...
Chris
Sometimes it's about function over form. I'm a home mechanic, and Prothe's kit would probably have been fine for me. I was turned off after I started researching him. After I ordered my kit, I started seeing people say his kit was fine, but crude.
OP, you may find yourself using the kit more than you think. Since buying my set last Summer, I bought another diesel, so I've used it many times.... especially when experimenting for cold weather.
Ultimately I ended up buying a commercially made pump locking pin from another vendor that I also won't ever do business with again...
Chris
If there was a quality issue with the lock pin that you bought, maybe you should disclose the seller to warn other forum members.
I have to agree with ToddA1. The set screw on the dial indicator adapter sucks. Both on the Prothe and the German guy's kit. The other tools on the German guy's kit is better, but it has a stupid adapter too. You can make it work, but you never know where the set screw will end up. On mine, it always seemed to line up perfectly with the glow-plug buss bar. Piece of $hit. I ended up buying the tension adapter and pin from Snap on for like $20. Well worth it. If I had to do it again, I'd just get this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140520851217&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
And then make my own lock pin and plate.
Hilarious.... I PMed that same gauge to the OP, earlier. I still want it!
Here's what I had to do to make my adapter usable....
- I cut off maybe 10mm (? it's been a while), and ground the extension nice and smooth so it rode the pump plunger nicely. I could have cut off more, but wanted to leave it as long as possible, if I needed it for something else.
- Grab a few various washers... wavy, flat, both thick and thin.
- Play with various washers so when the adapter is tight in the pump, the set screw is at the bottom.
- I have to set the gauge with at least 6mm preload. It's at this point, the set screw is at a thick area of the gauge. The screw won't bind the motion of the needle, here. Check the motion by pulling the gauge plunger and verifying it's all good.
I still wish I had a normal adapter, but I'm being petty at this point.... $20 huh?
Do you know if the threads on that Schley/Mitutoyo adapter is the same as the VW pump?
-Todd
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Something tells me I will understand all the "issue's" with this kit or any of them for that matter when I get one. This will be my first timing on a diesel, I will have a buddy walking me through it but I want to make sure I am getting a kit that's not fubar from the start and cause me more headache's then needed vw's cause enough to start with on there own ;D
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Ultimately I ended up buying a commercially made pump locking pin from another vendor that I also won't ever do business with again...
Chris
If there was a quality issue with the lock pin that you bought, maybe you should disclose the seller to warn other forum members.
-Todd
No... The lock pin was just fine! But I've been very unhappy with this supplier's quality on other products and their complete lack of interest in customer feedback. Oh yea, different salespeople apparently have access to different stock. I've posted my grievances in the past, no need to repeat myself.
Chris
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I still wish I had a normal adapter, but I'm being petty at this point.... $20 huh?
Do you know if the threads on that Schley/Mitutoyo adapter is the same as the VW pump?
-Todd
Yeah, I tried the washer trick, and when I tightened the German guy's adapter into my pump,it broke off the nose of the adapter in my pump. I got by with it, until I finally lost my isht.
I bought mine at VW Special Tools and Equipment:
http://buy.equipmentsolutions.com/vwaudiecom/home.aspx
I found the part numbers in the Bentley Manual and Samtag Sale's catalog:
http://www.samstagsales.com/vwaudi.htm
Samtag gets $30 for theirs. VWSTEP is actually Snap-On in Michigan. You may need to sign-in/create an account to see prices. I had to pay sales tax and shipping, but if you say you're a shop, you don't have to pay sales tax I think. No resale number required to create an account. It probably worked out to be a bit cheaper than Samtag Sales had I bought just that, but I bought other stuff too, so it worked out to be about $25ish.
Part number is 2066. Just enter into the search slot and it will come up. It's both parts: the pin and the collar. They will fit any, standard dial gauge. They fit my "German" one just fine. I may grind a bit off the pin though, as there's too much preload stock.
Be careful. That VWSTEP is VERY addictive. I think I blew about $150 on several items. I think the best of the set I bought were the dial adapter, and the MKIV rear-brake caliper tool. Sweet.
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Try this link:
http://buy.equipmentsolutions.com/VWAudiEcom/SpecialToolsDetail.aspx?type=Tools&itemId=29100012
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thanks every one and thanks quantum I'm checking those links now.
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Hey, thanks for the link! I'll probably order it tomorrow. Although my adapter didn't break, it's the worst part of his kit.
I'd tell other people to buy that adapter and a cheapo dial gauge from Harbor Freight.... Princess Auto for you Canadians. As stated earlier, the rest can be hobbled together.
I'll also cut a bit more off my existing pin, now that I'll be getting another.... I'd rather see around 3mm preload.
-Todd
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I'm a Princess Auto whore and I must say I don't think I have ever seen one in there but I find new treasure's every day ;D
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Lots of tools here to select from.
http://zdmak.com/wbstore/main.asp?action=Cat&Cat=VOLKSWAGEN&bl=3
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Lots of tools here to select from.
http://zdmak.com/wbstore/main.asp?action=Cat&Cat=VOLKSWAGEN&bl=3
I've bought from him too. Basically, he takes OEM tools to China and has them replicate them. Some are good, some are not. But if you compare his prices to VWSTEP, the prices are about the same or cheaper for genuine Matra, Hazet, etc tools from Snap-On.
That, and the guy is something of a C U Next Tuesday. I had the displeasure of talking to him on the phone about one of his tools. Condescending a$$, who doesn't honor his own return policy :P
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I remembered that I made a thread very similar to this one.... almost 1.5 years ago....
http://www.vwdiesel.net/forum/index.php?topic=21943.0
Anyhow, the main reason for this post was to mention that I already received my gauge adapter. Ordered 04/19 and delivered 04/21. I was pretty excited to put the gauge in, hand tighten, and get NO binding. I'm almost looking forward to using it!
-Todd
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I remembered that I made a thread very similar to this one.... almost 1.5 years ago....
http://www.vwdiesel.net/forum/index.php?topic=21943.0
Anyhow, the main reason for this post was to mention that I already received my gauge adapter. Ordered 04/19 and delivered 04/21. I was pretty excited to put the gauge in, hand tighten, and get NO binding. I'm almost looking forward to using it!
-Todd
I love mine now. So much easier to use. I think I'll either buy some different length pins, or grind it down like I said, to cut down on the preload. The shoulder on my gauge narrows down, so I have to put it into the adapter deeper than VW probably anticipated. Still a good deal, and better than the homemade ones.
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Hey, so I thought I would give everyone a update. I ordered the dial adapter from the VW STEP program. Across the border and delivered in less than 2 days :o (fyi for anyone looking to purchase one from them in Canada) with ground shipping at that. Unfortunately haven't had an opportunity to use it yet as I am still trying to track down a place to buy my gauge from but by looks it looks to be excellent quality. I also purchased the injection pump lock as it was pretty cheap fits perfect. Thanks again Quantum for that link.
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I wish they disclosed shipping. They also charged me tax, which I thought was odd. Shipping and tax was over half what the part cost. If I'd have known that, I'd have ordered another pin.
-Todd
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Yeah I kinda wished they had to it was the same price for shipping for me and the units I was never charged tax and had no duties on delivery which was a nice surprise
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I wish they disclosed shipping. They also charged me tax, which I thought was odd. Shipping and tax was over half what the part cost. If I'd have known that, I'd have ordered another pin.
-Todd
Yeah. I bought about $140 worth of stuff, and then paid about $18 on shipping and tax. I guess because they have "locations" in every state (i.e. delivery trucks), they have to charge tax. That's the only thing that suck about the VWSPAE. If you buy enough tools, it's worth it.
Even still, you probably would have paid about the same, maybe more, if you bought from Samtag tools or ZDMak after shipping costs are calculated, and you get a quality German tool. Look on the bright side.
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So I am out timing my car and I just want to ask a couple questions to make sure. I ended up buying my gauge from princess and on the gauge itself the extension pin screws about 1.5-2 inch's down the movement pin on the gauge and i read about .9 inch preload I'm guessing I need to grind down my extension pin? I just want to make sure before I do this and regret doing it. What would be a good amount to grind down?
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I think If I am reading you correctly.
you put the adapter and the dial gauge in rotated the engine counter clockwise until the gauge stopped moving and it reads .9 ?
If this is the case turn the dial face to zero and turn engine clockwise until crank mark is at TDC then read gauge and or adjust from there... do not it grind down...
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no i didn't so i was missing a step.... i just have my motor at tdc and it was reading that and i thought it was a little excessive so your preload is placed when you turn your motor counter-clockwise not before correct? If that is the case then it was a case of mis-reading the procedure
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I guess that would be called pre load
I just make sure there is enough travel in the gauge so that when I rotate the crank it would never bind.
I start with the engine at TDC install the gauge rotate the engine ccw until the needle stops, zero out the gauge, turn the engine cw to TDC and that will be the reading
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ok thanks for the help back at it tomorrow night