Thermostat+Pulley |
|
Porsche, and the Porsche crest are registered trademarks of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG.
This site is not affiliated with Porsche in any way. Its only purpose is to provide an online forum for car enthusiasts. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. |
|
Thermostat+Pulley |
Not_A_Six |
Oct 3 2019, 10:29 AM
Post
#1
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 110 Joined: 28-November 18 From: North Idaho Member No.: 22,682 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
Hi All-
I just installed a thermostat+bracket from AA in my '73 2.0 as the PO had removed the original hardware and was running with the flaps full-open. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) The design looks quite different than the OEM one. It looks to my novice eyes like a Beetle thermostat. I have a few questions that I'd appreciate any help with: Does anybody know the story behind the AA thermostat? Is it a modified beetle stat like it looks? If it fails, will it fail with flaps open or closed? (I think the OEM stat was designed to fail with flaps open -- please correct me if I'm wrong...) Is the temperature operation close to OEM? Anybody use one? How did it work for you? Thanks. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) |
Mikey914 |
Oct 3 2019, 10:38 AM
Post
#2
|
The rubber man Group: Members Posts: 12,659 Joined: 27-December 04 From: Hillsboro, OR Member No.: 3,348 Region Association: None |
Try this
@dr914 @autoatlanta.com |
Mikey914 |
Oct 3 2019, 10:40 AM
Post
#3
|
The rubber man Group: Members Posts: 12,659 Joined: 27-December 04 From: Hillsboro, OR Member No.: 3,348 Region Association: None |
Interestingly this will not display as typed, what I was getting at was the good doc may want to explain how it works. We all could benefit
|
bbrock |
Oct 3 2019, 11:06 AM
Post
#4
|
914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 5,269 Joined: 17-February 17 From: Montana Member No.: 20,845 Region Association: Rocky Mountains |
You are right. It is a VW thermostat probably made in Mexico. Works the same as stock except it is not fail safe. If it fails, the flaps will remain closed. You can read more about the differences on this site: http://awesomepowdercoat.com/thermostat_flaps.html
|
Jonathan Livesay |
Oct 3 2019, 11:54 AM
Post
#5
|
Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 741 Joined: 13-March 10 From: La Canada CA Member No.: 11,461 Region Association: None |
You are right. It is a VW thermostat probably made in Mexico. Works the same as stock except it is not fail safe. If it fails, the flaps will remain closed. You can read more about the differences on this site: http://awesomepowdercoat.com/thermostat_flaps.html I got one from them, they are just like the original. |
cpavlenko |
Oct 3 2019, 11:56 AM
Post
#6
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 489 Joined: 19-April 12 From: North Arizona Member No.: 14,400 Region Association: Southwest Region |
Got mine there also. Works great. http://awesomepowdercoat.com/thermostat_flaps.html
|
burton73 |
Oct 3 2019, 12:27 PM
Post
#7
|
burton73 Group: Members Posts: 3,515 Joined: 2-January 07 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 7,414 Region Association: Southern California |
From Awesome: “The new "VW Mexico" thermostat is shown below. It obviously
looks different, but it functions the same. When heated, it gets
longer, opening the thermostat flaps. The downside of this stat is
that it is not fail safe. If the wax ever leaks out, it will hold the flaps
closed, unlike the German style that will expand if the liquid leaks
out.”
AAs will work fine but you need to keep an eye on the temps in the engine. I would not risk it as you never know it may go out. I sure it would last a very long time but why risk it. An overheated air-cooled Eng. is no Bueno. Bob B |
rgalla9146 |
Oct 3 2019, 01:47 PM
Post
#8
|
Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 4,550 Joined: 23-November 05 From: Paramus NJ Member No.: 5,176 Region Association: None |
From Awesome: “The new "VW Mexico" thermostat is shown below. It obviously looks different, but it functions the same. When heated, it gets longer, opening the thermostat flaps. The downside of this stat is that it is not fail safe. If the wax ever leaks out, it will hold the flaps closed, unlike the German style that will expand if the liquid leaks out.” AAs will work fine but you need to keep an eye on the temps in the engine. I would not risk it as you never know it may go out. I sure it would last a very long time but why risk it. An overheated air-cooled Eng. is no Bueno. Bob B There's liquid in it ? |
porschetub |
Oct 3 2019, 01:53 PM
Post
#9
|
Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 4,697 Joined: 25-July 15 From: New Zealand Member No.: 18,995 Region Association: None |
Just been through all this,most of the VW forum guys point out the lack of fail safe,haven't read anything any where about them failing ,but parts can fail however and that should be taken into consideration,certainly better that not having any thermostat.
The conversion of a beetle T1 thermostat is easy but they do open earlier ,the one I tested had a 10C difference over the T4 one which is fully open @ 90C,again better than not having one,I didn't check the supply on theSamba but expect they would be easy enough to find and prices should be lower than a used T4 one. Ratwell site mentioned that failure of the stock Wahler type is often caused by the cable being too tight causing the bellows to split...makes sense,they mentioned keeping the cable slightly loose. I still think its buyer beware,but if VW fitted them @ the Mexican beetle factory they should be ok. |
Not_A_Six |
Oct 3 2019, 03:13 PM
Post
#10
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 110 Joined: 28-November 18 From: North Idaho Member No.: 22,682 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
Thanks all.
I wish I'd known about the Awesome OEM-style ones before I bought and installed the AA one. Oh well. I wonder if the Awesome ones are "new old stock" or new production? If they are 40+ years old, I wonder how the bellows will hold up... I think I'll stay with the AA one for now and just keep an eye on the temp gauge. The lack of failsafe worries me a bit, but the part has been used in millions of beetles without issues, right? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) (Or is there something inherent in the 914 design that makes a thermostat failure more catastrophic than in a beetle?) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) Cheers. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) |
burton73 |
Oct 3 2019, 04:41 PM
Post
#11
|
burton73 Group: Members Posts: 3,515 Joined: 2-January 07 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 7,414 Region Association: Southern California |
They work great till they do not
Bob B |
bbrock |
Oct 3 2019, 09:39 PM
Post
#12
|
914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 5,269 Joined: 17-February 17 From: Montana Member No.: 20,845 Region Association: Rocky Mountains |
I wonder if the Awesome ones are "new old stock" or new production? If they are 40+ years old, I wonder how the bellows will hold up... The Awesome ones are new production. I think I remember seeing that they also do or did sell NOS when they were available but mostly they sell new reproductions. They are also great to deal with. I can't imagine copper bellows would go bad from just sitting and never cycling. I don't know about the beetle design, but failure of an OEM thermostat on a 914 is obviously a non-issue since it fails with flaps open for max cooling. The only thing it causes is longer warm ups and the related wear on the engine. I don't think I'd want to run the VW thermostat without a temp gauge to monitor if it fails. Otherwise, seems like it would be okay. |
rhodyguy |
Oct 3 2019, 10:11 PM
Post
#13
|
Chimp Sanctuary NW. Check it out. Group: Members Posts: 22,075 Joined: 2-March 03 From: Orion's Bell. The BELL! Member No.: 378 Region Association: Galt's Gulch |
Then you need tools to release the bellows cable from the little crossbar. On the side of the road. Bent over the car. Perhaps in the dark or the worst possible time. Better a unit that fails on the safe side.
|
mepstein |
Oct 4 2019, 05:10 AM
Post
#14
|
914-6 GT in waiting Group: Members Posts: 19,258 Joined: 19-September 09 From: Landenberg, PA/Wilmington, DE Member No.: 10,825 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region |
I bet George only runs the proper ones on his cars.
|
Chi-town |
Oct 6 2019, 12:24 PM
Post
#15
|
Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 850 Joined: 31-August 18 From: Disneyland Member No.: 22,446 Region Association: Southern California |
|
Not_A_Six |
Mar 3 2020, 07:51 PM
Post
#16
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 110 Joined: 28-November 18 From: North Idaho Member No.: 22,682 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
Hi All-
Resurrecting this thread from last fall... Based on the collective wisdom of the posters here, I ended up installing one of the "German Style" fail-open thermostats from awesomepowdercoat. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) But, I'm having some issues. There seems to be a lot of stiction in the cable and flap action, so the flaps don't entirely open or close on their own without being nudged. Looking closely, it appears that the pulley is bolted in place and does not rotate as the cable slides across it. awesomepowdercoat has a picture of a pulley on their site that seems to spin on a sealed bearing. But googling pictures/diagrams of the 914 pulley doesn't seem to show a bearing. (Maybe their photo is of a VW pulley?...) So, is a 914 ('73, 2.0L, to be precise) thermostat pulley supposed to spin or not? Is it supposed to be fixed to the engine/trans, or is it supposed to spin on a bearing? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) Thanks. |
mepstein |
Mar 3 2020, 08:05 PM
Post
#17
|
914-6 GT in waiting Group: Members Posts: 19,258 Joined: 19-September 09 From: Landenberg, PA/Wilmington, DE Member No.: 10,825 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region |
I don't have one in front of me but I thought it spun on a bushing. If so, you might just have to smooth out the bolt the pulley rides on and add some lube.
|
iankarr |
Mar 3 2020, 08:42 PM
Post
#18
|
The wrencher formerly known as Cuddy_K Group: Members Posts: 2,472 Joined: 22-May 15 From: Heber City, UT Member No.: 18,749 Region Association: Intermountain Region |
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) also make sure the cable isn't too tight. I like to get the engine fully warm, then adjust the cable till it's just barely snug. When the engine cools, it will pull the flaps closed. Much easier than trying to do it cold, pulling the flaps while trying to tighten the cable.
Always fun to watch it in-action... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFrcKSB-oUM |
nihil44 |
Mar 3 2020, 09:16 PM
Post
#19
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 157 Joined: 28-January 12 From: Brisbane, Australia Member No.: 14,058 Region Association: None |
Just for data contribution. I had an awesomepowdercoating thermostat in my ‘74 1.8 which failed where the top plate is soldered on to the bellows. My VW guy had a used original thermostat and installed that and all satisfactory.
I was curious about how they soldered on the top plate to the bellows and kept the bellows in the compressed state. Must have been some thoughtful heat management |
bretth |
Mar 4 2020, 12:01 AM
Post
#20
|
Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 899 Joined: 23-June 15 From: Central TX Member No.: 18,882 Region Association: Southwest Region |
Wow i remember when these were like 10 bucks each so many years ago.
|
Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 9th May 2024 - 01:27 AM |
All rights reserved 914World.com © since 2002 |
914World.com is the fastest growing online 914 community! We have it all, classifieds, events, forums, vendors, parts, autocross, racing, technical articles, events calendar, newsletter, restoration, gallery, archives, history and more for your Porsche 914 ... |