Hi,
Just got a free beetle.
1600 dual port.
Sounded like a sewing machine,,,really loud
I found a broken spring on #4 valve.

My question is... (not answered on STF)
The spring is broken, but still all there. Possibly a quarter of an inch of valve lash clearance on that one.
Would the valve hit the piston?
It seems to move by my hand, in and out.
Just wondering if this is a total job, or just a set of new springs. (Remember this is a beetle, It will run till it blows up, then maybe, just maybe I will rebuild it)

I know I have to take off the head to fix this, but just wondering how much clearance is in there..

Rich

Put that cylinder @ TDC & hook-up air compressor to spark plug hole using compression tester hose. If it holds pressure you can change the spring w/ out removing the head. If it doesn't hold pressure you have a bent or burnt valve or a hole @ the impact site.

Nice squirrel !

Cool idea.
I was gonna stuff a rag in the hole and go to TDC and do it that way, but compressed air is a great idea.

BTW the squirrel is twisting up one...
You grabbed my next in line one, so I had to hunt another one down...

Rich

Just remember to put the car in gear & set the brake.

Sorry about the squirrel. I have been looking for a different one.

I say pull out the pushrods and run on three cylinders untill the rest die as well.

(actually, now that I think of it, you should be able to run that way, and listen real closely to the head on that side for leakage - and down the carb throat too (watch out for backfires) - that will identify whether the valves are seated properly.)

psssh-psssh-psssh-psssh. . . .

What do you know? You don't have a squirrel.