Mine gets used all year but a lot less in winter so I always do a "putting it to bed" routine which includes a dizzy wipe out and spray. Also leave fuel tank level low, keep it pretty brimmed in summer, this lets you top up and overcome stale fuel. Clean fuel filter, spray carbs to keep lubed and prevent ally corrosion.

All just basic maintenance really.

I thought it worth updating the ongoing saga of my buggy.   To be honest I got exhausted and literally could not get any motivation as everything tried lead to another issue and another issue.  Farmer Rob seems to be the go to guy in situations like this but sadly a bit too far away so my go to guy is Stef Keelan at MAC VW Manchester.  Thank god for Stef is all I can say!

If you are on facebook you will have seen some updates but to cut a long story short Stef has stuck with it like a trooper and worked through everything methodically.
The result is I now have a running and performing buggy!!!

The issue we think was the underlying thing all the time was a "challenge" to find.  Stef spoke at length with EuroCarb and they even offered to take the carbs but he went with his instincts and basically found an issue. 

On one carb the Auxiliary Venturi seats on an o ring.  Stef notice on one of my carbs / barrels it had a mark on it.  On further inspection it had a raised "lump" on the carb that should not have been there (ever).  After some filing away he managed to get it flat and to seal. Before doing this it could never have sealed correctly. It was interesting that he spotted this when putting his hand over the pot in question whilst the car was under load.

So basically I have never been able to get the carbs right as this has always caused an issue and when set in the past unknowingly had compensated for this or in other words never quite got them set up properly!

Now many other things have been done as well.  My ratio rockers have gone and I am now back to standard VW (OMG the difference – why do we ever think ratio are a better idea.  It's a 1776 with a 110 cam and it has never run this sweet before and so much quieter on tick over).   My sync link is fitted.  My main jets when up a size or two.  It has been timed (several times) and ended up on the rolling road a good few times.

The facebook clip (for those with keen eyes) shows it at 92MPH putting out 80HP. 
 
Whilst it was in Stef also made a few tweaks to my steering as he was not happy with it having test driven it and telling me it was a pig 

So yesterday I got it back with a plan to go to Relics and Rust in the evening.  On the way home I immediately notice the steering was so much better and positive.  The pickup was smooth and constant, tick over was good and it was surprisingly fast (much faster than it had been before it went in).

With a massive grin on my face I got home and obviously had to give it a quick polish     Then off to Relics and Rust via Tuckers who was coming with me......... We arrived at the meeting point and yet again the buggy decided to fight back...... left hand side rocker cover started to leak.   After a quick inspection I decide home was the plan and change it for a spare I had (I have CB performance bolt on with the rubber c type gaskets).

This turned out to be a good move as when we took it off the thing just disintegrated.  I have had this once before with these gaskets and Stef had given me a heads up that I should look to change them soon (even though they have not been on long ..... but they have been on an off many times).

Anyway to cut a long story short – put the new ones on and went to Relics and Rust.  Good run out over the moors with some big hills and two big lads in the buggy.  Ran like a dream!!! 

Now with standard rockers I don't get the excessive on / off banging sound I used to get.  Andy (Tucker) actually said it sound more like a modern sports car and he is right .... Lovely smooth acceleration and a nice deep / constant sound from the exhaust under acceleration.

I have been here so many times .... I know I am tempting fate..... But hopefully this is now not to be continued and finally I can have a reliable / useable buggy (until something different goes wrong of course  )

I still want to get the wet weather challenges sorted for my carbs and thanks to Dave we have a plan for that.  I am also going to think more about the dizzy and it will be on my list of regular checks now.   This year I don't plan to put the buggy to sleep like I have done in the past.   I will give it some regular runs over the winter and keep the fuel fresh in the carbs. 
Hopefully September / October will be kind this year and we still get some more use out of it and some drives out.

Massive thanks to Stef as many would have given up – but as he said he like a challenge!  My carbs must be like new now as basically everything has been cleaned several times and replaced. My hex bar has gone and now I am on sync link.  My engine has been leak tested / pressure tested.  My dizzy has been cleaned / new springs. Timing is spot on. Valve clearance is spot on..... Oh an alternator light has stopped flashing!   

Finally a massive thanks to Dave who has been there with me all through this saga.  He has helped, brought parts from his own buggy, towed my buggy and basically listened to my moaning, bitching and crying all through this 

It was so cool to actually get a picture side by side last night !!! Finally using the buggy !!

Fantastic Krug that you've stayed sane and (fingers crossed) now have many miles of relaxed/enjoyable 'standard' buggy driving.

Great to see you, Jools, Dave etc down for the Xmas meal - might be a chance to run it down to Brum to keep it running it over the winter ?!

That is great news Krug and well done Stef for finding it   If the Aux venturi does not seal, it sucks air in through the leak rather than pulling the the fuel through the main jet so it was a tricky one to find. Ratio rockers can be somewhat noisy unless you get the expensive ones with the adjusters on the push-rod side rather than the valve side. Hope you now enjoy lots of miles with smiles now

Rob