A (Wrist) Cracking Story Of Firsthand Experience With A VW Air-Cooled Industrial Engine

The Volkswagen air-cooled engine is probably one of history’s most versatile powerplants. It’s been used in everything from cars to planes. The trusty boxers were also used for industrial applications.

Jason wrote about the differences between VW air-cooled car engines and industrial engines. JoeJoe added an interesting story:

Industrial VW boxer engine was used in most Rosenbauer water pumps for ages. We had two in our voluntary fire brigade in Ljubljana, Slovenija.

The one with an electric starter had at the time (cca 1990) cca 180 hours, the one without had around 100. You can guess only once which one was sold: the electric start one, of [censored] course. The guys having this extremely bright idea were the old firemen for whom the electric start was a totaly unnecessary luxury.

Hand start was a bitch. Magneto’s were a disaster. Even rebuilt ones went caput very fast and in last 30 years there was some (well, a lot) heavy handwork involved in starting the heavy red bastard of a “portable” water pump. The main problem with magnetos were a total nonstart when hot, so there was no turning off a water pump in the middle of the action even if … don’t know what would need to happen, we even added oil and refueled it while running.

We have recorded one (with number: one) broken wrist from handstarting so there you go.

We’ve found a mechanic that swapped over a normal (non-magneto) ignition, apparently the one from AlfaRomeo 33 boxer is an exact fit – had to add a 12V accu there too. There was some kind of problem with vacuum advance so it wasn’t fitted.

As we’ve used the red heavy bastard less and less we sold it this year to a local fishing club/society. They are taking care of a few lakes and ponds and will use the pump mostly to aerate the water in the hot (read: now) months.

How we all hated that pump… there was a celebration when it was gone. Well, a few beers were had, nothing we wouldn’t do every thursday evening, but let’s call it a celebration.

This is a trademark Torchinsky schematical photo from the neighbouring Austrian fire brigade web page, hope the link works:

Jason also wrote about a self-driving toilet. DialMforMiata:

We might not know when the Robot Uprising will happen, but we definitely know which robot is going to start it.

Thomas wrote a Morning Dump about how China’s car sales aren’t doing so hot. Arch Duke Maxyenko:

Who will survive in China’s car market?

Somehow, Buick.

Thomas also wrote about a weird Ford Mustang recall. Russ McLean:

“…the vehicle’s wiper motor may lose Local Interconnect Network (LIN) communication with the vehicle’s steering column control module.”

Is anyone else worried about the future serviceability of these digitally controlled accessories?

TheDrunkenWrench:

People were afraid of CANBUS and OBD when it got introduced, it’s now largely understood and the cars are lasting longer than ever.

Imo, it’s only an issue if you’re not willing to learn about the new stuff. Old timers and luddites terrified of a multimeter will just start paying those who aren’t.

I’m seeing it in our EV transit bus program. Old hats are scared of it, so the younger guys are getting the clean, quiet and comparatively light work in temperature controlled bays, while the other guys keep getting coated in diesel and oil.

I tell techs all the time. Regardless of your stance on owning/driving EVs, you wanna be WORKING on them. It’s easy work once you learn the systems.

Have a great day, everyone!