Thermostat

elwood-914 · 01-11-2005, 08:10 PM

Is the thermostat still an available item? I can't seem to find it on the P.P. on line catalog. If not is there a alternate replacement? Thanks

Special K · 01-12-2005, 02:56 AM

I heard somewhere (Aircooled.net?) that you can use a Type I t-stat with some minor modifications. I believe he (Jake Raby) might also stock some OE Type IV t-stats, but that was awhile back.

Good luck!

Kevin

Jared at Pelican Parts · 01-12-2005, 08:32 AM

yup, they are NLA. However, and some may disagree with me in saying that they really arent needed for California's climate. However, I'd do what Jake says.. Besides, the flaps will automatically open without it anyway.

bd1308 · 01-16-2005, 01:53 PM

a couple thermistors, a BASIC stamp and a servo would make a very cool thermostat!!! very expensive though

elwood-914 · 01-16-2005, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bd1308
a couple thermistors, a BASIC stamp and a servo would make a very cool thermostat!!! very expensive though

That would be cool, but we teener owners are a bit on the cheap side aren't we......

bd1308 · 01-16-2005, 02:32 PM

yeah....I have heard of people who just leave them off....the flaps stay open and it takes FoReVeR for it to warm up

elwood-914 · 01-16-2005, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bd1308
yeah....I have heard of people who just leave them off....the flaps stay open and it takes FoReVeR for it to warm up

Somewhere in the archives, there is a picture of some of the guys screwing the flap closed.

bd1308 · 01-16-2005, 03:19 PM

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=123484

there we go man....for the 914 too! Check it out

bd1308 · 01-16-2005, 03:26 PM

don't the flaps control the air-flow to the engine??? to me, it would seem that screwing them CLOSED would destroy the engine, or at least make it overheat...

elwood-914 · 01-16-2005, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bd1308
don't the flaps control the air-flow to the engine??? to me, it would seem that screwing them CLOSED would destroy the engine, or at least make it overheat...

I could see that in colder climates by leaving the flap open would warm up the engine fine but I believe it closes and directs the cooling air to the oil cooler. In warmer climates I could see them just closing the flap and making sure the oil cooler gets it's air.I will be putting one on mine but the climate isn't that bad in Calif. By the way thanks for the Samba info.

Scooter311 · 01-17-2005, 08:36 AM

Mine is shot, and I run it during the spring/summer/early fall with the flaps open. I just let it warm up for a minute or two longer than usual. I haven't had any trouble yet, but a new t-stat is on my "eventually" list

The design is such that if the cable or t-stat fails, the flaps flip into the best position for optimal cooling at all times (I don't remember which it is, 'open' or 'closed')

elwood-914 · 01-17-2005, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Scooter311
Mine is shot, and I run it during the spring/summer/early fall with the flaps open. I just let it warm up for a minute or two longer than usual. I haven't had any trouble yet, but a new t-stat is on my "eventually" list

The design is such that if the cable or t-stat fails, the flaps flip into the best position for optimal cooling at all times (I don't remember which it is, 'open' or 'closed')

My engine is out right now and it looks as if the cable fails the flap would close and force the air over the oil cooler.

Special K · 01-17-2005, 12:46 PM

The flaps are spingloaded to the full open position in the case of a cable failure. If the t-stat fails it expands like the one in the pic from Samba, it's just like the engine is fully warmed, and the flaps go toward the open position.

bd1308 · 01-17-2005, 12:47 PM

it's spring loaded i know, but it would seem that having it default to closed would have a negative impact, unless just cooling the oil would be sufficient. I am confused, i guess i need a visual. It seems to me that if the t-stat failed that the flaps would open to cool the cylinders, or open to a both oil and cyl cooling mode?

bd1308 · 01-17-2005, 12:49 PM

i'm with special K on this one.

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

If the T-stat fails, the spring forces the flaps into the "open" position--as in, "cool the engine as much as possible". Take a look at how the flaps move, including the fiddly linkage bits on the right side. And also look at how the right-side flap works with the oil cooler, where the front edge of the flap winds up when the flaps are "open".

--DD

Scooter311 · 01-18-2005, 06:02 AM

Hey bd after you drop your engine to fix that cyl head

you'll get a good look at how it works