VW maintainance-Self?

[Bikerbozo]

Been mostly a Harley guy. Looking at a VW chopper for backup ride (hate being stuck on 4 wheels). I'm told it is a 1971 Bug engine with electronic ignition and drum brakes. Person who is selling is a motorhead and sounds like he maintained it properly. I'll be looking at it in person later today. It's too good a price to resist. His reason for selling is retired. Moving out of state to be near grandkids and has too many cars/bikes.
My question is, do most of you do all your own work on VW based trikes or do any car mechanics not shy away from some work? I can read a repair manual with the best of them. Just not a lot of free time with work.
I wouldn't plan on running it more than 2k/yr, but with me you never know.

[Rsw]

I do my own maintainance, that is the one reason I own one. Really not much to do to one if it's running except change the oil and adjust the valve about every 3000 miles. All you need is this book right here and you will be ok.

How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive VW Repair Manual | eBay

[slick rick]

,,,,and I usually call Randy ( RSW ) if I don't know !!
That's another great thing about these forums ,,chances are you would never meet these people without 'em .........but I have learned their really simple to do anything to .

[Loner]

Best VW manual out there - "How to keep a Volkswagen Alive for the Compleat Idiot) (sic on 'compleat). Maintenance is minimum, particularly if you have solid state ignition. Just a valve adjustment, oil change, head bolt torque check maybe annually (twice a year if you ride a lot).

[skuuter]

Yep, "SIMPLE".....I used Drive em', I Raced em', Built em', and Junked em'.......GOOD, FUN STUFF.....

[Bikerbozo]

Now I am getting really excited....and I haven't even seen the trike yet. Still stuck in doctor office waiting room hell!
Thanks everyone. Looks doable to me. I also went though all VW postings looking for things I might need to know.

[skuuter]

Now I am getting really excited....and I haven't even seen the trike yet. Still stuck in doctor office waiting room hell!
Thanks everyone. Looks doable to me. I also went though all VW postings looking for things I might need to know.

VWs are really very "Owner-Friendly"...in a really short time of ownership, You get really acclimated to Their little bits and pieces and how it all works..."simplistic" to the MAX.....

[Bikerbozo]

Saw the trike. Liked it. Very basic. Starts right up. '71 Bug engine. Springer front end. 4 speed & reverse with clutch. Drum rear brakes. Electronic ignition. Generator. Weird paperwork. Registered as Honda 2 cyl bike. According to NY, they go by neck section of frame. Went by a bike shop to ask these reggy questions. Needs horn and mirror. No Speedo. Maybe luggage racks. Can't load any pics on cell. Reg calls it an '83 Honda 2 cyl. Looks like your classic VW trike. Offered him $3500 and he will accept that. Need to call my insurance in morning to talk to them.
Has anybody dealt with reg not matching cyl at police stop? Section of neck is all welded over. No way to see numbers. Being old reg and old vehicle I wouldnt think anybody would care. But bureaucrats. Also has attachable tow bar that keeps front wheel in air.

[ctg2]

You should be able to see numbers on the neck. Is the trike on the road now ? if not better make sure the numbers are good.

[Bikerbozo]

You should be able to see numbers on the neck. Is the trike on the road now ? if not better make sure the numbers are good.

Registration expired a couple months ago. I took a pic of title and reg. If I upload pics correctly, you can see welded plate at front corner of fork that completely covers area where VIN might be. Also took pic of engine #.
I figure for $3500 it was a good deal and if anything sleazy, police could easily track this guy down with the info I had.
That bar on ground is tow bar. Bolts to frame. Front wheel sits on it. easy to tow also. Talking to insurance company broker I deal with to see what they think also.

[slick rick]

Boz,,, if it's been registered I wouldn't think it would be a problem . Mine came from Tenn. and I had no problem but this is Al.

Hell if it runs good and you have to put a little in it that's not a bad price .If that's a true ( and it looks to be in the pic ) harley springer it's worth half that .

[ctg2]

I agree if its been registered all ready there should be no problem looks good !!!!

[chrs_vssr]

hello Bikerbozo,

The engine of a bug is very easy.
Mine has still the old ignition, so not electronic, I have to set every 1000mile
the ignition, this is not a nice job, take of the body and then repair the ignition.
After I had seen the pics, of the trike, I know for sure this trike will not get a MOT in the netherlands.
here they are very easy with there saying: its not safe.
Needs fenders and more stuff, so not road legal.

The price is for dutch people, reasonable.
trikes in the netherlands are rare, so expensive.

greetings
Chris

[Bikerbozo]

A couple things missing, Chris, like mirror and horn make me wonder exactly how it was on road legally. With VIN identification numbers having plate welded over on front neck so can't read is odd also. Even though I took pics of papers owner has, they are not his name and address on them. If I can get all answers about things that don't make sense then I definitely would buy it.

[chrs_vssr]

Hello Bikerbozo,

Those small items ar missing is not a problem.
But the papers not on name and adress of the owner si suspicious. I wouldn't trust it.The Vin number must be, at all the time, in sight for inspection.

Good luck with the finding the missing parts.

greetings
Chris

[Doug D.]

VeeDub maintenance couldn't be more straight forward. Change the oil about every 3000 miles, check the valves every oil change, tighten this, piddle with that... Genuine labor of love. And don't sweat the occassional oil leak. If there ain't no oil under it, there ain't no oil in it!

[lboos]

bozo,
I have owned VW bugs most of my life, the one I drive now is a 72 that I bought 16 years ago, they are very easy to maintain, I drive mine a lot more then I do my 2013 T/G or my other vech.s. from the pic's the engine is worth close to the $3500 by it's self.
As far as the reg. in your state be carful.
But if all goes wrong at the tag office you can always put that eng in another VW or sell it to some one who needs one.
You cant go wrong at that price .