I just heard from a vendor that PTP has become totally non-responsive since Ralph died. What's the news on the street?
Ralph died about two years ago. I spoke to Kandy and his sidekick soon thereafter and they told me they were liquidating the business.
Ron the Coilman
Kandy is supposed to have Alzheimer's disease and does not know anybody. I understand the family was trying to run the place for a while, but I have not heard anything recently. I think they no longer answer phone calls????
Ralph & Kandy's kids were at Chickasha shortly after Ralph died. They said they intended to keep the business alive. Not too long after that, I spoke with one of them on the phone about ordering a part they made, and nothing ever came of it. Apparently they gave up on the business.
I am going to remove it from the Suppliers listing on the website.
If anything changes send me an email & we will be happy to put it back in.
Chris
Anyone have an idea how to find a cam gear for one of these distributors? No answer at all by phone. If they liquidated some surely bought the spares they had???
Also, maybe it was St Bernard (LOL) posted a pic a few years ago of the bell crank installation for this unit. Can you please post that again??
That looks like the standard modern VW distributor setup for a T. I may be wrong, but I think any of the major parts vendors should have that other gear. I know it used to be available.
My two year old Chaffin's catalog lists it for $40. But hey, the whole kit is $275.
I could PM their phone # if you like. But you may have a preferred vendor.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
That is a modern VW distributor set up so the gear should be easy to get at a VW dealer...
My, my.... the lessons I learn! The OEM VW shaft has a flat tang to drive it. Its either in or 180 out. Gears are truly an issue for all these distributors. Almost all the new spares are cast iron for ease of manufacture.
So I get a phone in response to an email I sent to Chaffins' via their tech support website. Dave the mgr calls me to inform me he has the last spare gear know to man for these units. He still has 3 units on the shelf but cant seperate a complete kit. The gear is now on its way here!
BTW... this is a Bosch VW head model 009 which turns in the correct rotation direction, hence the bellcrank spark advance.
As far as the Reeders are concerned, Ive located them, sent emails, facebook and LinkedIn messages with a zero response. What a shame; what a waste! This hobby is too small to lose a specialty mfgr like that. Thanks again for all your help guys. Sometimes I feel like the dog, and some times the hydrant! ws
Ralph Reeder was the KINGPIN in that business. As it has been pointed out, his wife, Kandy, is not in good health so you can't blame her. Unlike Don Snyder Sr., Don Lang, and Doug MacIntosh, Ralph didn't have a son interested in the business and the son-in-law, didn't either. When Ralph died, you really can't blame the family for the business going down the tube.
The distributor is the standard Bosch 009 model used in VWs, with the vacuum advance mechanism removed and the actuator hole plugged with that small cap.
Here is more information on the distributor unit with the Bosch part numbers for the related components.
VW Models Equipped With "009" Distributor
Distributor: VW 126-905-205, Bosch 0231 178 009
Chrome Version: Bosch 9230 081 094
Can Use: 0231 178 001, 0231 178 003, 0231 129 010, 0231 129 019
Note: The 001 distributor has VW# 126-905-205 stamped above the Bosch number and is primarily used on industrial engines for constant high rpm use. The 003 was the successor to the 001 and 009 succeeded the 001 or 003 as per Bosch microfiche. The 001 or 003 Looks identical to the "009". I have a 001 and 003 in my "permanent" distributor collection (somebody's gotta have a hobby!).
Points: 01 030
Condensor: 02 086
Rotor: 04 033
Dust Cover: 039-905-241, Bosch 1230 500 139 > 1230 500 147
Cap: 03 010
Distributor Cap Clip: 034-905-265, Bosch 1231 251 033
Coil: 6 Volt - 00 016, 12 Volt - 00 012
Timing Set At:: Most applications - 5 to 7.5deg BTDC Static. Full advance should not exceed 32 degrees at 3000rpm with stroboscopic timing light. Here's a couple of links dealing with this subject:
Ken Hooper's Timing The Bosch 009
Ken's Buggy Barn Timing A 009 Distributor
About two years ago Ralph's son was trying to sell all the T parts and the remaining inventory. I did not save the email as it was not something I was interested in buying.
The problem with R.G's Distributors was that the gears are cut backwards, so that is why you have all the parts in the linkage. what I done was leave all the extra junk in the box, and hooked up direct to the Distributor, from the spark leaver. The only thing that changes, you don't have all that linkage, but the spark leaver is dropped down to the 8 o'clock position for starting, and from there up for Running, and no linkage slop.
This is not the post I needed to respond to but cant find it. Here are some pics of some original distributors. on the left is a bosch unit, right is a Delco