Rebuilding the Trabant's Engine: Part 1 - The Teardown

[@thehaze1972]

Its called "the iron curtain" and it is there to divide the eastern cylinder from the western...

[@ToyotatechDK]

thehaze1972 epic post :-)

[@pliedtka]

I was stuck in the middle part closer to the east side. We had Trabby - ackwardly the service manual was half useless - our car needed more advanced ignition timing and bigger gap on points to work properly - once I adjusted everything according to manual and my family almost killed me for messing up the car. Our Trabby run on 87 Oct 1/50 premix Ave 6.5L/100. I could take any Fiat 126 or Szkoda from light on 2nd gear. The crank common problem on with this engine but you pay for simplicity of the engine design - I also had Jawa 70 or 80 cc engine with carburetor mounted on the side of where the intake port was old and closed in exactly the same manner as on Trabby.

[@BedsitBob]

Then shouldn't it be called the Berlin Wall? 😀

[@bostedtap8399]

@@BedsitBob Berlin Wall was only in Germany ( West/East).

[@BedsitBob]

@@bostedtap8399 And East Berlin was were the Trabant was very popular. Indeed, to this day you can still go on a "Trabi-Safari", around the City.

[@20xx-mm-dd]

"This tool I made is free, 'cept for all the parts I had to buy." I've said this exact thing too many times myself, haha

[@Milen4u]

Trabant... in America.... being fixed. I never would have imagined that happening.

[@Paul-gz5dp]

Just do not try it in California and some other states with similar smog laws. There are some places in the USA that have no smog checks, but expect to have to go 40 or more miles each way to get food.

[@TheMilenkata]

haha @@noidontthinksolol Here in Bulgaria 95% of the all the Trabant's went to the junkyard or kids in the villages learn on them how to drive. They begin to extinct from the horizon in 2004,2005,2006.

[@demil3618]

Would have thought that if it’s road legal in one state you can drive it across the whole country and you won’t be deprived of your possessions if you move to another, right?

[@neutronium9542]

If the car is old enough, it will be exempt from California smog laws.

[@grizzlygrizzle]

My first thought was "Why? Why?!? WHY-Y-Y-Y?!?!?!?!? -- But it's a curiosity. A reminder of why we should fight socialism and Communism. A symbol of how leftist ideologies denigrate human dignity.

[@YomanitsG]

Hungarian licence plate! :D The Trabant 601 is an iconic car in Europe. Nice to see you're rebuilding the engine. Greetings from Hungary!

[@HunPSP]

up :)

[@tronixfix]

Europe? I thought "Trabant" is a german car made under license of Lada?

[@crazyyoutubeuser2444]

@@tronixfix its from eastgermany but is not related to lada

[@zsomborsomogyfoki]

Mé nem írtatok magyar kommentet he?

[@fbonnie6894]

@@zsomborsomogyfoki egyet értek

[@AriensRotokiller]

5:17 “I’m a very organized person, except when I’m not.” Some very important words of wisdom.

[@Ashfielder]

Equipment: hammer. (Sickle optional)

[@vsetenjoyer]

Sickle required

[@Spongschbob]

Und Ährenkranz!!

[@adasdasdasdasdasd9678]

The hammer is the official crankshaft adjustment tool, right from the trabant factory in '91 : kzbin.info/www/bejne/m57Sd2N7e92doKM Did not see a sickle.

[@theephemeralglade1935]

Be careful Mr. Wood... You can be replaced, Comrade.

[@EmeraldLavigne]

The sickle is inevitable.

[@ffsf4209]

Tipping my hat to the fearless entrepreneur who produces new Trabant parts!

[@ipodhty]

I think they are probably nos

[@Ragnar8504]

@Lassi Kinnunen 81 They're still a bit more affordable though.

[@arnetrautmann9783]

I watched this with tears of nostalgic joy in my eyes. At, the Trabant. All those memories of 500km trips from our village to the Baltic coast. Four people. In that car. It was so ... awesome!

[@77gravity]

4:00 I was enjoying the video from the start, but when you said "Separate the geary bit from the powery bit" you got a new Subscriber.

[@Jeffrey314159]

1:57 It is an acoustic expansion chamber. The cabin heater blows warmth off the exhaust manifold because this engine loses most if it's heat in the exhaust, hence no air cooling subsystem for the engine. 17:22 "Dynamo" is an old name for a DC generator

[@andrefixa]

Thanks man

[@tedmoss]

I still use it.

[@Jjames763]

“This tool was free except for all the parts I had to buy!” That’s the best kind of free!

[@manfredschmalbach9023]

There's only one better version: "... except for all the parts I had to build/modify" 😂

[@KingMooseThe3rd]

'And this tool I had was free except for all the parts I had to buy' Literally peak project car attitude right there

[@MProper]

I've repair Trabant engines in the 80's, when I was young. Not for fun, I was a car mechanic. At the age of 19 I quit the job, never touch a Trabant anymore ... :D You say:"I don't really know what I am doing!" But you know how the 2 stroke engine runs, and I guess that's mutch more then the most people know. ;) BTW It's possible to remove the engine alone, without the gearbox. By hand! I have done this a hundred times ... The flywheel goes loose with a few decent (1 Kilo / 2 pound) hammer whacks near the starter gear rim. And of course, there is no reason to remove the whole exhaust! :D Important when assembling: The rotary valves must be installed with the missing corner in the direction of rotation. Align the cylinders with the exaust manifold, and then tighten. Otherwise the elbow on the manifold flange may break! (It's made of cast iron.)

[@manfredschmalbach9023]

Sounds reasonable. "Can't build it bullet proof? Then build it easily workable and repairable at least!"

[@captainchaos3053]

john jay The problem with all modern engine repair is the electronics. BMW v 12 is still only a rotating mass with valve control system and ancillary components. Maybe more to understand but still mechanically quite ordinary. 2 strokes may only have a few moving parts but setting one correctly can be difficult and performance 2 stroke engines are a lot harder to tune than 4 stroke engines.

[@captainchaos3053]

john jay Yeah, modern cars have gone backwards in my opinion. I had a lot of older cars and bikes that did better mpg and like you say started ran and never give trouble. The BMW model you speak of is such a low stressed motor and that's why it has little problems. The components are capable of taking double the stress of the factory tune.

[@captainchaos3053]

john jay Or do like I did as a teenager and resell it into a kit car and if you really want to leave skid marks (on the road not yer pants) run it on the 14" rims from an older 3 series. Speedo needs changed or ignored cos it will be wrong and you will lose about 25kmh top speed but the are like a go kart. I used a locost chassis and didn't buy the bodywork nd ran at tracks drag strips and even beaches until the only real problem those engines have killed it (Oil starvation causing exploding timing chain and the associated mess) never lend your car to a donut addict!

[@captainchaos3053]

john jay OK the 352 I stripped out ran a timing chain. Maybe it's a different engine. I did not check the designation. Appoligies I thought we were speaking of the same in line six.

[@ams718]

Robert, I have serviced these (and other) engines numerous times. I would have a couple of suggestions that you might find useful. (1) Before you take apart an engine, after careful inspection, wash it thoroughly. (2) Before you remove any parts, make sure that you have collected all bolts, nuts, washers and other small mounting parts. Put them in a resealable bag, and use a duck tape to stick them to their corresponding part. After that, ALWAYS remove them from where they were mounted, especially when you are working under the car. Put them in separate plastic storage boxes. When needed, you can even stack them to save floor space. (3) When you remove a Trabant engine, you don't have to take out the transmission. Just lift up the transmission with a hydraulic jack and they come apart easily. (I can't exactly remember, but you might have to remove the transmission's mounting nut from the rubber shock absorber in order to gain adequate clearance.) Remove the cooling jacket, turbine, starting motor, dynamo (yours is a 6V DC generator though), ignition system, while the engine is still in the car. And yes, you can take it out on your own, without using an engine hoist. :) (4) When you are servicing a any small engine, mount it in a bench vice. It will save you from an awful lot of struggle. For the Trabant, you can us a simple L-beam. (5) Those 2 large holes on the flywheel are made precisely for that purpose. Only that, you MUST turn the crankshaft to a position when they line up horizontally with the engine's block. (so that you wont break the ring underneath) Put two bolts in them, tighten them firmly, then put a short piece of brass rod inside the crankshaft's centre hole and hit it with a hammer. The fly wheel just pops off the taper without making any damage. (6) The side way movement on the left conrod is just on the edge of being faulty, the right one is good. (7) The crankshaft bearings do need a replacement. If you have the replacement bearings, you can pay a local machine shop to do it for you or buy a refurbished assembly. Some European machine shops who service them, even buy your used crankshaft. So don't take it to the junkyard. Remember, this is Trabant, everything is serviceable. (8) I see your window wipers are not resting on the bottom of the windscreen. Spray some water on the windscreen and observe whether the wipers can reach the bottom. If they do, you can adjust that behind the dashboard on the end of the wiper motor's shaft. (it's pretty tight in there, though, you might want to ask someone with smaller hands) Loosen the clamp, turn on and off the wipers. Allow the motor to return to its default position, also move the wipers manually to where you want them to rest. Tighten the clamp. If the wiper test reveals that the wipers don't reach the bottom, then you have to adjust the wipers individually. Fold them up and use a flat screwdriver to loosen them. Move them manually where you want them to be, then tighten them up. Good luck.

[@TheWinjin]

I'm just dropping in to say that you've done the Lord's work and this is what Internet is really for. Thank you. I don't own a Traband (and so far I've sold my car altogether and not sure when I plan on getting another one) but seeing as you've spent quite some time writing all of this out - thank you for the effort anyways.

[@deltajohnny]

Great comment!! 👏👏👏

[@tedmoss]

Everything you say only applies to organized people, I know about you guys, every nut and bolt accounted for, I prefer to exercise my mind and remember where every part goes, if you don't have some parts leftover, you are not doing the job right.😁

[@zenzen9131]

The pin is called the gudgeon pin here in the UK, and the wrist pin in the US :)

[@wildman510]

"gudgeon" sounds like some horrible medieval torture method

[@osmacar5331]

Why can't we be normal

[@stevechopping3021]

From the French goujoun which is a deep fried piece of breaded chicken or fish so who knows..

[@Karreth]

Gudgeon sounds like exactly what you'd call something you don't know what's called.

[@fritzthedog007]

@@Karreth Also small freshwater fish, sort of a mini barbel.{Edit} It's 3a.m., I'm watching a Yank repair an East German "car" whilst displaying my knowledge of British river fish. I still love the interweb.

[@bummeroni]

You really take what limited equipment and editing skills you have to the limit, and I feel like you improve with every new video. The jokes are always simple, but always timed perfectly

[@kina0606]

i thought of that too, instant subscribe and keep up

[@yesimhuman]

to replace the pistons with Trabant High Performance™ pistons try filling a couple of small soda cans with cement!

[@mentalbreakdown2564]

Sounds legit

[@Jenksauto]

Bore would be too oversized

[@highlypolishedturd7947]

Cement? Nahhh.... Cotton candy!

[@chico305SIGMA]

I've seen that in good ole Communist Cuba. Lol

[@Elenrai]

@@chico305SIGMA Rofl, as a warhammer 40k fan I cant help but imagine Cubans being Orks...damn you! XD

[@andrewgaeraths1737]

This is the first video I've seen from this guy and I gotta tell you, he's a hoot! I love his personal commentary.

[@staceyrenner5418]

Robert, your channel is very quickly becoming my favorite auto related KZbin channel. You remind me so much of my friends and I working on our projects it's uncanny. Keep up the awesome, and extremely entertaining work!

[@SteveKirks]

“I think the years of grease are creating a glue...” - Priceless. Love this channel and the series!

[@azma685]

Haha, love the editing!

[@automisery484]

It is really good. Editing takes so much longer than filming.

[@beewald3107]

Dude, I love that you're getting sponsored! That means that we might get more videos!

[@LWTUA120609]

My first car was a Trabant. Blue like the heaven on a sunny day. And I´ve loved it since it never let me down for the 4 years I´ve owned it. Not even once. It´s for sure not a beautiful car, it´s not the fastest or savest car around. But it would´ve taken you from A to B. And if it would have a problem, you could fix it all for yourself since it was so simple and everyone had spare parts. I have good memories of this piece of cardbox and plastic. Much more then about the other stuff on that side of the iron curtain...

[@lpflore]

Your comment pretty much describes what it was made for, when you can't produce many cars just build cars that last forever so people don't need to buy that many. My father owned one and loved it, he drove it for at least 10 years I think.

[@Spongschbob]

Trabants were made to be loved, like a Mini Cooper or BMW Isetta.

[@Iveseensomethingsinmontana]

I lovemy Trabbie- er; Mini Cooper..

[@alexandremartins1462]

_I am a very organized person except when im not_ The Trabant Guy

[@fellpower]

We saw the Trabants engine a LOT from inside, because we had to repair it often. Mostly, when u drive a long way, u got spare parts with u ^^ Greets from East-Germany ^^

[@terbog]

Like the tool for the piston. Built like a true GDR-Citizen!

[@crazypilot7577]

The little 0.6L engine finally getting the rebuilt it needs.

[@rkan2]

CrazyPilot757 But did it really? Only thing wrong so far is the loose exhaust manifold&pipe!

[@lucaskoukouvaos2589]

@@rkan2 and the entire crankshaft

[@jacekkania8136]

Thumbs up for your silent twin in a background. Awesome guy. Definitely deserve more screentime, heck, maybe even own show.

[@TheWinjin]

I like to think that it's the other personality that makes the Under Dunn channel :D

[@Spiderelectron]

"How long has THAT been loose?" err.... since YOU replaced the cylinders last time? ;-)

[@steffenjachnow8176]

That's what I thought!

[@FerralVideo]

I'm sure you've heard it a thousand times by now, but the "unknown object" that holds the piston to the con-rod is called a wrist pin. Cool stuff! That these things are so easy to work on kinda makes me want a Trabant as a project car. Also I knew about rotary valves in two strokes, but that's so cool that the Trabant has one.

[@lithgowwilson5157]

Interesting to hear it called a wrist pin, is that more an American term. I have always known it as a gudgeon pin here in the UK, been working on cars for 50 years. It appears both descriptions are perfectly acceptable...you live and learn

[@noompunk]

Have I mentioned how much I love your sense of humor?

[@coffeestainedwreck]

I don't know why, but Robert's charm has gotten me more interested in cars than I ever thought I could.

[@Czechbound]

Very good video. For amateurs like myself, this allows us to better understand how the thing works and is assembled. And it's well put together with an engaging presenter. Advertisers take note : please support this great channel & presenter

[@nb_shopnb_shop]

ohm... I have unbolted the motor, removed it, disassembled it, replaced a piston, reassembled it and put it back in. Alone on a parking lot in front of the shop that sold me the piston. Took me 3 hours. I can lift the engine out of the car by my self. And about the muffler suspension. Replace it with some bend stainless welding wire. No one i know has the original rubber mount anymore, or bothers to replace it. "Mit Hammer, Zange, Draht kommt man bis nach Stalingrad" With hammer, pliers, wire you can go to Stalingrad :-)

[@MikeSmith-ve2qu]

Your special lol

[@InsideOfMyOwnMind]

@@MikeSmith-ve2qu He might have been referring to Volkswagens because they used the same methods.

[@kpdvw]

Kraftprotz..!

[@InsideOfMyOwnMind]

@grumpy old fart When the rod poked out the side of the block I just kicked it back in and drove home.

[@InsideOfMyOwnMind]

@grumpy old fart uphill in the snow both ways.

[@josephpruett6388]

I bet this thing will run MINT when you're done fixing it Robert, and I mean it. You really seem to know what you're doing, and from what I can tell, on here and on Instagram, you actually take really good care of it.

[@qqkk5581]

10mm and 13mm sockets are notorious for disappearing.

[@timonkovar5194]

Every german guy, who owns an old two-stroke vehicle, knows how it is to loose these 10 and 13 mm sockets😂

[@wolf310ii]

@@timonkovar5194 Every german guy, who owns an old two stroke, has at least two or more 10mm sockets ;) On my Simson SR50 are maybe around 5 screws that are not M6 with 10mm head

[@TheIdiotPlays]

As a vw polo owner I can confirm. I want to hang the 9n 47kW designer. Working on this car makes me wanna drink the used antifreeze.

[@fargonianproductions2767]

wolf310ii I can confirm that even as an American, if you lose or break a 10 mm socket. YOU. ARE. FUCKED

[@VWrijder77]

Amen

[@madogery]

You have chosen probably the most complicated way to pull the engine out... ;) It can be taken by hand, separated from the gearbox. The whole engine is about 40kg, but if you would like to, you can strip its accessories down before the removal to reduce its weight. Nice job! ;) Greetings from Hungary

[@HubNut]

I have been carrying out very similar work in a far messier environment with my 2CV. I was not so kind to the big end bearings. Oops. I also realise how lucky I am to have major part suppliers for the 2CV in my own country! Great video.

[@jocking3]

The first "muffler" in the exhaust system is actually not there to muffle the sound of the engine. It is a resonator. 2 stroke engines need a resonator for optimal work. If you try to run your Trabi without a front muffler, the engine will become less powerful (yes, even more), and it will damage the engine very quickly. Around the resonator is an outer layer, it's like a "muffler in a muffler", which collects the HEAT (not the exhaust gases, this system is isolated from the exhaust!), which is used to get some warmth in the interior.

[@Z4Zander]

Actually called an expansion chamber.

[@niallmacparthalain5099]

@@Z4Zander "Resonator" or " Tuned pipe" are also equally applicable terms.

[@djtom1981]

In my Trabi’s interior the maximum temperature was +15 Celsius when the ambient was -8! The heat tubes needed maintenance every autumn and no problem!:)

[@Paul-gz5dp]

@TheJR1948 , actually I understand completely. It is there to create a vacuum on the outlet of the exhaust and is tuned to the engine to accomplish this. This is called exaust gas scavenging, and is part of tuning the car for optimal power with such a small engine to get good fuel economy. Thing with the two stroke vs 4 stroke is that each time the piston goes down is a power stroke, and a 4 stroke it is every other time the piston is going down.

[@thecompanioncube4211]

The best sponsor plug till date. Non-obtrusive but still can't be ignored

[@ChaosWolfJoe]

Aight buddy. I've seen a lot of your vids. Your attitude is realistic, albeit positive usually with a joke behind it. I hope you know that you look good doing what you do, and it's fun to watch and learn with you. Great vids. Keep 'em up, even now in 20203+.

[@simca554]

Now I know why my East Erupean friend in the 80's thought that Fiats are great cars.

[@kraftwerklover69]

Wdym? Fiats are still great cars

[@zoli058]

A jó öreg Z-rendszám :) Greetings from Hungary!

[@zsoltkurmai7007]

Bojler eladó!

[@3dmixer552]

@@zsoltkurmai7007 csere nem erdekel?

[@zsoltkurmai7007]

@@3dmixer552 Attól függ miről van $zó, egy rotikapáért akármit te$$a

[@mancsdrift]

@@3dmixer552 Csere sorostervre?

[@_venice_5993]

cs Man Adok cserébe 2 határvadászt és egy merkeles pólót!

[@mwolfer1]

The GDR's motorist's motto: Männer aus Stahl fahren Autos aus Pappe - Men made of steel drive cars made of cardboard.

[@sparky6086]

I was in Berlin not long after the Wall came down. I stopped at a traffic light, then I heard a small bass boat pull up beside me. I turned to look but saw a Trabant instead!!!

[@arjovenzia]

Just gotta say, this is how you do sponsorship. No speil, just show it being used. Very approval 👍

[@1989FordEscortLX]

Your method of advertising is the best I've seen so far for not cutting into the video. Eagerly awaiting part 2!

[@MarylandResident]

That was the most cleverly done product promotion I've ever seen in a KZbin video. You are truly the best car KZbinr

A few things about two-strokes: 500cc when well tuned (or even 600cc) on double bangers can produce an astounding amount of power (250cc on a single cylinder can produce well over 45HP). There's no such thing as a "factory tuned/jetted carb" or even a stock jetting, use the stock jetting as a North and adjust from that. Every two-stroke is different and you have to go from what the engine and spark plugs tell you. If the engine sounds like it's cutting revs at wide open throttle, it's rich. If it starts to lose power at wide open throttle, it's lean. A light-dark brown plug color is ideal. (And yes, when tuned it's still going to chug through an entire tank of gas like nothing) Change every goddamn seal you find, otherwise you will regret it. Hard starting is very caracteristic of: I. Low carb float level; II. Rotary or reed valves not sealing right; III. Too small of an idle jet. A good idle is set so that the engine doesn't take long to return to idle after a good rev-up, but doesn't drop to idle too fast. If it drops too fast, that means the idle is rich and will you also feel a sluggish and delayed engine response, leaning it to the right point should result in crisp and quick engine response. Just blipping the throttle when coasting is enough to lubricate the engine. (Just give the gas pedal a very, very quick pump every 5 seconds or so, no biggie). Two-strokes like to rev a little high (Well, the Trabant's redline has to be around 5000RPM or so) and have absolutely no torque below their tuned RPM, when you reach the tune RPM you will feel like someone opened a NOS can into the engine (Unless the exhaust is restricted like stock mufflers normally are, which in a way makes the engine feel to have a much wider powerband. Try searching for an alternative "racing" expansion chamber if you can.)

[@tauncfester3022]

Andre: You know very little about these old school, Schnerle ported engines.. They're rotary valves so no reed valves, they're old school long stroke and make most of their torque from about 2000 rpm up, very tractable and wide powerband. much like a Jawa 250 or Vespa 200. You can also just shift to neutral or open the enrichment ( choke control ) a small amount on a downhill. Blipping the throttle while it is in gear is stupid, it unnecessarily peak loads the engine bearings and drive train. These engines don't like to be revved "a little high'. It does them no good to wring them out, you unnecessarily are wearing the piston ring lands over revving it. The recommendation of expansion chambers is the dumbest suggestion. The exhaust manifold heats the interior, you'd lose your heater and defroster, and you'd spend over twice the cost of the car having a custom shop build a pair of chambers for this, and once finished the tuning involved would take that nicely tuned, broad powerband and make the car nearly undriveable. Oh and my bona fides? Oh about 20 years of driving and repairing SAAB 2 stroke cars.

Well, what do you know. I did say "Rotary/reed" mentioning that a two stroke can use either depending on the application. What is the redline of an engine like this one? Does this engine have a "wide powerband" because they limited the engine where it could peak like a normal two stroke or is that a característic of the exhaust or what? I did say "every two stroke is different" and I come from the motorcycle world.

[@immikeurnot]

@ Looks like the Trabant revved to maybe 5000 RPM. Info I found shows torque peak at 3000 and HP around 4000. That strongly suggests that you're right about the typical 2 stroke power band. Closing the choke going downhill is not the best idea. Good way to flood the engine before you reach the bottom. Better to occasionally declutch and blip the throttle.

@@immikeurnot You are right, peak power at 4000RPM. Wow, that's disappointing for such a promising engine. I would guess it's a supply problem to the cylinders due to less than ideal porting sizes, position and finish. Anyway, two-strokes have come a long way since the early 60s in these aspects, and being a cheap car, they didn't care about a lot of R&D to make these cars more powerful, they just wanted something cheap to last, and I would *love* to see someone improve the design and make perhaps a 100HP trabant some time :D

And yes, it would make the car literally undriveable without some common sense.

[@leifhietala8074]

"I'd imagine a lot of you haven't seen the inside of a Trabant engine before." Actually, imagining it is pretty easy: Imagine a weedwhacker engine. Now imagine that a lot bigger. Repeat. And you're done!

[@aaaabababa]

A little bigger*

[@moth4256]

correction: imagine a weedwhacker engine done

[@televisionandcheese]

Image a weedwhacker engine but smaller

[@cpufreak101]

well, weed wacker engine X2

[@victorrobison5069]

A weedwacker engine might have a bit more power and a broader powerband..........LOL

[@gabrielc5642]

As a east european, I didn't expect to see a Trabi in a US garage. Thumbs up, thank you for sharing.

[@captainzeppos]

2 minutes into this video and I have this to say: you guys sure know how to present your stuff. Excellent editing, well done!

[@zentoraxchicara2482]

Wow Nice an amarican man want to rebuild an trabant👍 Respect Nice to See that the „Rennpappe“😉 find there way to the other side off the World Many greetings from zwickau

[@gtasomogyi]

But number plate is from Hungary, so the car. What can tell that we had , still have, a lot. Probably the most in the World. xD

[@martinmartin5904]

'rican are able to do other thing than dropping an LS1 in any car

[@ferrumignis]

No need for an entire new crank, that one could be rebuilt by any competent machine shop.

[@galil_6863]

Legend says the trabant engine was secretly meant to be on the Bugatti Chiron

[@MeetDannyWilson]

Actually VW intended to use a bank of eight Trabant engines - however VW shelved the idea as the emissions from the two-stroke engine were too low compared with their top notch TDIs.

[@theman9559]

@@MeetDannyWilson This, this is the deffinition of perfection.

[@acoffeewithsatan]

@@MeetDannyWilson they were also too reliable and simple to maintain.

[@CaptHollister]

It's true. They were originally meant to be used as starter motors for the Chiron, but testing showed they weren't powerful enough.

[@C2H5OHist]

It could be true, the Bugattis of the 30's also had a roller bearing crankshaft.

[@nyx7255]

Such a good teacher.. Literally explains the disassembly with a bit of humor, appealing to any type of crowd and catching interest to show people how to fix your said issue and how to disassemble a trabant engind. Very very lovely video

[@SeverityOne]

I'd never seen the engine of a Trabant, but I saw them driving in the early 1990s, and I saw their exhaust. That was quite impressive.

[@andrewretaylor]

Ok one final last thing... so your crank is the older style... the centre bearings can be fixed, you just need to remove the centre section cover, its just held together by the spring clip around the outside, you can then slide the bearing races to the side, as they are free floating.. remove the rollers, replace and put it back together... you can also replace the end bearings... (I would recommend recondition what you have, e.g. send your crank back to germany to have it professionally reconditioned. Danzer Autoteile is great and Trabantwelt do a good job as well. if you go the reconditioned crank route (there is no new cranks) they are all the newer style and therefore you also need a piston ring style oil seal on the pulley side, and you need to use a lathe to take a few mm off the pulley to accommodate the new seal type, you also need to drill a hole in the top half of the engine case to fit the centre locating pin on the newer style cranks.

[@terracar2003]

Yay another video

[@jocking3]

Ok, so the things I noticed: - You can get the engine out without the gearbox. All you need to do is tale off the transmission's front mounting point's nut, and pull the mounting out it's hole, up and then right (towards driver side, which is right in front of you). That way there will be enough space for the engine to come out (don't forget to disconnect the ignition coil cables from the bottom). It is also easier to take everything off the engine while it's still in the car (generator, starter, carb, manifold, cooling vent and housing). - On the manifold, there's that "box thingy" around it which is part of the heating system. On the side which goes toward the vent, there should be a short rubber pipe between the manifold's "box" and the coolant housing around the engine. Without that short rubber pipe, the heating is waaaay less effective, so get one if you don't have one. Btw, the manifold is a thick cast iron, it can't rust through and let exhaust gasses into the interior. The part that can rust though causing that danger is the front muffler. - You don't have to take the exhaust off to remove the engine, just disconnect the manifold from the front muffler. Also, you can take off that black heating part from the front muffler to gain some space in the engine room while doing repairs. - You could've pulled that rubber ring out of the gearbox instead of cutting the gear lever. Also, try pulling from the inside next time instead of hammering the end. - All the bearings were shit on the crankshaft, even the first one you tried, it was just "less shit". They shouldn't have any noise whatsoever, they run in complete silence if they are good. - Don't forget to replace the 2 seals at both ends of the crankshaft, because their fault also can cause lean mixture. - When you reinstall the rotary valves into the engine, pay close attention to the direction you are installing them, because you can put them in the wrong direction. - The 2 crank case sides weren't "glued together by dirt", they were glued together with a sealant/adhesive. If you don't have anything similar, you can always use wood lackquer (no joke). But you can use that paste kind of sealant they use when they assemble a differential e.g. - When you put the pistons back on, pay attention so the PISTON RINGS' ENDS MUSTN'T BE ON THE SAME SIDE AS THE EXHAUST PORT. I used uppercase, because this can easily kill the engine, it's very important. Btw, the "thingy that connects the piston to the connecting rod" is called a Piston Pin. :) - When you put back the air vent, don't forget that rubber strip that was placed between the vent and the cooling housing, so the vent and the housing can't rattle when they touch each other. - If you didn't loosen the front elbow pipe part of the carb, then tighten it up when you put back the carb, because it shouldn't come off that easy. - In this car, since it's only 6V, the 'alternator' is called a "generator", or a "dinamo" as germans (and I think most eurpeans) use it. A car's battery stores DC, and every elecric stuff in the car runs on DC. The difference between the 2 kinds is that a generator/dinamo makes DC and sends it directly into the battery. An alternator however makes AC, and a rectifier on the alternator turns that into DC before powering the car's electric stuff. Every 6V trabi has a "dinamo"(before 1983 if I'm correct), and every 12V has an alternator. I hope this tips will help you with the reassembly of the car/engine. :) (Btw, I don't know where are you buying stuff from, but if from trabantwelt.de, then it will be a nice pile of money, at least 600 usd with all the replacement parts and shipping. In the case if you buy the crankshaft from them of course.)

[@skpro_jects]

I have no idea how I came across this video but I do have personal story which involved a Trabant. My great-uncle (grandad's brother) used to own one, but he had stripped everything in it (including the passenger seats) so he could load up food supplies for his little grill-place. One time he took me for a ride in it when I was real lil' and I was basically standing upright where the passenger seat was meant to be. Bless his soul, he made the best meat-sticks (it's a super common national thing) in the entire town. He did pass away quite a few years ago but I will always remember him for these things.

[@jacor653]

0:00 - 0:11 This is why I love this channel.

[@victorrobison5069]

Since you admit that you don't know what the name of the part is, I'll be glad to advise. Americans refer to it as a wrist pin , and I admit that makes no more sense than all other English speaking countries calling it a gudgeon pin. The huge nut on the flywheel is called a gland nut. After 35 years of making a living as a mechanic, my opinion is that I would rather have you know where it goes and how to properly install it, than to worry about the exact name of it. Only your parts man has to call it the same name as you do.

[@bostedtap8399]

Never heard it call a wrist pin, excellent discription, regards from the UK.

[@cpufreak101]

as someone that spent two years in automotive and couldn't remember for the life of me the name, thanks for the service

[@victorrobison5069]

@@bostedtap8399 regards to you too, always glad to hear from the United Kingdom

[@jamesb8305]

I've always called it a piston pin

[@jm-mi7kl]

"gudgeon" is a very British word.

[@MountainStorm]

Wrist pin is what the dingus is called

[@stumo8681]

Or a Gudgeon Pin more correctly

[@ianwilson4666]

Or gudgeon pin, in the UK ;-)

[@RIPbiker13]

I went through the comments knowing someone said this. Thank you Haha

[@sqike001ton]

You just need big strong soviet man to lift little trabant engine

[@CaptHollister]

Ironic since they were never sold in the Soviet Union.

[@BW-fz5kf]

NATHAN NEVILLE stronk

[@bobroberts2371]

No you need the person from the 80's Wendy's commercial. ( Day 'vear / Evening 'vear / swimm 'vear. )

[@marcrhsn]

There are competitions on Trabant owner meetings in Germany. Who's the fastest to remove the engine, put it in front of the car (by hand), put it back in and start it. I think the record is at 8 minutes 15 seconds.

[@hankhill9416]

@@CaptHollister Was East germany not part of the SU

[@Rwalt61]

The thingy holding the piston to the connecting rod is the wrist pin.

[@Knutowskie]

I'm from eastern germany, was born in the GDR. I love what you are doing! It's an oldtimer and it's worth fixing it. If i had only the time and the tools...

[@LegionOfWeirdos]

"For the entire time I've owned this car, it hasn't run right." - Did ANY of them EVER run right? 🙃

[@adipop]

No worst piece of shit :)

[@derb7462]

its still a german product, the build tolerances are there for a reason.

[@vizmuvesjanos1045]

@@adipop Esti ca si cum daciile ar fi fost masini mai bune… (irony)

[@vizmuvesjanos1045]

Yes. The ones modernized by the Germans and made into Smart's concurence.

[@edp2260]

I doubt it.....

[@alf279]

Damn it still has the Hungarian license plate on it! It came from my home country. I am subscribed now. :)

[@mxss115]

Out of curiosity, have you played a PC game called jalopy? It's basically about a kid in Germany that gets a hand me down trabant and has to run errands for his uncle.

[@MaximusPsychosis]

Yep, the Laika 601 Deluxe was based on on the Trabant.. kinda wanna play that game again.. BRB

[@toastersmaketea937]

medumdum reminds me of "my summer car"

[@toastersmaketea937]

Lassi Kinnunen shhhh

[@jaythrash8804]

So it's a My Summer Car Ripoff?

[@enzoperruccio]

@@jaythrash8804 Actually, Jalopy came out 6 months before MSC. And no, one is not a rip-off of the other, both games are very different in their mechanics and main objective.

[@BasmatiJones]

14:00 shopmade tool extracting piston pins: "It's ALIGNED!!" Another absolutely wonderful vid. Sourcing parts form Germany (assuming somewhere that used to be 'East' Germany) must be interesting; not sure if there is a Trabants-R-Us, but fun for sure.

[@hanswurst5416]

As an Eastern German citzien ( born in Suhl, Thüringen) I appreciate your efforts very much.

[@railway232]

Grüße von Frauenwald/Rennsteig

[@vonsteuben6475]

Does anyone know the Trabant 16V? 4 valves on each tire!

[@dingo137]

There was a similar joke about Ladas here in the UK. Have you heard of the 16 valve Lada? 8 in the engine, 8 in the radio.

[@mathias._.0297]

Can't wait for the finished rebuild!

[@mbirth]

I hope it'll include an actual German plate instead of the Hungarian one.

[@maxon1672]

This channel is so freakin great

[@timcent7199]

Mate, you are far and away the most entertaining contributor to KZbin. I know we would never stop laughing if we were to hang out. Greetings from Perth Australia. Oh..and thanks for speaking plain English.

[@orleifurmagnusmagnusson2124]

I have just watched all four parts of your video and saw you happy in the end, thanks for the entertainment ! I had a Trabant a long time a go and I kind of miss it. I have never met a Trabant owner who was dissatisfied, you get what you pay for. As for the driving, never gear down to slow down, it will rev the engine with out gas/oil = lubrication (the freewheeling in 4th is for a purpose). Also fine adjust the gascable and idle to get a better response, a Trabant is very simple and needs basic adjusting to do its "best".

[@madmat2001]

FYI, the "piston to connecting rod thing" is called a wrist pin. I would like to say that I'd think that any motorcycle shop worth its salt would be able to split and press your crank. I'm pretty certain that it wasn't meant to just be a toss and replace component.

[@rickydoolous5356]

Also known as the small end bearing here in the UK.

[@alan-sk7ky]

Also for an extra 10 points, UK engineering English "piston to connecting rod thing" is commonly referred to as a Gudgeon Pin, no I don't know why a hollow steel pin has the same name as a small fish.... :-)

[@stumo8681]

@@alan-sk7ky and because its UK English its more correct 😂

[@Sup3rSn1per]

Would be cool to see some performance mods on that little engine. I wanna see what that little monster can do!

[@agingwheels]

www.trabantwelt.de/Trabant-Tuning/Tuning-Motor-Abgasanlage/35PS-Tuning-Motor-einbaufertig-Trabant-601::1294.html

[@OlujaDoTokija]

A whole 12 horsepower improvement, holy shit!

[@Reddsoldier]

My favourite improvements have seen it replaced with the engine from a superbike. The resulting car is always hilariously fast given that the car isn't that heavy.

[@GreveSparf]

@@agingwheels Oh my god now I want to build a Trabant race car so bad

[@horiatomescu]

I tought so too, to drop a Hayabusa motor in a Trabant, and have fun looking at the people's faces in the time you pass them driving 120 miles/hour 😂😂😂😂😂

[@parisrogiest9324]

Sorry to interrupt. Most, if not all 2 strokes have pressed crankshafts... because they have roller bearings rather than plain ones (cause these rely on an oil supply/ pressure)... In short any Kart, Rotax or dirt bike shop will take your crank, pull it apart and replace the bearings. Look for a good one as pressing and 'true'ing it is somewhat of a lost art. Should be cheaper than getting a whole new crank.

[@Gothamauto]

I had a feeling that this should be possible from a local source, as long as replacement parts are available and precision measurement isn't required.

[@mrRhwalden]

no all two strokes have pressed crankshafts.... Check out Detroit Diesel two strokes. They didn't use the crank case to pressurize the cylinder, they all use superchargers. Same think with locomotives and marine applications. Of course two stroke Detroits were used in large trucks (inline 6, v6, v8 and v12 varients) Some were turbo charged, all were supercharged (that is how they pressurized the cylinders) and they had oil sumps and pressurized oiling.

[@parisrogiest9324]

@@mrRhwalden Sorry that is vastly outside the scope. Those engines do not use the crankcase to pressure mixture and rely on pressured lubrication systems.

[@parisrogiest9324]

@TheJR1948 Jep, most definitely... but as he can get a full new crank :p I guess it can't be a problem.

[@gravelydon7072]

@TheJR1948 Take a look at kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2K5hX56jZJ0Z5Y . There you will see how DKW sealed the sections of the crankcase. 3=6 at its finest.

[@jeffreyholicky4303]

From a news post on the Firefox browser home page (google "Trabant fervent") to watching you drive the car and now watching the complete engine tear down. Though I have worked on basic car maintenance I have no interest in rebuilding or even this car but ... it was a well done video and very interesting to watch. Great seeing it started and worked better than before after this task. I fix the odd appliance and it is always a great felling to succeed in keeping something going by using your own hands. Thanks!

[@billiondollardan]

That is one sweet garage. KZbin must know me better than me for recommending this video. Maybe I should start sending mother's day presents to headquarters. 5 minutes in and I subbed and hit the bell. This is really, really good

[@Capt.-Nemo]

Trabant, the German Muscle Car ^^ mit der Kraft der 2 Kerzen :)

[@zapadoceskesilnice3231]

Both dynamos and alternators are generators. The difference is that dynamos produce DC, and alternators produce AC.

[@MichaelSteeves]

In English car terminology, A generator produces DC and an alternator produces AC. Outside of the car world a generator can produce AC but an alternator can't directly produce DC.

[@zapadoceskesilnice3231]

"In English car terminology, A generator produces DC and an alternator produces AC" - All these disagree: dogandlemon.com/sites/default/files/Dictionary_of_Car_Terms.pdf what-when-how.com/automobile/dynamos-automobile/ www.howacarworks.com/electrical-systems/testing-a-dynamo-and-checking-output www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/product_list/165 "an alternator can't directly produce DC." - Well, yes, that's why it's called an alternator...

[@chaytonruijsenaars3971]

alternators have rectifier diodes in them too what is supposed to produce DC if there is AC coming out of it that means its on its way out. you can sometimes hear it in the radio. it will sound like a high pitch whirring sound that goes with the rpm of the engine. my friends car does that. they started using alternators cause the dynamo only made certain amount of power depending on rpm so if you wanted more power had to rev it up. and when you had everything on and the car was idling it didnt make enough power. alternator makes its power based on how much power you put into the electro magnet in the rotor. so at idle and you turn everything on it will make those 80 amps with a strong magnet field but if your going down the highway with the windows down and just the radio its probably barely doing any work and the electro magnet is probably barely on. its electronically governed based on combination of load and input speed

[@zapadoceskesilnice3231]

Wrong, wrong, wrong. 1. The rectifier is an accessory of the alternator, not a part of it. 2. So if there's AC coming out (which you won't know for sure without an oscilloscope), it's the rectifier going out, not the alternator. 3. The main reason to start using alternators was that they don't need a commutator because the power is generated in the stator, not in the rotor, and the rotor only gets a relatively small amount of DC excitation (field) current (that would be going into the stator of a dynamo). This current comes from the regulator and is used to control the output voltage. 4. An idling alternator won't make a lot of power either. It needs to be spinning at a certain speed in order to be able to provide the nominal power output, and most car alternators won't do it at idle. 5. If you turn everything on at idle, the voltage will most likely drop, as the alternator isn't spinning fast enough to make the power your want. You'll also notice the engine load increase, since the power has to come from somewhere (the engine). While cruising, the ignition, fuel system, lights, etc. will need more power due to the higher engine load, which will, in turn, increase the load on the alternator, BUT it will be spinning faster, which will allow it to make more power and achieve the full output voltage. 6. Load and input speed don't really matter. All that matters is the voltage in the charging circuit, which the regulator is set to keep at 13.8 V or so by changing the field current. There's nothing to directly watch the input speed.

[@ryzyooritzz]

It's not possible to generate DC, you need a rectifier.

[@somerandoonline5852]

unknown object is the wrist pin

[@unclefista]

Gudgeon pin in the UK

[@uweinhamburg]

I don't have a clue about cars or the job of a mechanic but a pretty good technical background. I understood step by step what you were doing. It's either that this motor is so simple or that you explain really well 😉😃

[@HunPSP]

It was so nice to see this video (and of course, all of the othet ones too), keep up the good work. :) The Trabant will last forever! :) Greetings from Budapest, Hungary - from where this Trabant came from

[@andreasnorman3992]

It worries me that despite numerous complaints you keep working in front of the pit, one day you're gonna fall in and regret you didn't turn it into a giant ball pit.

[@stefankoelsch788]

Den Trabant in seinem Lauf hält weder Ochs noch Esel auf.

[@the_real_Hengstmilch]

nja, den Fahrer schon wenn er durch einen undichten Auspuff in seinem Trabbi erstickt. kam damals öfter vor.

[@dinolino3313]

@@the_real_Hengstmilch Das halte ich für ein Gerücht, da ziehts doch überall rein und somit gibt's da genug Luftaustausch :)

[@martinmartin5904]

Where is the beef ?

[@cpt_nordbart]

@@the_real_Hengstmilch das hatte ich erwartet Bei Dem Heizsystem.

[@elcheapo5302]

It's a wristpin, Robert.

[@JOHNDANIEL1]

So funny, Tiny 2 banger. We put a 26 horse Briggs and Stratton in one about 4 years ago. A bit tricky until you realize you can just saw the back of the old engine off to make your trans mount and plate. Actually performs better, top speed now 71 mph. And total job made the car 105 lbs lighter.

[@bunberrier]

I love simplicity. That is a work of art. What a fantastic car.

[@jocking3]

3:32 - Yes, you can, you just need to take out the engine and the transmission separately. The engine alone is 50 kg (same weight as the gearbox), any normal adult male is able to lift that. :)

[@markcorriher4718]

I have a Lloyd Alexander ts that in need parts to rebuild. It's german made . Any help would be great.

[@theq4602]

What if you are an 5'2" 40Kg Untermensch?

[@jocking3]

@@markokrsmanovic1080 Trabants were designed for the owner to be able to repair the engine by himself at home, at a time when hoists were even scarce in auto mechanic shops. You can easily remove the engine by hand, you just need to strip it before (take off cooler housing, fan, alternator, carb, exhaust manifold - even could take off the cylinders and pistons too, but they are not that heavy). Then loosen and pull the front mounting of the transmission, turn it away a few centimeters and then the engine comes out easily. I know, I did it like this dozens of times.

[@markmalinowski5951]

I lost my 10mm socket is not a meme. It really happens to every mechanic all the time every day. Happens to me every time I work on anything. I think it's these dang elves. They keep stealing my water too.

[@scottfirman]

I lose my 10mm sockets AND WRENCH on a regular basis. As a cure, I went to sears and bought 4 new 10 mm sockets. Now I ALWAYS have one handy. It got to be really dumb wasting 15 minutes looking for that one socket that was in my pocket all along. I wo rked on snowmobiles for years. So 10 mm was the most used size.

[@Z4Zander]

I keep doubles of 10mm sockets and spanners.Always find one of them.

[@tmurrayis]

I thought I was the only one that had an issue loosing 10mm sockets. Misery loves company!

[@joseorellana5792]

I keep my 10mm socket on the ratchet, or on a locking extension.

[@Z4Zander]

@@joseorellana5792 All good till you get an 8mm nut.

[@spratsprat3266]

Side to side play isn’t a big deal, and that amount is actually pretty good, up and down play is what you don’t want any of or else blammo

[@Twinspinner]

That tool you made is basically a bigger version of the sight pusher I have for my pistols. Literally a small box with bolts and shaped nuts that move back and forth to let you push iron sights off guns to adjust or replace. Definitely a lifesaver, as I had originally resorted to a hammer and spent 2 hours handling and was unable to budge the sight, but managed to put a lot of marks on my gun

[@tedmoss]

You actually can lift the DKW (Auto Union) engine out by hand, I've done it myself, I assume the SAAB is the same. However the 1940 Chevy 6cyl. took two people, my brother and my self. Last is the 1938 Ford flat-head, 550 lbs of cast iron, your not lifting that one out by hand. (These are stripped of all large removable parts). The starters and generators on the Ford weighted a lot, being 6 volt.

[@jimmielong2748]

Dude you're hilarious you're doing a great job I love your vlog

[@Luke50041]

Do you have any tips for importing a Trabant from overseas? Im based in Ontario, Canada and I'm open to any help I can get. Thanks!

[@russianmusicgroup]

if you need help searching one im living in germany you can hit me up over discord my name is playtastiv#7643

[@cpufreak101]

there's several online groups. I do know import laws are slightly different in canada though (such as 15 years instead of 25, but I believe even the newest ones are now 25 years old now anyway)

[@pkuudsk9927]

Walking or taking the bus would make more sense and save you money. Importing one would be easy just buy one pay a ungodly amount to have it shipped here ,pay ungodly amounts of Import tax , Ontario tax and registering fees + a lawyer to confirm it is a car. Then try to get the MTO to add it to their VIN system as a road car and not just a show / display car . Finally try to find an insurance company to insure it , as it won't show up in any system , so you will have to have the car appraised and have a agreed value of the car . Because if it get destroyed in shipping your screwed .$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ . Then spend the rest of your life importing parts to keep it running . So if your still hot to get one . Get a vin from one,,, pay to store it in Germany and start now in 2 years you might be able to get through all the paper work and Then have it shipped when you have all the documents in order.

[@LeSarthois]

I can't tell about insurance and import costs, but overseas shipping may be, in fact, the LESS costly part of the deal. Shipping a car from Europe to North America will cost you about $1200 to $1500. Now, the expensive bits will be shipping the car from where you got it to the docks, and same, unless you come and get it yourself when it arrive in North America. Your best option for getting it cheaper would be to find a forum or a club about old european cars and see which people are gonan get cars imported from Europe. Car ship in standard containers; some specialized transporters are know to ship 4 cars in one - two cars down, two cars strapped up from the container's roof :) it only works with small cars, and the Trabi is a small car.

[@petermolnar813]

You could buy not only from Germany. This car in the video, is from Hungary. The custom registration plate is Hungarian. There are a lot of working car here. You can buy from www.hasznaltauto.hu/ The cheapest about 300 USD. But I can't imagine how could you take it to a port . :-)

[@jeg1972]

Yeah! More Trabby!

[@captlarry-3525]

Despite the meatball aspects.. I am grateful for a look inside the trabant engine..which is quite a bit better and more sophisticated than I thought it would be. Really nicely designed and made.

[@roselinerussell4928]

So much fun to be had with this little car... Looking forward to the re-build.