Alfa Romeo Forum - View Single Post

Smaky · 19-08-2008

Here's inside a variator (actually the one we removed off this engine 2 weeks ago), you can see the twisting gear and the spring the oil pressure pushes against, this is the simplest system on the market for phase timing IMO, and it just works.

The second picture shows you the inside workings of a hydraulic tappet (I was bored and the angle grinder winked at me).

Pictures 3,4,5 and 6 show the faultyVariator solenoid being tested (on my multimeter 1 is NO continuity).
Wear on the pins in the last pic was easily solved by extending them with solder to make the cotact again, thus repairing the valve. By directly connecting the 2 pins of this vale to the battery you will hear a clunk as it throws the piston down opening the oil channels, proving it works.