Loosing power in second gear

[STROHMA]

I've had my autostick running for about a month now and I can't seem to get any power in second gear. it starts off slow but at 30 MPH it seems to run good, I shift into second around 45 -50 and it'll max out at 55. After about 1-2 minutes it looses power and I can get above 45. If I down shift it'll run 45 -50 again. I thought it was a overheating problem I've done everything to try and correct that. It runs fine in first at 45 no overheating, Just when I put it in second. Any thoughts will help I'm outa things to try?

[Cobey]

Check the timing, and the advance.  Your distributor might be sticking and not advancing properly.  Had the same problem myself recently.

[STROHMA]

Finally found the problem with loosing power. It only took me a month.....

It turns out that when the engine was assembled my father adjusted the valves incorrectly. I hadn't recheck this because they had just been done and he insisted they were set right. I loosened them up and the car runs good. Evidently they were close enough that while running under no load the engine ran OK, Wnder load the low compression caused problems and when the engine got hot the low compression shut it down. The bvalves must not have been closing all the way.

Stupid me to trust someone else to say it was done right.

[Dennis Flora]

In was going to say adjust the valves, but you figured that out already. I have 15" wheels on my trike, and all I can say is, if you are shifting into 3rd gear above 45 mph, your beating the hell out of your car. I'll do it occasionally, but only to spank a Harley now and then. The normal shift into 3rd gear is around 35 to 45, and 45 is gettin up in the R's... Be nice to your Volkswagon !!!  It will make a nice Trike someday.... LOL