Date:         Sat, 5 Feb 2000 12:34:00 -0800
Reply-To:     Grant Holst <gholst@RAMBUS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Grant Holst <gholst@RAMBUS.COM>
Subject:      Re: Clutch diagnosis/opinions please!

"Carrington, Tom" wrote:
>
> My Crew Cab is having clutch problems. When I press on the clutch, it does
> not totally disengage. If I am stopped at a light, I have to turn off the
> engine to get it back into 1st. There are no visible leaks on either the
> master or slave cylinders, and the fluid level has not dropped at all. When
> a helper pushes on the clutch pedal, the slave actuates and moves the lever,
> but I'm not sure how far it has to go for complete disengagement. And I
> can't look at the '82 as an example since the clutch master failed on that
> one last week...probably due to the cold temps we are having. I'm wondering
> what to do.....
>
> I could try to bleed the system to see if it helps. Although i find it hard
> to believe that air is in there without a leak or having opened the system.
>
> I could pull the tranny, and replace the clutch pressure plate, disc, t/o
> bearing and cross shaft (I have all the parts already since I have planned
> on doing the clutch sometime). If that is the concensus, I'll have to park
> the crew until March or April. I'm too busy rennovating my house to stop and
> do a big project like that...take a look at
> http://www.relitech.com/tomc/house to see what I mean!
>
> Or I could replace both the master and slave cylinders. Only takes an hour
> and costs $100 for the parts. Maybe it will help, maybe not.
>
> Any other ideas?
>
> TomC
> tcarrington@relitech.com
> http://volksweb.relitech.com
> 85 Vanagon Crew Cab
> 82 Westy diesel=>gas conversion
> 65 Notchback

Tom,
Same thing happened to me 2 weeks ago. Almost didn't make it home
from work. When I went to back it in the garage to replace the
master and slave  it wouldn't disengage and almost backed in
to the back of the garage. Stomped on the brakes and stalled it
to get it to stop. Replaced both master and slave and no problems
since. BTW I didn't have any leaks with the old master/slave.

Grant