Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2000 08:57:13 -0400
Reply-To: Bob Donalds <bostneng@FCL-US.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Bob Donalds <bostneng@FCL-US.NET>
Organization: Boston Engine Exchange
Subject: Re: Shuddering clutch engagement
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Gary McEachern wrote:
>
> I am in the process of replacing the tranny in my new Westy. I have three
> problems I hoped to address while replacing the tranny.
> 1.) A noisy transmission(loud whine)
> 2.) Pops out of first and second gear.
> 3.) The van shudders when starting out in first gear.
>
> I hope the new tranny will address the noise and popping out of gear. As for
> the shuddering, I initially suspected that the motor mounts might be bad or
> that the clutch or pilot bearing might be shot.
>
> The motor mounts look OK and don't appear to be torn. The rubber on the
> tranny mount, on the other hand, is torn/seperated from the outer ring. Upon
> removal of the tranny I found what appears to be a new sachs clutch and
> pressure plate. The pilot bearing looks OK to me. The flywheel is a bit
> discolored toward the center area where the clutch contacts it but looks OK
> on the outer area. The inner area has brown and blueish splotches which I
> suspect indicates overheating.
>
> My questions are:
> 1. Could the torn tranny mount cause the shuddering?
> 2. Could one of the tranny problems be causing the shuddering?
> 2. What does the flywheel discoloration indicate?
> 3. Am I overlooking something else that could cause this problem?
>
> Any input on this problem would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Gary
>
> Gary McEachern, Reading Ma.
> '90 Westy
> '84GL w/ Super Sunroof (for sale)
> '87GL Wolfsburg Weekender (for sale)
> '75 Spitfire
>
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Gary
I have had 2 clutchs chater in my own vans after installing new engines
and clutchs.
in the first van the chater started after I overheated the clutch in
stop and go traffic
and it chatered until I changed the disc only while swapping tranys. The
disc I took out was a canadian sachs disc i put in a no name cheapo disc
and it has never chatered again.
the second van chatered after my wife drove the van to do erands she
could not find first gear so started off in second gear repeatedly when
she drove in the driveway the smell of the burning clutch filled the
yard the engine,clutch, mounts, pilot bearing and freshly ground
flywheel where new again the clutch kit was a canadian sachs disc.
the sachs clutchs now have a mexican disc and they seem to take the
heat and are not as likley to chater
the burnt marks on the flywheel are signs of heat and of the disc
grabing the flywheel unevenly the chater is also a sign that the disc is
grabing unevenly it garbs and lets go and so on
I would have the flywheel machined by a shop that will take the time to
dial in the flywheel on the grinder before its machined so it runs true
as it spins, when its bolted to the crankshaft. next the pilot bearing
needs to be good and lubed the felt seal in the flywheel needs to be in
place to prevent grease from getting on the disc fiction surface the
right felt seal part # is 021 105 311 the seal is held in place with a
steel
insert they are no longer availible at the dealer
I still use the sach clutchs with the mex disc if you want to use the
clutch you have then I feel it would be worth replacing the disc at the
minimum I have a no name disc or the sachs disc on hand and will leave
them outside the shop door as I will not be home today come and take the
one you need and we will settle up next week
Bob
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