Date:         Thu, 21 Dec 2000 21:03:54 EST
Reply-To:     Syncro86VW@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Branstrom <Syncro86VW@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Strange Clutch Problem
Comments: To: Syncro@onelist.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

The clutch on my 86 syncro would not release last week after banging my way
out of a snow encrusted parking space here in Chicago.  It had been getting
hard to shift over the last week or so.  I figured the slave and/or master
cylinder had gone out.

I flatbed towed the van to my trusted mechanic who replaced the slave and
master cylinders.  As he test drove the van he said it felt like the clutch
was now slipping.  He pulled the trans and found the 1 year old clutch very
worn (Had him install complete clutch package last year 12/29/99 he's doing
all trans work under his 1 year warranty)  He installed new clutch disc and
checked all other components and on test drive said that it would drive and
shift fine then all of a sudden it would be hard to shift and/or it felt as
if it was slipping.  I questioned him to make sure that they were sending him
the correct (heavy duty) clutch disc and that the resurfaced flywheel was
within specs.  He said both were correct.

The last time I talked to him today he was reassembling the trans once again
and getting ready for another test drive.  He seems a bit stumped.  Can any
of you Syncronauts or Tech Gurus help us out here.  Glad I'm not paying for a
lot of this.

Blitz