Date: Thu, 21 Dec 2000 23:42:26 -1000
Reply-To: Mick Kalber <hotlava@INTERPAC.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mick Kalber <hotlava@INTERPAC.NET>
Subject: Re: Strange Clutch Problem
In-Reply-To: <89.2abde6.2774108a@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Speaking of strange clutch problems... thought I might tell you guys the
results of my grinding/growling noise problem following the installation of
a new viscous coupling and the addition of redline oil to the front diff and
tranny of my 89 Syncro Westy "Daddeo." We thought everything was cool
following installation, shifted fine, went in and out of 4WD like it's
supposed to... but had this strange sound apparently coming from the front
diff. Well after much checking the front diff, vc, drive shaft, etc. we
finally figured out that the noise was coming from the transmission.
Took the tranny apart and discovered that the pinion gear had gone bad and
rubbed one of the sleeves badly. Interestingly it had not broken, but was
cracked and apparently had been chaffing the sleeve for some time. Our
theory is that we couldn't hear the noise until we put in the redline.
Because it is a thinner lubricant than what was in the gear box before, the
noise was more noticeable. Again, that is a guess, but it stands to reason
since the bus was noisy before (We've only had it 6 months), and was much
noisier after we changed the vc and installed the redline.
Glad to figure out the problem, many dollars later, of course. And also to
know that it wasn't the redline... after hearing everyone on the list rave
about how great the stuff is and then to have it sound worse after
installation really made me wonder.
Also did the Half Lilley... 022D ECU, new chip upgrade, Pauter 1.4 rocker
rollers, quad tip plugs, and K & N air filter. Will be installing the
Stebro stainless steel muffler soon. Haven't had time to check gas mileage
and really do a road test yet, but she runs smooth as silk, seems to have
more power... more able to get up to speed without revving quite as high.
At this point it seems like a good thing... we'll see how good.
Thanks for all the help on the list from Myron Lind, Derek Drew, Benjamin
Tan, Frank Condelli and several others that I've inadvertently spaced out.
You guys are the best... aside from Bear and his son, Noel, my master
mechanics here in Hilo on the Big Island!
We'll be camping out at Kiholo Bay in South Kohala over New Year's. Have a
great holiday season and aloha from Hawaii!
Mick Kalber
Tropical Visions Video, Inc.
62 Halaulani Place Hilo, Hawaii 96720
ph. 808-935-5557 fax 808-935-0066
hotlava@interpac.net
www.volcanoscapes.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
Of John Branstrom
Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2000 4:04 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Strange Clutch Problem
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
