Date:         Mon, 12 Jan 2004 13:28:12 -0700
Reply-To:     jbrush@AROS.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Anonymous Digest <jbrush@AROS.NET>
Subject:      Clutch cylinder problem??

Lately, I have noticed that sometimes the clutch pedal grabs really low on
my 81 Air Cooled. It seems to happen when it has sat for a few day, but
now and then, after having driven it for while, it will do this on the
first or second pedal stroke after sitting for maybe half an hour, but
again, the symptom goes away after using it for a while.

The pedal is adjusted with the proper free play at the top, so it works
quite normally and well, but when this symptom appears, the clutch grabs
with the pedal barely off the bottom of its travel.

Would anyone care to speculate if the slave or master cylinder is having
problems, its just really cold so the fluid is not as viscous as it should
be (if that is the proper term) or perhaps something else is amiss?

I confess to ignorance about the clutch system, beyond that its hydraulic.
If there are two cylinders, and one is in front above the pedal, where is
the second one, and have I been bad to not be checking the fluid levels
there? Seems I never thought much about it until someone mentioned the
slave? back in the engine area.

Thanks to all for any advice or comments. Its pretty disconcerting when
you let the clutch out and it grabs right away and jerks you around pretty
good :-)

John