Date:         Fri, 22 Oct 2004 10:10:13 -0500
Reply-To:     Jim Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Subject:      Re: last nights fun.
In-Reply-To:  <12454913.1098455446530.JavaMail.root@scooter.psp.pas.earthlink.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

I've done this twice in the last year, (two different cars, not two
failed cylinders) so while no expert my memory is fresh.

The hard part is getting the cylinder in an out, particularly accessing
the bolts under the bracket. You'll see what I mean. Heh heh heh. Here
are some ways you can do it almost all from the top.

Two tricks: you may find that you can't get a wrench on the older
(early 80s) rear bolt, but maybe that's just a diesel thing. Here's
what I did if it happens to you: the problem is that a normal wrench is
too long and the engine is in the way. Go get a cheap wrench 13mm and
cut it in half, slip in on from the bottom, jam it in place with
newspaper, and have at it from the top while you enjoy your favorite
beverage.

If the bolts fight you all the way out, go get new ones.

Best way to cut in half = dremel cutoff wheels (wear glasses, they
break)

Second best way = hacksaw or grinding wheel. The cheaper the wrench the
easier the modification.

Secondly, applies to all, and involves newspaper again: keep the bolts
from falling out while you get a nut on them with some newspaper. When
both nuts have the purchase of a thread or two, remove the paper, apply
the wrench and tighten.

You'll need something like a dowel sharpened in a pencil sharpener to
keep the fluid from dripping all over the place before you hook the
clutch fluid line back up. Don't make it too long or you can break it
off moving things around.

Other than that, there's no drama, no adjustment. Just make sure that
the pushrod is seated down in the socket on the clutch lever properly
and that you've cleaned and greased that part before reassembly.

Jim

On Oct 22, 2004, at 9:30 AM, Joseph Fortino wrote:

> hello everyone,
>
> well last night after coming out after work to check on my van's
> clutch slave thats not
> really working right anymore, noticed a puddle * great * lucky I had a
> bottle and half
> of some fuild to make it home. ( pedel went to the floor no pressure )
> ahh 10:30pm raining
> worked all night.  * Its dripping from the bottom of the slave near
> the rubber boot * BTW new one
> should be here Sat. I pour fuild in and try to pump air out myself to
> get pedel hard enuff to drive
> home, no luck so i call my co-worker to come down and pedel pump it
> while i open bleeder, this
> starts to push all the air out since i lost all my fuild during the
> night while working. ( It gets stiff enuff
> to put in gear nice some i can make it home in the pouring rain ;)
> fun. no grins nice smooth shifting
> I just wanted to not loose all the fuild at a stop, so I drove fwy
> miles and made it.
>
> I'm not driving it anymore since this was the final straw, it in the
> nice warm garage.
>
> storys over, hehe
>
> anyway does anyone have a good proceeure for installing a new clutch
> slave cly, I checked my bently
> also. I'm open for info, since this weekend I'll be working on this to
> get my daily on the road again.
>
> thanks much
> Joe
>