Date:         Thu, 11 Aug 2005 23:12:53 -0400
Reply-To:     Robert Harris <rdh24@CORNELL.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Harris <rdh24@CORNELL.EDU>
Subject:      clutch dragging...  hmmm
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

A clutch/hydraulics question.  About 1000 miles ago I swapped a rebuilt
transaxle into my 84 Westy.  I reused the old clutch kit since it was
almost new.  Ever since the rebuilt tranny went in, the Vanagon feels like
its clutch is dragging just a bit even with the pedal pressed all the way
in: a little bit hard to force it into gear, reverse gear wants to grind,
and often going into 1st you can hear a "clunk" as the slack gets taken out
of the drivetrain when it slips into gear... it acts as if the clutch pedal
wasn't being pressed quite all the way to the floor.

The one thing I did notice when I was putting in the rebuilt tranny that
might be relevant is that the little hardened nib/ball on the clutch
throwout outside lever -- i.e. the "bearing" surface the clutch slave
piston directly presses onto -- is quite worn down on my rebuilt tranny vs
what the original tranny looked like.  Could this cause the clutch to not
disengage fully?  Or should the hydraulics self-adjust to compensate?  I
REALLY don't want to pull the tranny again!!!

thanks,
Robert H
frustrated in Ithaca NY
84 Westy "Busaru"