Date: Wed, 5 Jul 2006 21:30:44 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject: Re: Mechanic had to pull transmission again, what would you do?
In-Reply-To: <11dcddf80607051643u1f44de14s99fcb820e9644f04@mail.gmail.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
If the release bearing was not attached properly, it most likely would have
failed instantly. Only those clips keep it in place. More likely, the used
bearing appeared OK and "felt" ok but it was old with old grease in it. Due
the hydraulic cylinder, the release bearing is under some pressure all the
time so it is always spinning with the engine. At some point it seized and
then quickly got yanked out of those clips.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Christopher Gronski
Sent: Wednesday, July 05, 2006 7:43 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Mechanic had to pull transmission again, what would you do?
Mark D - I have the bearing, the clips are fine but it does not spin
and has a very clear worn spot in a half moon shape on one side. My
theory is it let go, and the wear was caused on the way back when I
was driving without a clutch.
Robert K - The labor hours are almost twice what people on the list
said the transmission pulling should take - but maybe par for the
course considering he was working alone. I didn't haggle on the
original price, as I knew his hourly rate was roughly 30% lower than
anyone else in the area. And all told it was worth $1200 for me to try
the job myself.
Robert F - You're right I did SORT OF sanction the use of used parts
(indeed the whole transmission was used. When he suggested a new
clutch and flywheel I said: "Can you look at the old ones and see if
it is OK to reuse them? But if its not then order a new one". That
said, whenever he sugested a new part I said "no problem". The message
could have been unclear, but was intended to be really "just to try to
reuse what was pricy if it still seemed OK". Indeed I replaced the
perfectly functional starter at the same time because of the ease of
access during transmission removal. I would not have blinked if he
said we should get a new $17.82 release bearing. You're 100% right
about the labor rate being low, and $200 being meeting him barely half
way. I also like your suggestion about settling this before he goes on
vacation.
Greg P - The slave was brand new fine and functioning, its still in
the van after the repair. The reason the slave was jammed was because
of the release bearing. Having read what Mark Drillock said I'm
reasonably certain that the release bearing was not attached properly
and that is why it failed. You're right about being lucky to find a
guy who does good work (usually) at a good rate who will let me supply
my own parts.
Chris
On 7/5/06, mark drillock <drillock@earthlink.net> wrote:
> I have seen plenty of badly worn out release bearings that still worked
> as far as allowing the clutch to release. Something other than an
> undetected worn bearing happened here, I'd say. In any case, he did not
> supply the part being blamed and if that part was at fault, you should
> expect to pay.
>
> Saying the release bearing "let go" tells us nothing about what really
> went wrong. I would first suspect that the bearing was installed
> improperly, such that it's retaining clips were not put in the proper
> position to hold it in place. Then the bearing rotated out of position
> enough to come off the one side of the release fork and into a low spot
> on the other side.
>
> Do you have the "bad" bearing? Are the 2 retaining clips intact? Does
> the bearing part still spin?
>
> Mark
>
> Christopher Gronski wrote:
>
> > ......... He had to pull the transmission again to troubleshoot the
> > problem which turned out to be that the release bearing had let go. He
> > swears up and down that he inspected the part before reusing it and it
> > was fine. It is scored on one side (kind of half moon like).
> > .................
>
>
>
>
