Date: Tue, 6 Nov 2007 13:37:22 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Idea! Please review- Clutch Dies in Cold Weather
In-Reply-To: <C355FE4B.2645%cichowski@montana.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
If you have a bad seal at either end it will be obvious. You will have
noticable leakge and the fluid level will go down as you pump. If these two
things aren;t hapening then you have a mis adjusted master, clogged inlet
prot on same or it just needs to be properly bleed.
It is impotoant that when the pedal is up, the master is able to completley
return to the stop. Ohter wise the port will be blocked and fluid will not
be able to refill the cylinder. There should be just a little bit of play at
the push rod. Then, with the bleeder on the slave open, push the pedal and
you should get a good gush of fluid. If not then it needs to be bleed. Also,
if the check vlave in the master is bad, the fluid will end up back in the
reservoir instead of pushing the clutch.
Dennis
>From: Ben Cichowski <cichowski@MONTANA.EDU>
>Reply-To: Ben Cichowski <cichowski@MONTANA.EDU>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Idea! Please review- Clutch Dies in Cold Weather
>Date: Tue, 6 Nov 2007 11:19:39 -0700
>
>OK,
>
>Thought of an idea to test to see if I am having trouble with the Slave vs.
>the Master in cold weather. Please tell me if you think this will work...
>
>If I take a pair of locking pliers and GENTLY clamp off the rubber portion
>of the fluid supply line serving the Slave....Then, if I push in on the
>peddle and it is still soft, it tells me that the seals are leaking at the
>master cylinder...but if it is hard, even on a cold morning, then it is
>probably the seals on the slave leaking...right? (I'm not looking at the
>van
>right now, so I may be over looking something in my head)
>
>Does this sound like a good way to diagnose the problem??
>
>Of course I'll want to be gentle with clamping the line.
>
>-Ben
>
>
>On 11/6/07 8:48 AM, "Ben Cichowski" <cichowski@montana.edu> wrote:
>
> > 25 Degrees this morning - same dead clutch. Yesterday, after it warmed
>up to
> > 40, I went out and had NO problems what-so-ever with the clutch...
>(although
> > it still feels a little soft for my taste and can stick in gear a bit if
>I
> > hold the clutch in too long - another hydraulic clue...)
> >
> > So, as per my own thoughts and the thoughts of several others on the
>list,
> > it looks like hydraulics are likely to blame (If I am missing something,
> > someone please give a shout! - and by all means, feel free to tell me
>I'm
> > being stupid and missing something obvious...things tend to stick better
> > that way).
> >
> > I had my wife pump the clutch this morning as I watched the slave. The
>Slave
> > moved...a very little bit and seemed like it was trying to push the
>lever,
> > but then, CLICK, the lever pushed back. She kept getting the soft peddle
> > syndrome again and again and I noted maybe 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch of
>movement
> > on the slave.
> >
> > Unfortunately...I'm not sure this rules out any particular components. I
> > guess it could be the slave leaking...it could be the clutch master...I
> > guess it could even be something binding in the tranny (but I think
>given
> > the cold weather...I can safely say it is something hydraulic).
> >
> > The Slave does NOT LOOK new - it seems a bit rusty for 6K the PO says it
>has
> > on it...hmmmm.... Also, I forgot to note in the last post that the slave
>and
> > clutch master cyl were both listed as replaced when I purchased the
>vehicle.
> >
> > Even thought the master cyl looks new (compared to the slave), my gut is
> > still leaning that direction. What do you all think? I've got to get
>going
> > on it pretty quickly, as the snow will fly any day now and I'm about to
>be
> > on new-baby duty in a few weeks.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Ben
> >
> >
> > On 11/5/07 8:48 AM, "Ben Cichowski" <cichowski@montana.edu> wrote:
> >
> >> Hi All,
> >>
> >> Thought I had this fixed...20 Degrees F this morning tells me
>otherwise!
> >>
> >> My clutch goes to the floor in cold weather (usually below 40 F). I
>thought
> >> it was air or moisture in the lines, so I had it pressure bled and
>replaced
> >> with new hydro fluid.
> >>
> >> Seems to push down "Dead," then stay there...then it might pop back up
>and
> >> feel like it has pressure...but pushing it down again does nothing.
> >>
> >> The PO had put a new slave cyl, and pressure plate in about 6K ago -
>maybe a
> >> bad part??
> >>
> >>
> >> Any ideas from you seasoned vets would be great - Thanks,
> >>
> >> Ben
> >> 88 Wofsburg Weekender ej22 (KEP adaptor)
> >>
> >
>
>--
>Ben Cichowski
>Assistant Director for Training
>cichowski@montana.edu
>Phone 406.994.7205
>Fax 406.994.1774
>
>Montana Water Center
>101 Huffman Building
>Montana State University
>Bozeman, MT 59717-2690
>http://watercenter.montana.edu
| 
