Date: Sun, 25 Nov 2007 00:26:36 -0800
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Have you ever broken a clutch by push starting a vehicle?
In-Reply-To: <8746761.10706311195977890975.JavaMail.root@vms227.mailsrvcs.net>
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The engine would blow up before the clutch disc would blow up from
centrifugal force.
I guestimate that a syncro clutch disc can do 10,000 rpm easily with out
failure from just rotational speed.
You *can* ask the engine and clutch to over rev by engaging too low a gear
at too high a speed.
Try putting your trans in second sometime coasting down a hill at 60 mph,
it'll go in - the syncro's will allow it, but if you let out the clutch, and
the tires have traction, you'll be trying to make the engine and clutch disc
turn the equivalent of 60 in 2nd gear, which is about 9,000 rpm or
something, way over redline. ( ask me how I know this ! )
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
****************************
Sent: Sunday, November 25, 2007 12:05 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Have you ever broken a clutch by push starting a vehicle?
Is this a syncro? If so you blew up the clutch
disc from cerntrifical force... Ask me how I know this...
From: Clint Kolda <clint_kolda@YAHOO.COM>
Date: 2007/11/24 Sat PM 08:36:17 CST
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Have you ever broken a clutch by push starting a vehicle?
Our Thanksgiving campout started great. Thursday's traditional meal cooked
in dutch ovens turned out perfect. The weather was cool but sunny. We had
the entire campground to ourselves. It was awesome.
Friday morning it was about 15 degrees F. It's time like these when you
find out the status of your 5 year old battery. You guessed it. The van
would not start. I placed some charcoal in aluminum foil under the engine
to try to warm it up a bit. Then we decided to push start it. Like a dummy
I had parked on a slight hill so we had to go up before anything was going
to happen. We unloaded as much as we could and my wife and I pushed while
my 10 year old son maneuvered the steering wheel. He really enjoyed his
first time driving. We pushed a few hundred yards across flat land until we
reached a big downhill section. I got in, popped the clutch and we were off
and running.
The van made it the 20 miles home, but it would not go into gear. I
matched the revs and we were able to get by OK. First gear is impossible,
2-3-4 are tough to engage unless the revs are exact. With the clutch
depressed, it sounds like marbles are rolling around in a can. With the
engine off I can get it in any gear. I definitely broke something. I guess
I'll probably park it until spring and put in a clutch kit. Are there any
other things to replace at the same time that I should ask of Santa?
My sons have a good moral to the story. They really thought it was a fun
adventure but they suggest that next time we park downhill.
Clint