Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:59:46 -0700
Reply-To: VW Doka <vw.doka@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: VW Doka <vw.doka@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: clutch time
In-Reply-To: <16e401c88f89$63a81330$6401a8c0@DJZL7KF1>
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I'm with Ben on this one and I'd bet 99% of professional mechanics would
agree that having a lift is better than not.
Additionally, every method Scott listed below is easier to do with a lift.
You want it a couple of feet of the ground... raise the lift a couple of
feet of the ground. You want to use a floor jack for the tranny... lower
the van and use the floor jack.
Jack stands suck! They always seem to get in the way. For most, they are a
necessity, but definitely, not as efficient as a lift.
Cheers,
Jeff
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Scott Daniel - Shazam
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 2:36 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: clutch time
Hi,
Isn't that funny. I don't consider it arguing at all, and I think 'lively
debate' is wonderful and healthy.
And - I'll tell you all the things 'wrong' with working on a lift.
One, your arms get very tired holding them above your head while standing.
Some professionals that do this 25 years, 25 hours a weak, suffer from
conditions similar to carpal tunnel and /or numbness. I find about 8 time
easier to lay on my back on a creeper, or even a piece of cardboard, and
reach up to things that are just a couple of feet above me.
Two - every time you need undo something 'up there' ..and granted there
won't be much of that in a vanagon - but then, you have to either lower the
car back down, or get out a step ladder to undo that thing up there you
forgot.
Three - you need a special transmission jack,a stall one, to deal with the
trans 6 feet up in the air. When the bottom of the van is only about 2 feet
from the ground it is so much easier to deal with - you can almost
'drop-fudge' it the ground in that short distance. A floor jack is just
fine even for lowering it.
I've had a shop with a lift. I had one for 50 dollars a month rent once,
with a working hydraulic lift. I have no need for a lift at all.
You look at how race cars are built - which since I do a lot of conversion
and 'building' work, I tend to see it as building up a chassis sometimes -
cars like that start out getting built on a table even, and typically a race
car is supported a couple feet off the ground - that way you can work on the
sides, the top, and the bottom. Plus it's safer overall to not have it way
up in the air. Plus you don't need that much ceiling height above the
vehicle.
I raise the whole van equally front and rear. It's more natural to have it
sitting level. One 'mistake' I see back yard type techs make is not
providing good access to what they are trying to work on.
You need a flat level smooth hard floor, and a roof over it at least, and
4 solid jack stands. Truck size ones, not little dinky car ones. And the
ractething type too- not the pin in a hole type..nice big solid mutha, and
TWO floor jacks.
Then you can do anything pretty much. Lower engines and transmissions and
so forth. How did I ever get by without a cherry picker for 4 decades !!? -
I use overhead lifting from supported beams, for front engine cars, or even
an old fashioned tripod made from trees- though that's much more an outdoor
back year thing.
but 4 very decent floor stands and ideally two floor jacks - works just
great. Safer and more convenient overall.
For people that do a LOT of transmission pulling, I can understand a lift,
and the last time I used one - same deal, had to climb up a step ladder and
reach in over the fender to undo something from the top.
And holding my arms above my head a lot while standing - no thank you.
'taint healthy.
Scott
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Benny boy
Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 7:59 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: clutch time
Hi Brendan, i don't want to argue with Scott but if you don't have a lift,
and i guess you don'T, it's not that fun and easy to do that on the ground!
It is possible to do so but by raising the front! Then, lowering the trany
and pull this one foward.
Buy the SASCH kit, nothing else. Believe me, i have tried many.
Now, i agrre with Scott, you DON'T want a lighter flywheel on a stock Boxer
engine.
Cheers, Ben
http://www.benplace.com/
On Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:39:47 -0700, Brendan Slevin <totorovan@GMAIL.COM>
wrote:
>I know I should've done it when I had the engine out in September but. . .
>
>I think I may need to replace Totoro's clutch in the next couple months. I
>felt, for the second time in a couple months, the clutch slip after
shifting
>into second on a moderate hill. I am wondering what the best kit is and
>also, can the replacement happen with out removing the engine entirely? Any
>tips are greatly appreciated. Are there lightened flywheels out there for
>the 1.9 engine?
>
>Brendan
>84 GL Totoro
>Bend, OR
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