Date:         Wed, 4 Nov 2009 09:26:58 -0900
Reply-To:     Will Taygan <lists@ALASKABIODIESEL.ORG>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Will Taygan <lists@ALASKABIODIESEL.ORG>
Subject:      swishing tranny sounds when coasting in 3rd and 4th - DIY fix?
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1982 Diesel Westfalia, stock everything (except for the CD player).

*** I'm worried about the swishing sounds I get when coasting in 3rd and
4th.  I'm assuming bearings?  I can live with the double clutching, I
just don't want to get stuck stuck. I this something where I can pull
some bearings and put it back together for another 50k? ***

(Got too windy so I put the longer background story below:)

Bought a old rustbucket and rebuilt the engine (my first try at that)
last spring, didn't put in the pilot bearing, ugh.

Tranny ran out of fluid on the highway mid-summmer.  I noticed this by
the sharp grinding noises (like gears were stripping noises?).  Down
shifted to 3rd, noises again.  Exited and drove a mile or so in 2nd to
the store.  Bought gear oil, filled it up. Tranny was stuck for a couple
seconds, and then a loud snap - like something breaking (or breaking
loose) and it started driving. and drove home 45 minutes.

Funny, the input shaft(?) seal was still good. Of course the oil slinger
was rattling around.

Had the local machine shop secure the oil slinger with a sleeve, tapped
in a pilot bearing and put it all back together.

It shifts up great, but I have to double clutch down.  It WILL shift
down after driving 30 minutes or so - MT-90 in the gearbox.

*** I'm worried about the swishing sounds I get when coasting in 3rd and
4th.  I'm assuming bearings?  I can live with the double clutching, I
just don't want to get stuck stuck. I this something where I can pull
some bearings and put it back together for another 50k? ***

Thanks,

Will in Alaska.