Date:         Fri, 6 Nov 2009 14:58:45 -0900
Reply-To:     Will Taygan <lists@ALASKABIODIESEL.ORG>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Will Taygan <lists@ALASKABIODIESEL.ORG>
Subject:      Drove my tranny dry - how much transmission life left?
In-Reply-To:  <1257359218.10026.15.camel@mirror>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

Didn't get any response a few days ago, so this is an updated/extended
repost.  I've been searching the archives and poring over wikipedia, but
am still looking for opinions. :)

1982 1.6NA diesel Westy 4-speed with MT-90 in the tranny.

Key points:

1. swishing sounds from the tranny in neutral when clutch is let up.  No
sounds when pressed in.  I notice a little drag on engine when the
sounds occur.  Assume throwout bearing good.  Assume input shaft bearing
going out? - maybe just 3/4 bearings?

2. coasting in 3rd and 4th also has a similar significant swishing
sound.  Noticeable but not overpowering.  Sound goes away (or at least
lessens below engine noise) when accelerating/driving.  Assume more bad
bearings on 3rd/4th???

3. coasting in 1st and 2nd, no sounds loud enough to hear over the
diesel.  This is why I'm guessing it's 3/4 bearings.

4. shifts up okay, shifting down requires double clutching.  BUT it
shifts up AND down when warmed up - still shifts slow, but hey!  Assume
synchronizers bad, but 3/4 slider is still good??

5. No high-pitched whine, so R&P (that's part of the differential,
right?) is maybe okay?

6. I'm still trying to figure out how all that stuff inside the tranny
works :)

7. Body is pretty beat up.  I'd rather drive it till it dies, then fix
but don't want to be totally stranded.  If the problem is 3/4, could I
still get home in 2nd?

Thanks!

Will in Alaska.

> 1982 Diesel Westfalia, stock everything (except for the CD player).
>
> Bought an 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.
>