Date:         Wed, 26 Sep 2012 15:29:38 -0500
Reply-To:     mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject:      Re: Vanagon is jerky, Clutch maybe?
Comments: To: Alfred Bagdan <abagdan@SHAW.CA>
In-Reply-To:  <001201cd9c1d$3d722d90$b85688b0$@ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

Alfred, in my experience, clutches usually do not produce jerkiness due to wear except when being engaged.  So, starting off in first gear, let out on the clutch pedal, vehicles jerks due to clutch slipping.  Worn clutch.  Once fully engaged, I have not experienced this slip, though I am sure there is a power loss if the clutch is worn.  But maybe I have never driven a vehicle with the clutch completely worn out, whatever that means.

I have been told by more than one mechanic that a way to check for clutch slip is to park the vehicle with the front bumper against some absolutely immovable object, like a really big, live tree.  Put the vehicle in an intermediate gear, and ease the clutch out while slowly feeding fuel to the engine.  If the clutch is good, the vehicle will stall.  If the clutch is bad, the clutch will spin and the vehicle will not stall.  Have I done it?  No.  Theoretically, it should work.  Others more experienced than I am may have a better take on the matter.

mcneely

---- Alfred Bagdan <abagdan@SHAW.CA> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> My Vanagon has just become very jerky in any gear.  It started this morning
> and seems to get progressively worse. I limped home in third gear, with the
> clutch not fully let out.
> I am assuming it is the clutch, the 85 Vanagon has about 200 000 km on it,
> and the clutch has never been done.
>
> Could it be anything else that could cause this jerky motion?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Alfred
> 85 Vanagon

--
David McNeely