Date:         Wed, 18 May 2016 05:25:19 -0400
Reply-To:     Frank Condelli <RAlanen@AOL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Frank Condelli <RAlanen@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: vanagon Digest - 17 May 2016 (#2016-150)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

        John, $1500 to $1800 is the going rate to rebuild these transmissions.  However, your problem my be able to be fixed without removing and rebuilding the tranny.  I had one here some years ago that had the same problem and it got fixed by replacing the O-ring on the piston of the second gear brake band piston, anyways I “think” that’s what it’s called, it’s been a long time since I did it.  On the RH side of the tranny there is a round aluminium cover held in with a big cir-clip, behind that cover is a piston and the O-ring on that piston is worn out.  Not an easy job as the piston has a really heavy duty spring behind it that makes the cover hard to get back on.  Probably hard to get the cover off too if there’s any corrosion around it, but maybe in Alabama it will be OK.  Then you have to be careful to get the pin on the end of the piston lined up with where it goes in the tranny, you can see this from the bottom after removing the pan and valve body.  You can see this piston in ETKA, ILLUSTRATION 46-00, POS 50.  The O-ring is POS 52, there are two other seals POS 45 and 54 that should be replaced also.
 
> On May 18, 2016, at 12:00 AM, Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> wrote:
> 
> The saga continues. My mechanic has run out of ideas. Doesn't know what
> else to do, and being essentially an engine rebuild specialist, suggests I
> get it to a transmission shop and have them check it out. S far all local
> shops but one turned me down. I got everything from "we don't work on VW'S
> of any kind" to " our insurance doesn't cover vanagons". I think basically
> they just don't wan't to do Vanagons. The one exception was AAMCO
> Transmissions of Birmingham. They are a franchise outfit, and said they
> would do it, but for this area I thought the pricing a little high,'  like
> $1500 to $1800.

Cheers,    

Frank Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 VW Westy, '00 Kawasaki 250 Sherpa, "98 Ducati 750 Monster & Lionel Trains (Collection for sale <http://frankcondelli.com/trainsal.htm>)
Frank Condelli & Associates <http://www.frankcondelli.com/> - Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
BusFusion <http://www.busfusion.com/> a VW Camper camping event, Almonte, ON, June 02 ~ 05, 2016