Date:         Sat, 31 May 1997 15:01:56 -0400 (EDT)
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Lon Herman <herman.40@osu.edu>
Subject:      Clutch Woes Need Advice

My 81 Westie clutch decided to hang-up yesterday.Heard a big "thunk," which
sounded like the engine moving on loose mounts; the clutch will no longer
fully disengage.
I think there is sufficient travel in the arm of the clutch - when pedal is
depressed, the external clutch lever will move to a horizontal orientation.
No leaks noticeable in any hydraulics, nor is resevoir low at all. Pumping
brake has no effect; it works fine.
I had to limp home in lst gear yesterday, gingerly pulling shift lever into
neutral and turning off engine when I had to stop. Starting involved putting
shifter in lst year, then switching engine on - it would "power up" in lst
gear, but wouldnt move out of 1st gear easily, so I didn't push it. 
Shifter goes into all gears, per usual, when engine is turned off. So I
don't think I have a problem there. Clutch clearly drags when in gear and
attempting to push clutch in while Van was "coasting" down hill with engine
off (only a few yards).
So what might I have on my hands? Do I need to remove the transmission and
start poking around the clutch area? My tools are limited to the usual hand
stuff and a vise - and most of the manuals recommend doing the job from
underneath. Not really an option for 
So what do we think we've got going on here?  BTW, clutch still "clutches"
fine with 

Please feel free to contact me direct E-mail, as I live in digest mode, and
really could use some advice re: what's going on here.