Date: Sun, 22 Mar 1998 15:52:16 -0700
Reply-To: eric solomonson <eric_solomonson@EMAIL.MSN.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: eric solomonson <eric_solomonson@EMAIL.MSN.COM>
Subject: Re: Clutch Chatter >> Tom, Dan, EMZ, Gary
At the risk of appearing ignorant of mechanical things and totally gullible,
I will relate my experiences with chattering clutches:
I have replaced the clutch in my 1984 Wesfalia three times (current odometer
reading is 230,000KM).
The OEM clutch suffered from serious chatter at about 180,000 km, but the
second one, installed by an independent shop was as smooth as silk. The
flywheel was resurfaced at the time of installation. The third clutch was
installed by a Volkswagen dealer, about 40,0000 km later, due to a main seal
leak that had contaminated the clutch surface (although caused no
driveability problems, and I think actually enhanced it). The transmission
and engine mounts were also replaced. The third clutch suffered serious
chatter problems.
I had read about the Sachs clutch on the list, and returned my van to the
dealer, to have the problem rectified. The Service Manager assured me that
Volkswagen Canada does not use Sachs clutches, and showed me their inventory
to prove it. I can't remember the maker, but it wasn't Sachs.
The Service Manager was positive that the problem was somewhere else.
Inspection of the engine revealed a hairline crack on the underside of the
intake hose elbow that connects to the airfilter. There are two other lines
that connect here (I don't know what they are). Once replaced, the chatter
disappeared, and coincidentally, so did the various shades of white and blue
smoke exhaust that used to occur when the van was cold started.
Driveability improved substantially through all speeds. The theory, as I
recall, was that air leak was causing the engine to lose torque , and
especially to perform poorly at low speed.
So for what its worth, that is my experience
Eric S.
1984 Wesfalia
-----Original Message-----
From: Frank LaHorgue <lahorgue@IX.NETCOM.COM>
To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM <Vanagon@VANAGON.COM>
Date: Sunday, March 22, 1998 12:21 PM
Subject: Re: Clutch Chatter >> Tom, Dan, EMZ, Gary
>On Sunday, March 22, 1998 3:07 PM, Tom Young
>[SMTP:young@sherlock.SIMS.Berkeley.EDU] wrote:
>> Frank:
>>
>> Same problems here. I'm not sure of the origin of my clutch, but it's
>> Sachs with maybe only 15,000 miles on it. Replacing it again is on my
>> list of "summer projects."
>>
>>
>>
>I appreciate all your comments -- basically, we have followed all your
>suggestions. I have replaced engine and tranny mounts recently. Likewise
>
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