Date:         Mon, 1 Jun 1998 10:12:32 -0700
Reply-To:     Malcolm Holser <mholser@ADOBE.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Malcolm Holser <mholser@ADOBE.COM>
Subject:      Re: How can you test a VC on a Syncro
Comments: To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM, sanbyj@TELKOM.CO.ZA

> I am not to sure if this has been discussed before but how can you test
> this thing.
>
Yes, endlessly.

> Yes mine is still working - it scuffs the wheels when you do tight turns
> and it definitely cuts in when of road in loose stuff.
>
That's the only valid test.

> After long rides, the VC is tighter than when you just pull it out in
> the morning.
> Should it get tighter, or is this a sign that it is wearing out? OR,
> does it just stop engaging altogether when it packs up.
>
This is normal, and a good sign of a healthy VC.  The thing works by locking
when it gets hot and there is a pressure increase inside the unit.  It gets
hot due to the shearing of the fluid.  As you drive, it gets warm, so that it
should lock sooner.

> Can you check the fluid inside and/or top it up no when required. What
> do you top it up with(VC fluid). Are there different grades of the
> fluid.....
>
"No user servicable parts inside".  Tim Smith, of New Brunswick, has been
trying to determine if this is really true, and there seem to be a few places
that do some service work, but in general the unit is sealed and not servicable.
The fluid is not widely available, and I'm pretty sure SDP does not even say
what it is.

> Does anyone know any or some of the answers??
>
No.  These are rumors and guesses.  Only God *knows* the answers to anything.

> Cheers
>
> Jimmy Sanby
> Cape Town
> South Africa
> '89 Syncro 15"
>
So are the current buses still available in ZA in Syncro form?

Malcolm