Date:         Tue, 2 Jun 1998 12:27:43 -0300
Reply-To:     Tim Smith <smitht@UNB.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Tim Smith <smitht@UNB.CA>
Subject:      <Syncro> binding when hot/VC
Comments: To: Jim Woods <WYBike@AOL.COM>
Comments: cc: vanagon@vanagon.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Hi Syncronauts, rest of you can press delete while drooling ;)

VC works on heat, from shearing of silicone paste inside normally.  Lockup
is something like 102-106C ideally. Boiling point of water range. It unlocks
by dumping it's heat into the front diff oil, which is then cooled by the
diff hosuing hanging out in the breeze.  Have you checked/flushed/filled the
front diff lately?!!  Are the front driveshaft flanges leaking?  Have you
pressure washed the road crud and built up mud off the front diff/skid
plates also?

4x4's simply need more attention than regular vehicles.  Mine gets hosed off
completely underneath after each mud run, BEFORE the mud gets a chance to
dry. Keeps brakes/cables working, keeps CV boots, U-joints, suspension and
shifter linkage clean. The body can stay covered in mud for all I care, it
doesn't hurt there.

My VC gives wheel scrub in town driving/parking too.  The VC is designed to
provide lockup in less than one wheelspin!! Remember that's 4.86
driveshaft/VC spins.  In other words it's ready to trigger fast in a tight
radius turn, especially once warmed up. Expect some scrubbing, it's working!
Treat it well, it must dump the heat or it can overpressurize and may hurt
the seal or score the plates.  It operates at around 1500PSI when locking,
not a trivial pressure.

Syncro driving tip:  when pre-washing the undersides of your Syncro by
blasting puddles on the way out after a muddy run, do NOT have the front
vent window open and fully reversed. BTDT.

  If it is, and you see the spray of muddy water rising up to sweep in the
window, do NOT try to close it unless you are really quick (hard at speed on
rough road).  This will only ensure that the water is evenly sprayed about
the entire interior, all over the instrument panel and your passenger also.
BTDT2.

bye, Tim