=
; A few weeks ago I asked about an '83 auto tranny that was slipping in=
third gear. Most responses I received were that the clutch plates =
were most
likely fried. After some prodding from Listee Dennis Haynes encour=
aging me
to try my hand at rebuilding this tranny, I decided to have a go at it. =
I
got it out and up on the bench and started disassembly, slowly to get th=
e
idea of where every thing goes and what it does. The first/reverse=
clutch
pack, Bentley pg. 38.7, was first out and all the plates looked fine. &n=
bsp;Then
upon removing the forward clutch assembly, Bentley pg. 38.17, I saw the
problem. The large circlip that holds the clutch pack in the direct/reve=
rse
clutch assembly is out of its place, lying loose between the rear of the=
forward clutch assembly and the front of the direct/reverse clutch assem=
bly.
The first steel plate is discoloured, burnt blue, but all the rest of th=
e
steel plates and fibre plates were fine as are the ones in the forward c=
lutch
assembly. Seems that for some reason the circlip holding the direc=
t/reverse
clutch pack in its drum came out. Why ? That's the big quest=
ion now. Seems
to me I could just put everything back in its proper position and the tr=
anny
would be fine. The circlip seems to have plenty of tension. =
I guess I
should replace it and the discoloured steel plate just for security reas=
ons.
But I sure would like to know what caused the circlip to come out.  =
;Will it
happen again or was this just a Vanagon fluke ? Anyone out there w=
ith some
expert advice on this issue ? It sure would be appreciated rite ab=
out now.
Cheers
Frank Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
BusFusion a =
VW Camper camping event in Almonte, ON, June 2002
'87 Westy & Lionel Trains
Member: Vanagon List, LiMBO, IWCCC & Capital City VW Club
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
STEBRO/Vanagon Stain=
less Steel Mufflers
Frank Condelli &a=
mp; Associates or http://frankcondelli.com