Sounds like a worn or breaking clutch release fork. Get ready to pull that
transmission!

Karl M

----- Original Message -----
From: Anthony L. Mourkas <frankenstein@telplus.net>
To: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>; Syncro List
<Syncro@onelist.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2000 1:29 PM
Subject: [Syncro] Clutch sticking

> From: "Anthony L. Mourkas" <frankenstein@telplus.net>
>
> The clutch on my 87 Syncro has never had as smooth an action as that of
> my 84 Westy.  I would compare the feeling to a tight heater control cable
> or a mountain bike brake cable that has sand grit in it, always worked,
> but with a rough action.
>
> A few days back things took a turn for the worse, the pedal had a
> definite rough or tight spot about halfway through it's range of travel.
> Two nights ago it started sticking halfway up on the return from fully
> depressed, I had to pry it up with the toe of my boot to get the pedal to
> release fully.  Before I got home the problem cleared up to where the
> pedal would return to rest, albeit with the rough spot about halfway
> through the range of travel.  Last night on my travel to and from the
> YMCA it happened again and this time the sticking was worse requiring
> more effort to pry the pedal fully up to rest.
>
> While sticking halfway up the clutch is partially engaged, producing
> quite a bit of slippage especially at anything other than a very light
> throttle, and prying up the pedal did cause the clutch to fully engage
> sometimes causing some interesting lurches as it did so. I might also
> mention that I noticed a bit of squeaking coming from the pedal linkage
> or master cylinder after I got home.  Haven't checked the fluid level
> yet, have not noticed any leaks.