Hi all,

I'll agree with Karl regarding the pilot bearing.  When my pilot bearing
went bad it seems like the clutch was still engaged as I came to a stop with
the clutch pedal in.  Sometimes just hard application of the brakes would
stop the vehicle and it wouldn't stall;  as it got worse it would stall.
The bearing is breaking up and creating drag between the end of the crank
and the input shaft to the tranny.  It a shame a $2 part can cause such
headaches, and work. IMHO

Kerry
'86 syncro 171K
kstanley@cas.org

-----Original Message-----
From: Karl Mullendore [mailto:thewestyman@MINDSPRING.COM]
Sent: Friday, January 28, 2000 1:59 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Clutch diagnosis/opinions please!

Tom,

If the pedal is 'full' with little freeplay, then it sounds most likely to
be the pilot bearing that is going south. If there is a lot of freeplay,
then the problem is in the hydraulic system.

Karl M

----- Original Message -----
From: Carrington, Tom <tcarrington@RELITECH.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, January 28, 2000 1:11 PM
Subject: Clutch diagnosis/opinions please!

> My Crew Cab is having clutch problems. When I press on the clutch, it does
> not totally disengage. If I am stopped at a light, I have to turn off the
> engine to get it back into 1st. There are no visible leaks on either the
> master or slave cylinders, and the fluid level has not dropped at all.
When
> a helper pushes on the clutch pedal, the slave actuates and moves the
lever,
> but I'm not sure how far it has to go for complete disengagement. And I
> can't look at the '82 as an example since the clutch master failed on that
> one last week...probably due to the cold temps we are having. I'm
wondering
> what to do.....
>
> I could try to bleed the system to see if it helps. Although i find it
hard
> to believe that air is in there without a leak or having opened the
system.
>
> I could pull the tranny, and replace the clutch pressure plate, disc, t/o
> bearing and cross shaft (I have all the parts already since I have planned
> on doing the clutch sometime). If that is the concensus, I'll have to park
> the crew until March or April. I'm too busy rennovating my house to stop
and
> do a big project like that...take a look at
> http://www.relitech.com/tomc/house to see what I mean!
>
> Or I could replace both the master and slave cylinders. Only takes an hour
> and costs $100 for the parts. Maybe it will help, maybe not.
>
> Any other ideas?
>
> TomC
> tcarrington@relitech.com
> http://volksweb.relitech.com
> 85 Vanagon Crew Cab
> 82 Westy diesel=>gas conversion
> 65 Notchback