A short while after installing a new engine and new clutch assembly with new
clutch plate, my van developed a shudder. 3 or 4 months later I had it up on a
rack for oil change and some other stuff, and found the rear of the engine case
and clutch housing wet with oil...not enough to drip, but enough to tell me I
had a weepy rear seal. Geeling around, I discovered the last two case bolts were
not tight. Retorqued those oand checked the others.....and seemingly the seep
has gone away. The chatter has diminished and I attribute that two two
things...1) No more oil is seeping onto the clutch plate, 2) I have changed my
clutch operation method.

Regards the clutch operation, I used to be slow about engaging/disengaging the
clutch, so the clutch plate was not solidly against the flywheel, but now I am
quick to get my foot off that clutch pedal. I has made a big difference. If
there is any oil on the clutchface or flywheel face, the clutch will shudder.

John Rodgers
88GL Driver

l p wrote:

> Moby developed a clutch shudder overnight (actually, on return from the
> service station she was towed to after last trip for fuel system related
> problems--could towing be cause of this?  who knows).  Anyway, next Friday I
> need to leave for river running extravaganza in Utah, 2500 mile round trip.
> I probably won't have time to do any work on the car before then.  My
> question is:  is this a reasonable thing to do, given my newly shuddering
> clutch?
>
> For background, I checked the archives, found that this is a fairly common
> problem for vanagons.  Symptoms are heavy & fairly brief "shudders" that
> seem to come from the rear end heavily and briefly when starting in 1st or
> reverse, especially under load (on hills or quicker getaways) (other drivers
> also noted symptoms in 2nd gear, not me).  Many people have been baffled by
> this problem, and a lot of part$ tend to get thrown at it, with varying
> results.  The definitive cause didn't seem to have been identified, but
> possible causes include oil on clutch plate, problems with the throwout
> bearing and/or cross shaft that supports it (I'm just quoting archives, I've
> never been inside a tranny), flywheel, engine/tranny mounts, a certain brand
> of clutch plates, & other theories like air in hydraulic line, etc.
>
> Anyway, trying to read between the lines, it seemed that people often took
> their time to fix, or just lived with, the problem, making it annoying but
> relatively benign at least in the short term.  If this is true, I think I
> would be inclined to go ahead and risk the drive to Utah.  Anyone that can
> offer advice to the contrary?  TIA.
>
> Lloyd
> Vancouver, Canada
> '84 1.9 Vgon "Moby", slightly broken again, as usual

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