4. The official factory test is well documented in the archives, but basically, the test is to ....

  Derek,,,, I think you will remember from the discussions that your description below is NOT the official factory test... It is my understanding the official factory test is done on a dynometer or some such machine that put the rear wheels on rollers. I do agree that the following test is usefull... but it is not the last word  or the 'official factory test' ... it is a simulation of the factory test that was develoved by those on the list... how accurate it is no one knows...

  Bill

  put a two by four in front of the front wheels (the factory leaves out the two by four but in testing list members have found that even the factory VCs are stiff enough to require the 2x4 to hold the vehicle back) and then jack the rear of the vehicle up in the air with a rolling jack under the car and then very slowly and carefully let the clutch out in first or low gear. After a couple of tries you will find that you can let the clutch out with the engine running and the VC will allow enough slop to let the wheels stay still at one end of the vehicle without climbing over the two by four while the engine turns the wheels at the other end of the vehicle. If you cannot pass this test, then you should consider buying a viscous coupling immediately in order to avoid rapidly destroying your transmission. 

  More Background Stuff on VCs: 

  http://www.vanagon.com/syncros/technica/vc-expert-interview/index.html

  http://gerry.vanagon.com/cgi-bin/wa.exe?S1=vanagon 

  and search on these parameters: 

  Search For > viscous
  The author's address is or contains > drew@interport.net
  Since > 1999

  There is an excellent article by Steve on how to replace the VC at: 

  http://www.concentric.net/~Sxs/Links.shtml and click on Replacing the VC (photos) 

  For that matter, visit Steve's entire site at www.syncro.org.
    
  Later this week I will try to email a notice about a breakthrough in getting half-price factory wheelwell flares direct from Germany. 
  ________________________________________________________
  Derek Drew                              New York, NY & Washington, DC
  derekdrew@rcn.com                          
  '90 Syncro Westfalia... 
  ...seen off-road at http://www.tiu.net/~des/vw/drew/index.html

          Also seen at: 
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                       http://4wd.sofcom.com/VW/Campers/Campers.html
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