Hello again Volks,

I just returned from a 4200 km trip and had a wonderful time.

Not long after I left, I was told that a sound, "like a hairdrier" was
coming from the engine.  I couldn't hear it driving. About 3000 kms later, I
could hear the transmission whirring or whinning and that has been getting a
louder over the last 1200 kms such that it is now quite noticable.

This is a 4 speed manual 091 transmission in an 84 wasserboxer.

The whirring or whinning seems to start only in 2nd gear, getting
considerably louder in 3rd and still a bit louder in 4th gear.  Seems to
whine more on acceleration and less on deceleration.  It is not speed
dependent (present no matter the speed, while in noisy gear) except pitch
varies, of course, with rpm.  It does go away if coasting in neutral.

While typing this I finally was able to break into the archives search
function and have found quite a few old posts about the diagnosis, but I
still ask the experts: Any ideas?

What seems to be lacking in the archives was advice as to the feasability of
transmission work for the "mechanically gifted", but "specialty tool poor"
Bently owning back yard mechanic.  I am not afraid of a challenge: I once
tore appart a 4 cylinder motorcycle engine , quad carburators and
transmission and very successfully reassembled.  But should I tackle a
Vanagon tranny?

TIA

JGS

84 1.9L Westfalia
Bleu Schtroumpf