hi there, i just did this yesterday.. but the tranny was on the workbench.
You can purchase a 17mm allen-wrench with a 3/8" socket on it from FLAPS.
This tool is really small and i can imagine it working in a tight area.

Or you can do what i ended up doing because the local flaps didn't have
the tool- take a 3/4" allen wrnech and grind 0.04" off of each facet. I
then cut the wrench to about 1.3" and put a 17mm socket on it.

Matthew Pollard          "Racing with the wind and flirting with death
Dept. Of Chemistry        So have a cup of coffee and catch your breath"
University of Idaho
www.uidaho.edu/~poll7356

>
> What tool do you use to remove the filler plug? I have the 17MM  by about 2"
> male socket which fits on a 3/8" socket wrench, but it does not fit under the
> floor of the Vanagon, and, hence is unworkable for Vanagon tranny filling. I
> have the old Beetle 17MM wrench, but it, too, does not fit the Vanagon.
>
> In Haynes (page 1.10, illustration 10.2A) there is a picture of what appears to
> be a short 17MM item which seems to be a special tool for VW. I cannot find it
> in any catalogs or at any parts stores.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Tom Hanlon
> Palm Springs, CA
> 84 Westfalia
>
> Jean-Guy Savoie wrote:
>
> > Neal
> >
> > An old mechainc's trick that has helped me a million times, works 9 times
> > out of 10:
> >
> > It seems that the threads will move easier in the direction they were
> > tightened,  so instead of forcing counterclockwise, try turning the bolt /
> > nut / plug / threaded device of your choise, clockwise (tightening), just
> > enough to barely move it, perhaps 1 degree or less. It will usually let out
> > an audible "crack", letting you know whatever rust / crud has loosened it's
> > grip.  Then back it off.
> >
> > I took my tranny plug out this way about a month ago - no problema.
> >
> > JGS
> >
> > 84 1.9L Westfalia
> > Bleu Schtroumpf
> >
> >  >
> >  > > Ok! last weekend I changed the oil in my 84 Westy. I also tried to
> > check
> >  > the
> >  > > tranny oil while I was under her. After scraping about 1/4" of 1984 mud
> >  > off
> >  > > just to find the fill plug, It seems to be frozen solid. At least I
> >  > couldn't
> >  > > budge it. since I don't want to shatter the tranny case with excessive
> >  > > force. The question is: Does anyone have a good safe method of removing
> >  > the
> >  > > fill plug?
> >  > >                                         Neal
> > >
> > > ========================
> > > Shawn Wright
> > > Computer Systems Manager
> > > Shawnigan Lake School
> > > http://www.sls.bc.ca
> > > swright@sls.bc.ca
> > >
>