Thanks, Edward. I have seen exploded diagrams of automatic transmissions
and am firmly convinced that there is no chance that I will /ever/ learn
how they work -- in this lifetime, at least.

--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
84 Westphalia: "Mellow Yellow (The Electrical Banana)"
KG6RCR

Edward Maglott wrote:

> The 2nd gear brake band is like a big Omega (like the symbol for
> ohms.)  It's a band that fits around a spinning drum in the
> transmission.  The 2 little "feet" of the Omega are like this: One
> foot is
> up against that adjusting bolt you are turning.  The other side is
> connected to a hydraulic piston.  When those 2 feet get closer
> together, it
> clamps the band down on the drum and makes it stop turning.  (This
> changes
> the gear ratio via the magic planetary gear system.)  So when you adjust
> the bolt inward, it causes the band to squeeze the drum sooner as the
> piston (on the other side) actuates.  The band is metal with a friction
> lining like brake or clutch material.  I guess the idea of the adjustment
> is that this material may wear and affect the engagement of the band.
>
> The whole complicated tighten/loosen/tighten routine...  I guess it is
> supposed to get the band fully seated as a reference or starting point
> for
> the adjustment.
>
> Edward
>
> At 06:33 PM 9/23/2004, you wrote:
>
>> The nice folk at www.vanagonparts.com have a useful online article about
>> servicing the Vanagon AT.
>>
>> http://www.vanagonparts.com/at_service.html
>>
>> I'd like to know more about the whys and wherefores of the second brake
>> band adjustment procedure. Simply put, after loosening the locknut, you
>> tighten the adjuster screw to 89 inch pounds, then loosen it, then
>> retighten it to 44 inch pounds, then back it out 2-1/2 turns. Then
>> secure it in that position using the locknut.
>>
>> If anyone can explain what's going on when we do this, I'd like to
>> hear it.
>>
>> --
>> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
>> 71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
>> 84 Westphalia: "Mellow Yellow (The Electrical Banana)"
>> KG6RCR
>
>