Good call, Karl.  But I think I put a caveat in there about the refill plug somewhere.

"Then, remove the refill plug, (also a 17 mm hex) just above where the shift linkage attaches to the tranny (you may
want to make sure you can get this one off before you drain the tranny!)"

I can only hope that no one would begin following these directions without reading them all the way through first.

But I ought to add a caveat to all of my postings that I am a newbie mechanic with limited experience.

Just trying to help.

Warren Lail
88 Westy "Billy Bones"

----- Original Message -----
From: Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@worldnet.att.net>
Date: Thursday, December 9, 2004 9:45 pm
Subject: RE: refilling tranny fluid

> Sounds like a lot of extra work for little gain, unless you're
> planningon replacing the gear oil anyway.  The tranny is to be
> filled to within
> 5/8" of the fill hole's lower lip.  This can easily be checked by
> usingan allen-type wrench as a dipstick.
>
> However, the unpardonable sin you're committed here is to tell someone
> to remove the drain plug first.  Always be absolutely certain that you
> can remove the fill plug before messing around with the drain plug.
> If
> the fill plug happens to be seized, the only way to refill the tranny
> will be to remove said tranny!
>
> Karl
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf Of
> > Warren Lail
> > Sent: Thursday, December 09, 2004 7:27 PM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Re: refilling tranny fluid
> >
> > To be absolutely sure you have enough tranny oil, I suggest that you
> drain the
> > tranny by removing the plug (17mm hex)
> > near the engine.  Let it drain thoroughly and then replace the plug.
> Then, remove
> > the refill plug, also a 17 mm hex)
> > just above where the shift linkage attaches to the tranny (you may
> want to make
> > sure you can get this one off before
> > you drain the tranny!).  Then go to O'Reilly's or some other
> FLAPS and
> get yourself
> > a small pump made just for this
> > job (about $5).  If you have an 091 tranny, pour exactly 3.2
> quarts of
> gear oil into a
> > one gallon jug, attach the hand pump,
> > and stick the hose into the fill hole.  Pump away.  If you have an
> 091/1, I think you
> > will need about 3.7 quarts.  Check
> > Bentley to be sure.
> >
> > Ole Bill Bones is going to get a second newly rebuilt tranny put
> backin 'hisself
> > tomorrow, but since it is already out
> > of the bus, it is way easier to fill the tranny before you
> install it,
> and this is exactly
> > what I intend to do.
> >
> > Warren Lail
> > 88 Westy "Billy Bones"
> >
> > "The voices stopped at once, all but Dr. Livesey's;  he went on as
> before speaking
> > clear and kind and drawing briskly
> > at his pipe between every word or two.  The captain glared at him
> fora while,
> > flapped his hand again, glared still harder,
> > and at last broke out with a villainous, low oath, 'Silence, there,
> between decks!'"
>
>