The shifter moving that much in third indicates the gear carrier housing
is shot. The thrust load is actually pushing the input shaft as you
apply power. It is probably doing it in 4th also but it will not be as
noticeable as the overdrive ratio doesn't push as hard. This is a common
problem not noticed by many tranny repair folks. This also explains the
growls.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Warren Lail
Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2005 1:51 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: out comes the tranny (again)

I have a recurring tranny problem.  It seems that no matter what I do, I
have to take it back out more often than I
would like.

I purchased a rebuilt tranny back in November.  The tranny growled going
into second gear, and ocassionally
into 3rd and 4th. So I pulled it out and my tranny guy swapped out the
synchronizers (got the good German
ones this time).  Put  the tranny back in, filled it with Redline MT-90,
have driven it about 4,000 miles since then.
It still growls going into second, sometimes into third, and sometimes
into fourth.

My shifter linkage is new from end to end.  I have adjusted the linkage
via Bently over and over, and have had
some of my buddies help and double-check my adjustments.  My clutch is
relative new (13,000 miles) and
I have bled my clutch slave cylinder.  The clutch appears to be
releasing just fine.

I have noticed that when I shift to third and release the clutch, the
shifter moves to the rear by an inch or so.
There is no movement in any other gear.  My motor mounts are new.  The
tranny mount is not broken or
cracked that I can see.  Is this movement within the tranny itself?  If
so, what is going on here?

Thanks for your help!

Warren Lail
88 Westy "Billy Bones"