Will

My 84 Westy has had that same shudder for years and I had a new
clutch/pilot bearing and resurfaced flywheel done only about 35K mi.
ago (although it was in 1996). It's sort of annoying, but has not
gotten worse. I wonder if the motor/trany mounts might have something
to do with the shuddering. I noticed that my 90 Syncro mounts are
really stiff, but my 84 Vanagon has a lot more wiggle when I try to
move the motor back and forth. Think about it. When you let out the
clutch, torque is applied to the drive train and the engine wants to
twist. If slop in the mounts allows too much twist, the mounts can act
like a rubber band and spring back which could set up an oscillating
shudder until the clutch is fully engaged. My 2 cents: check into the
mounts before spending a lot of $$ on a new clutch, etc.

Keith O
84 Westy "Brownie" Solar Charged Camper
90 Westy Syncro (No name yet for the pastel white box)

On Aug 2, 2005, at 10:55 AM, Wil Haslup wrote:

> Mike Collum wrote:
>> Hi Wil,
>>
>> I'd say it's clutch time ... and while you're there you should replace
>> the engine seal and pilot bearing along with having the flywheel
>> resurfaced.  Of course you'll replace the throwout bearing and you
>> should either true up the release fork or replace it along with
>> checking/replacing its bushings.  Replacing the input shaft seal in
>> the
>> transmission is another must do as far as I'm concerned.
>>
>> While it's all out ... replacing the starter bushing is a very good
>> idea, too.
>>
>> Mike
>> Houlton, Maine
>
> Thanks for the many responses both on and off list.
>
> I expected as much.  I usually do most of the work on my Vanagon but
> I'm
> going to have to have this done.  What's the typical price tag.
>
> At the moment I only have the shudder starting from a stop in first.
> When shifting at speed into 2nd, 3rd, or 4th there is none and I can't
> say I've noticed it in reverse.  Does this mean I've got some time or
> is
> that wishful thinking?
>
>
> --
>
> Wil
>
>
> -- http://www.charmfx.com/
>
> "In action a great heart is the chief qualification. In work, a great
> head."
> -- Arthur Schopenhauer
>
>