You're not crazy, that's pretty much what I do, but I have the advantage of
using a lift so I set it on my shoulder when I pull it.

Of course, that only goes for a manual tranny that weighs a little more than
100 lbs., an automatic is too heavy for the shoulder routine.

In is a little tougher, but two guys can lift it back into place a lot
faster than a floor jack.

Cheers,

Jeff

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of brady horrace
Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2008 3:49 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Tranny Jack opinions

I just lay on the ground under the trans and pull it onto me!  I will put a
peice of cardbord between me and the trans  but thats it .  Once all the
weight is on me I then let it slide slowly to the ground, then pull the
trans out from under the van.  I do the same proceedure for putting it back
in, and I just use my legs and arms as the trans jack.
Tell me I'm crazy but its worked for me.
Brady

----- Original Message ----
From: Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2008 6:16:38 PM
Subject: Re: Tranny Jack opinions

A manual vanagon transmission isn't even that heavy or awkward at all.

I just use a floor jack, with the handle pointing toward the front of
 the
van.
A transmission jack is usually too big and awkward anyway.
I had one, used it a time or two, went right back to balancing it
 nicely on
a floor jack.
Works just fine.
It's only a short period of time from when you just start taking it off
 the
engine, until the jack is lowered all the way to the floor with the
 trans on
it.  I have to 'be cool' and 'clever' a little during that period, but
really, it's a piece of cake.  Getting the balance point is the main
 trick,
but that's not hard to do really.
Like you'd have to pay me extra to get me to use a tranny jack.
Scott
www.turbovans.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
 Of
Ben Cichowski
Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2008 8:21 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Tranny Jack opinions

Hi all,

I need to drop the manual transmission out of my '88 Vanagon and wanted
 to
pick up a transmission jack on the cheap (Not my normal course of
 action to
go less expensive on tools).

As I said, I normally, don't skimp on tools. But, in this case, I don't
anticipate using a transmission jack on a regular basis.
So I was wondering if some of the veterans out there would tell me
 whether
they think this one will do the job.
I'm not sure how long I'll need it, so renting one could add up.

Here it is, in all its relatively inexpensive glory:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=39178

Thanks,
Ben

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