If you are not changing over to the diesel bell housing, WHY are you
shortening the shaft? AFAIK, the adapter plates for inline 4 cyls add
enough thickness to make up for the longer wbx shaft. Maybe I'm mistaken?

I have shortened several and also swapped in many shorter shafts when
using a gasser tranny with a diesel bell housing since that needs to be
done in such a situation. Lately I just shorten the shafts since this
cuts off the part of the shaft that gets worn in the boxer setup.
Factory short shafts are often worn also so cutting a long one puts a
fresh surface where the pilot bearing rides.

Mark

neil N wrote:
> Thanks Mark.
>
> Good tips. I was hoping I could cut in situ. It'll save a little money
> (gasket/seal) and save some work. I'd rather take that money saved
> from not buying the big gasket and seal and put it in a Dremel setup.
>
> I wondered if the shaft wasn't hard steel.
>
> Neil.
>
> On 3/7/08, Mark Drillock <drillock@earthlink.net> wrote:
>> I cut them in the tranny. I use a heavy duty cutting disc in a Dremel,
>> while someone else turns the shaft. I work a ring cut deeper and deeper
>> as they turn one CV flange and hold the other still with the tranny in
>> gear. The shaft is pretty hard and gets hot so I have a rag soaked with
>> water wrapped around the rest of the shaft and another that I use to
>> periodically cool the tip.
>>
>> After the cut I use an angle grinder to put a bevel on the edge of the
>> tip, again while the shaft is turned.
>>
>> The Dremel blade is an abrasive type with fiber reinforcing.
>>
>> Mark
>>
>>
>>
>> neil N wrote:
>>> Hi all.
>>>
>>> Am getting closer to mounting the Jetta engine so am researching input
>>> shaft stuff.
>>>
>>> Can I cut the input shaft while it's still in the tranny?
>>>
>>> It looks possible, but I don't know if hacksawing away at it is be bad
>>> for parts attached to it. Plus angling (shaping) the end might present
>>> a challenge.
>>>
>>> Thanks!
>>>
>>> Neil.
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia - "Jaco"
>>>
>>> http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
>>> http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>>>
> --
> Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia - "Jaco"
> http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
> http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>