re
Anyhow..... Even though it shifts OK, my concern is that if I let it
go too far, it might damage something that renders the transmission
useless as a core for rebuild.

yup........or 'absolutely' .
it's far better that you deal with it now, rather than later. The longer you
wait, the more it could cost, or as you say, not even be useful as a core.

Pursuing a good used one now would be useful too,  and even if that one
isn't super good, you could keep the van operational while send in your
current trans  for inspection/rebuilding.

Not the main purpose of my post, and I think you have a DK - an 81
air-cooled vanagon 4 speed,    I happen to have one .........that might be
good.
A clip or something came out of place in the shift cover on the nose  of it
.......affecting shifting.
and I have another trans to get that part from - so this one could be a good
used one.
I haven't found time to do the fairly minor repair and try it out in a van
.......but I would sell this DK I have I suppose.
  if interested..........you know what to do.

happy days n' stay cozy !~
Scott
www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "neil n" <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2009 12:06 PM
Subject: Re: Tranny noise: 1st and 2nd. (Short AUDIO Clip)

> On Tue, Dec 22, 2009 at 10:19 AM, Rob <becida@comcast.net> wrote:
>> On the fuzz pict it looks like it's all fuzz, fuzz is normal, clean it
>> more
>> often and you have less. Chunks or other pieces you can identify (tooth
>> or
>> bearing) are problems.
>
>
>
>
> Thanks everyone.
>
> Nope. No chunks. Just what is shown.
>
> As for "clucking" (thanks Angus for clearing that up   ;)   maybe it's
> more of a whirring sound. When clutch engaged while coasting in 1st,
> it spins up the part(s) that cause the whirring noise.
>
> Anyhow..... Even though it shifts OK, my concern is that if I let it
> go too far, it might damage something that renders the transmission
> useless as a core for rebuild.
>
> Just not sure if/when that would happen, so it's all a gamble for now.
>
> Neil.
>
> --
> Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"
>
> http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>
> http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines