a bad pilot bearing shows up as intermittent dragginess, and sometimes is
hard to get in gear.

here's a test...
put it in first, hold the clutch down, start the engine, then see where van
starts to move as you let out the cutch.
If it starts to move with clutch pedal say two inches off the floor...
and it's 'clean' like not real nebulous, but starts to move van clealy  over
a short distance of pedal travel,
like normal..
that tells you the release system is working ...hydrucalics, clutch disc,
TOB, pressure plate etc.
If it feels very normal that way,
but is still hard to get in gear from 'engine running in neutral, then push
clutch pedal down, but can't get it easily in gear"...
that points very much to pilot bearing.

I consider it the weakest part of the clutch.
Like two pilot bearings per one set of clutch disc and pressure plate.
Almost that bad.
I've seen dust seal-less pilot bearings go out in two years easily, even
less.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kurt Grotz" <kgrotz@CRAFTECH.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2010 7:45 PM
Subject: Re: Clutch Question

Yes try all the options...master, slave, fluid, et el.

However, I had same problem - it was a blown pilot bearing which I am in the
middle of.

Good Luck

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Stephen Cebula
Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2010 8:55 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Clutch Question

Hi all,
I have question about my clutch:
Yesterday, all of a sudden, my van quit shifting. At first it seemed to be
harder to shift into 1st and then it just quit. There we're no warning
signs. It shifts fine when the engine is off, but it stalls when I start it
in gear. The weird thing is that after trying a few times it seems to work
fine for a short time. That makes me wonder if it's a hydraulic problem.
But the pedal is still nice and firm. I didn't see any leaks. Any ideas?
Thanks again,
Steve