Hi,
re
"The oil seal was also fun.  In the process one of the shims - the one with
the square center - got destroyed. Maybe it was already as there was no
felt washer nor o ring.   Question is - do I need that shim?  "

are you talking about both the rear main seal and end-play adjusting shims,
AND clutch pilot bearing dust seal in one paragraph here ?   Seems so.

just commenting on the  felt pilot bearing dust
seal........................here should be one. I like to soak a new one in
oil a little first.
and the metal ring that retains it, that's pressed into the flywheel - gotta
have that part  there,
and they are often missing, and it is not a part you can buy that I have
ever found, though one could make one perhaps.

Scott
www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kurt Grotz" <kgrotz@CRAFTECH.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2010 1:21 PM
Subject: Clutch - revisited - Shim question

> This is a work of love.  First thing - and for all those that are not
> clear - the pilot bearing is on the engine side of the flywheel.  You HAVE
> to flywheel off to replace it.  In my case I had a bad bearing and half of
> it moved to the front side of the fly wheel which gave the appearance that
> it sat there.  Which is why the new bearing was no where close to making
> it in that hole.  After getting the flywheel off....I cannont understand
> how or why you would not do both when replacing a clutch.
>
> Big problem was getting the destroyed pilot bearing out.  There was
> nothing to grab on to, as it was just the outer shell.  The seat is a
> little worse for wear but I was able to clean and smooth to acceptable (I
> hope) levels.  It took almost three hours of careful digging to get that
> puppy out.  New one pressed in fine.
>
> The oil seal was also fun.  In the process one of the shims - the one with
> the square center - got destroyed. Maybe it was already as there was no
> felt washer nor o ring.   Question is - do I need that shim?  There are
> still three others.  Can't seem to find it on Bus Depot site.
>
> Man - what a great fathers day gift that would have been....completing
> this project.  Oh well there is always next weekend - and I did clean up
> some rust and odds and ends like new CV boots.
>
> Thanks for all shim input.