the gear was solid Scott.

Daryl told be that that gear and bearing can also be pounded by
compression starting in G or reverse. I can't imagine why anyone would
use those gears, but I suppose it happens.

The Right Stuff sealant is expensive, and has a short working time,
but I'm sold on it now :)

alistair

On 1-Jul-11, at 12:21 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:

> fwiw,
> the two silicone sealants that I have found that work very well are...
>
> one, black silicone from a Toyota Dealership..
> the stuff they use to install a toyota waterpump onto the bare block
> of their V-6 engines.
> no o-ring, not gasket,
> just this very high quality black silicone.
> it's about $ 15 to 18 a squeaze tube..
> but that will seal 30 water pumps or whatever.
>
> it's perfect for coolant, engine oil, and trans oil.
> they make a red one for ATF sealing.
> if the surfaces are clean and dry...
> it will seal for sure.
>
> the other one is The Right Stuff.
> comes in either an aerosol or grease gun type tube.
> Works just as well at the toyata stuff.
>
> if I was King ..
> all blue RTV would be outlawed.
> and gray ..
> gray does not even begin to seal and work like high quality black
> silicone sealant does.
>
> last one of these syncro covers I had off..
> wiggling on that large gear there..
> I could tell it was kinda loose on it's shaft and I think needle
> roller bearings.
> indicating wear in the trans. And it has a  lot of miles on it, and
> a 3.0 Tribecca subaru engine  -  we're thinking it's getting due for
> a rebuild.
>
> ( did you wiggle on yours ?
> on 'everything' that turns or moves ..
> any time it is exposed, or like say alternator/water pump belt is
> off...*always* turn, wiggle, feel, for roughness, wear, looseness
> etc. )
>
> In other words, always test and inspect at every opportunity that
> presents itself.
> It's silly to chnage an accessory drive belt, for example,  and not
> test by feel the things it drives.  Could save all kinds of grief,
> and takes seconds.
>
> glad ya got 'er fixed !
>
> Scott
> www.turbovans.com
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alistair Bell" <albell@SHAW.CA>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Friday, July 01, 2011 9:56 AM
> Subject: transmission, small leak fixed
>
>
>> I've documented my adventures in fixing a small leak in my
>> transmission on my syncro. It started with a simple oil change and
>> ended with an indictment of my lack of observation skills. I've
>> posted
>> it in the hope that it might serve to warn others :)
>>
>> starts with transmission oil change:
>> http://shufti.wordpress.com/2011/06/24/vanagon-syncro-transmission-oil-change-with-complications/
>>
>> and ends with the leaked stopped:
>> http://shufti.wordpress.com/2011/07/01/vanagon-syncro-transmission-oil-change-with-complications-solved/
>>
>> Big thanks to Daryl for his advice, and a shout out to the makers of
>> "The Right Stuff" sealant.
>>
>> alistair
>