Although not a common problem (like leaking heads), broken flex plates are
not uncommon on the Vanagon.  I have personally seen 5 or so over the last
10 years and have sold more than 5 used flex plates to DIY'ers.

Cheers, 

Jeff

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Zoran Mladen
Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2014 8:59 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Weird problem, broken flex plate in 85 Vanagon

Hi Ken,

I have rarely heard of flex plates breaking.� So I think it is safe to say
this is not a common problem.� My guess is that something is not aligned
well.� The first thing I would do is put a dial indicator on the flex pate
to check it if is running true.� If not, being unbalanced will certainly
cause this failure.� If the plate is running true on the crankshaft, my�
suspicion would shift to the torque convertor.� If that is not running
true...once you bolt it to the flex plate, it will cause strain on the flex
plate causing it to fail.� I would dial indicate the TC as well...

Z

On Wednesday, February 19, 2014 7:05 PM, Stuart MacMillan
<stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
  
I've experienced a couple of failures over the years but not on a Vanagon.
Flex plates flex carrying that heavy torque converter, and that will
ultimately lead to failure.� Some fail sooner than others.

KEP had cracking problems with the welds on some of their early Subaru
conversion plates, and my son-in-law's Alfa also failed at about 150k.� That
thing was a three point spoke affair and, incredibly, it still powered the
car when completely fractured, but made an awful noise at Idle and at shut
down!� Sad end to that story--he was in a hurry installing the TC after
replacing the plate, and missed one of the three input splines.� That took
out the tranny pump instantly and he had no gears when he started it up.
Compounding that, after a $4000 tranny rebuild he bent a valve replacing the
water pump and donated the car to our public television station.� I only let
him work under my supervision now!

Stuart

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
kenneth wilford (Van-Again)
Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2014 3:14 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Weird problem, broken flex plate in 85 Vanagon

I am near the end of mechanically going over a customer's 85 Westy.� It made
a lot of noise and ran poorly when we brought it in.� Needed a new exhaust
system which helped quiet things down, however after that was fixed I became
aware of a loud tapping sound that was coming from the bellhousing area.
After doing some research, I guessed that it was the flex plate (automatic
transmission van) that was broken.� It would make this noise only at idle.
Once you revved it up, the noise would go away.� I got a good used flex
plate from a list member (thanks Zoran) and we pulled the transmission
today.� Sure enough the flex plate was cracked in an almost complete circle
where the flat plate is indented before it gets to the area where the rivets
are.� If we had let it leave the shop it would not have lasted very long.
After we got the old plate out, I was surprised to find that it has a VW
parts sticker on the back (from the 80s or 90s).� In other words it wasn't
the original flex plate but a replacement one!

I have never had a flex plate go bad on me before.� Does anyone know why
this replacement plate would go bad?� I mean it lasted for a long time, but
the original one must of gotten damaged or went bad back in the day too so I
am wondering what would cause this type of failure?� If anyone has any ideas
or experience please chime in.

--
Thanks,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com