My apologies, I didn't make it explicit this is an uncommon problem.
The 010 really is amazing.

On 9/2/16, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Of the automatic transmissions I have repaired I only had a valve body
> problem once. Getting a rebuilt assembly from German Transaxle took care of
> that one.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> C. Abney
> Sent: Friday, September 2, 2016 3:45 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Transmission fluid change - 1991 4 spd
>
> From looking in mine, it's just the parts in the rebuild kit and the pistons
> that need repairs, and the thrust bearings, and even these are only if water
> gets in the AT.  The case looks new as well.  My chassis is at about 135k.
>
> Looking on theSamba, it's evident that the valve body sealing plate suffers
> from the impact of the ball bearing seals slamming into the holes in it.  A
> ridge forms that prevents the smooth entry of the ball into the hole and it
> fails to properly seal its gallery.
>
> This part is NLA, so simple replacement is impossible when it becomes worn.
> Once in a blue moon someone talks about CNC milling a replacement, but I
> don't think it has ever gone beyond talk.
>
> If you don't ever want to mess with that plate, if you want a half a million
> miles or more from your AT, maybe consider reducing the load at the shift
> points?
>
>
> On 8/30/16, Jeff Palmer <jpalmer@mymts.net> wrote:
>> Just out of curiosity I understood that automatics had a longer
>> lifespan, right? I'm at 300k kilometres and functioning normally.
>> Fluid gets changes regularly thanks to the ongoing drip that no gasket
>> ever seems to fix :)
>>
>> Thanks
>> Jeff
>
> -Chuck
> --
> It seems my TO-DO list is a FITO (faster-in-than-out)
>

--
It seems my TO-DO list is a FITO (faster-in-than-out)