At 04:22 PM 6/5/98 -0500, Darrell Boehler wrote:
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Anthony L. Mourkas <frankenstein@TELPLUS.NET>
>To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM <Vanagon@VANAGON.COM>
>Date: Friday, June 05, 1998 12:03 PM
>Subject: Clutch Rattle at Idle
>
>
>>I test drove friend's 1984 van (93k) the other day with a wicked rattle
>>when idling at rest that seemed to be clutch related.  Lo and behold when
>>I drove home in my 1981 van (139k) it exhibited the same noise, although
>>to a much smaller degree.  I had never noticed it before, thought it was
>>just air cooled motor noise.
>>
>>When my van is at rest, idling, in neutral, with the clutch depressed the
>>motor is very smooth and purrs.  If I release the clutch a faint "rattle"
>>is introduced.  This is the same with my friend's van, only the "rattle"
>>is much more pronounced.  This van also has shifting problems when warm.
>>Mine shifts great when warm, a little sluggish first thing.
>>
>>Any idea as to what's going on here?
>>
>-------------------
>Seems to me  you have the noise pinpointed to the transaxle,  and more
>specifically to one or more of the needle bearings of  1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th
>gears. Change them all if you go inside.  Could  possibly be the input
> main shaft)   bearings.
>
>-------------------
How could it be the transaxle if the problem occurs in neutral? More likely
it's associated with the clutch. Throwout bearing maybe?

Mark McCulley