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dkoesyncro Samba Member
Joined: December 10, 2006 Posts: 983
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Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2019 8:36 pm Post subject: syncro TDI = trans death? |
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The other day I got to see boxes of transaxle parts and pieces that have been beaten by tdi death blows. I was astonished, I have always been a diesel lover and have a PD waiting to go into my Syncro. This was until I took my trans over to get a look at from a respectable opinion.
I just read through the "Live Work Wander" blog. They had Four rebuilds on the trans in 2 years time. This was what killed the syncro dream for them. Jed from "campervan culture" is killing them also. What do they have in common, long trips, heavy vans, lugging or is it low RPM/high torque. LWW has a PD, 170-190 ft.trq and CC a 1.7 idi maybe 90 ft.trq. The VW diesel makes peak torque below 2000 rpm. The popular gas conversions hit peak torque between 3500-5500. Do the higher revs ward off the death punch, aka diesel pulse? The Subaru 2.5 comes close to matching the tq. numbers of the PD but with about 3000 rps between them? How many 2.5s are eating gearboxes? The 1.8T is close, it hits peak torque around 3500 rpm and can keep climbing, how many have fallen victim here. Assuming all the popular engine conversions are stock or within the recommended tune for a vanagon. All these choices make under 200 hp and 200 tq. They just hit these numbers at different places in the power band.
Please, if you have a secret to the success of mating the TDI to the syncro. I want to know? This is just an out loud rant, I'm hoping to hear from the experts as to why...
Last edited by dkoesyncro on Fri Jan 18, 2019 8:43 am; edited 1 time in total |
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candyman Samba Trout Slayer
Joined: December 20, 2003 Posts: 2694 Location: Missoula MT
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 12:23 am Post subject: Re: syncro trans/TDI victims? |
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From my reading on the numerous syncro trans threads there seems to be one similar factor in most premature failures and thats horsepower. Specifically anything over say 140 HP. Again, no data on this other than what has been expressed in these forums. Of course there are those that get bad rebuilds, or just plain abuse their boxes. But those that pay attention and still have failures relate it to too much HP that these boxes were not designed for. I keep my syncro stock, with stock wheels, 2.1 and drive it with respect and fingers crossed. I have a mr gas rebuild with about 25k on it and all seems well. MY syncro westy is 4900# - 5300#s depending on trips, so pretty dang heavy. So others will chime in here, but HP seems to be a reoccurring theme |
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syncrodoka Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2005 Posts: 12009 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 12:55 am Post subject: Re: syncro trans/TDI victims? |
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Torque, diesels make lots of torque. |
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Waldi Samba Member
Joined: February 28, 2014 Posts: 1752 Location: Germany
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 2:52 am Post subject: Re: syncro trans/TDI victims? |
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syncrodoka wrote: |
Torque, diesels make lots of torque. |
The driver make the torque and not the kind of engine. |
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clift_d Samba Member
Joined: December 02, 2012 Posts: 265 Location: Hackney innit, UK
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 3:03 am Post subject: Re: syncro trans/TDI victims? |
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TDi engines deliver lots of torque, but they also do this in quite sharp 'pulses' that really hammer the gears.
This sharpness comes down to the burn pattern of the fuel, which in a diesel is almost instant as the fuel almost entirely combusts at the moment of injection giving a sharp kick. In a petrol engine the fuel starts burning at the ignition point and the combustion spreads out through the fuel air mixture from there, giving a slightly more gradual burn pattern, and so a less sharp input of torque. _________________ 1988 LHD T25 1.6TD Westfalia Club Joker syncro |
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50356
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 3:17 am Post subject: Re: syncro trans/TDI victims? |
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I would wonder is there isn't a heavier flywheel available for some applications, maybe for use on an industrial or marine engine? |
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clift_d Samba Member
Joined: December 02, 2012 Posts: 265 Location: Hackney innit, UK
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 3:28 am Post subject: Re: syncro trans/TDI victims? |
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There has been a recent tendency for TDi conversions to use a slightly larger dual mass flywheel and clutch setup to deal with the problem:
https://www.brickwerks.co.uk/t3-parts/engine-conve...i-gti.html _________________ 1988 LHD T25 1.6TD Westfalia Club Joker syncro |
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caravelle c Banned
Joined: November 03, 2014 Posts: 153 Location: Bavaria-Germany
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 6:27 am Post subject: Re: syncro trans/TDI victims? |
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The sharp torque curve is destroying the gearboxes! The transmission in Syncros were developed for the 1.9l WBX with 78hp and 130Nm of torque. So you will not find a solution that works properly, as long as it's based on the Syncro gearbox. |
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vwwestyman Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2004 Posts: 5688 Location: Manhattan, Kansas, USA
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 6:40 am Post subject: Re: syncro trans/TDI victims? |
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The 091 gearbox from my '78 Bay was also seemingly killed by my TDI motor!
It was rebuilt in early 2015 and died in November of last year. 4th just stripped out or something.
I'd been emailing Paul G, aka "Gears" and he basically told me the same, that the torque/pulses of the motor killed it.
It is currently sitting in the warehouse at German Transaxle in Bend, for Paul to tear down and inspect. He says he's developed stronger gears for the syncro that are designed to take the abuse from the TDI and they should also fit my 091. I believe at the moment, he is on a ski trip, so I have to wait a few more days to hear the results of the autopsy.
We've also discussed changing out the gear housing to a new one by Weddle that allows for the splash plate that is common in new-built Vanagon boxes (there was no way to add this in 2015 when mine was built) and also a different shaft (don't remember which one) which would allow better oiling.
I'm interested in a dual mass flywheel, but my bellhousing is much deeper than most (from a Mexican baywindow bus with watercooled motor) and so the flywheel has a funky "snout" that pushes it out further from the motor and into the bellhousing. Trying to think of ways to deal with that. _________________ Dave Cook
President, Wild Westerner Club
1978 Champagne Edition Westy, repowered to '97 Jetta TDI
1973 Wild Westerner
My Thing |
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Waldi Samba Member
Joined: February 28, 2014 Posts: 1752 Location: Germany
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 6:48 am Post subject: Re: syncro trans/TDI victims? |
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caravelle c wrote: |
The sharp torque curve is destroying the gearboxes! The transmission in Syncros were developed for the 1.9l WBX with 78hp and 130Nm of torque. So you will not find a solution that works properly, as long as it's based on the Syncro gearbox. |
There are countless vans running Syncro/2wd boxes on TDIs without problems. Including myself with 2. |
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vwwestyman Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2004 Posts: 5688 Location: Manhattan, Kansas, USA
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 6:52 am Post subject: Re: syncro trans/TDI victims? |
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Waldi wrote: |
caravelle c wrote: |
The sharp torque curve is destroying the gearboxes! The transmission in Syncros were developed for the 1.9l WBX with 78hp and 130Nm of torque. So you will not find a solution that works properly, as long as it's based on the Syncro gearbox. |
There are countless vans running Syncro/2wd boxes on TDIs without problems. Including myself with 2. |
For those of us who have fallen victim, please share the secret to your success! _________________ Dave Cook
President, Wild Westerner Club
1978 Champagne Edition Westy, repowered to '97 Jetta TDI
1973 Wild Westerner
My Thing |
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dobryan Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006 Posts: 16510 Location: Brookeville, MD
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 6:53 am Post subject: Re: syncro trans/TDI victims? |
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Waldi wrote: |
caravelle c wrote: |
The sharp torque curve is destroying the gearboxes! The transmission in Syncros were developed for the 1.9l WBX with 78hp and 130Nm of torque. So you will not find a solution that works properly, as long as it's based on the Syncro gearbox. |
There are countless vans running Syncro/2wd boxes on TDIs without problems. Including myself with 2. |
I agree that the driver's foot has a lot to say on how much power/torque is delivered to the transmission. A larger engine just makes it easy to abuse the transmission. _________________ Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD
"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson
MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646
Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371
The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794 |
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vwwestyman Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2004 Posts: 5688 Location: Manhattan, Kansas, USA
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 7:05 am Post subject: Re: syncro trans/TDI victims? |
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dobryan wrote: |
Waldi wrote: |
caravelle c wrote: |
The sharp torque curve is destroying the gearboxes! The transmission in Syncros were developed for the 1.9l WBX with 78hp and 130Nm of torque. So you will not find a solution that works properly, as long as it's based on the Syncro gearbox. |
There are countless vans running Syncro/2wd boxes on TDIs without problems. Including myself with 2. |
I agree that the driver's foot has a lot to say on how much power/torque is delivered to the transmission. A larger engine just makes it easy to abuse the transmission. |
I generally agree with this statement.
However, I was aware that my transmission was a weak link and for the most part kept my foot out of it because of this. I suppose I would be lying if I said that I never got into it, but I really didn't very much.
Paul told me that he felt that the fact that mine lasted as long as it did was an testament to that fact.
On the other hand, I've also observed that there are a lot of conversion threads and they don't all talk about roached gearboxes after a couple years. I'd been trying to decide if the person just never drives the Van/Bus, or got lucky, or decided to not admit by posting that the thing died! _________________ Dave Cook
President, Wild Westerner Club
1978 Champagne Edition Westy, repowered to '97 Jetta TDI
1973 Wild Westerner
My Thing |
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danfromsyr Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004 Posts: 15146 Location: Syracuse, NY
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 7:21 am Post subject: Re: syncro trans/TDI victims? |
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how many TDI swaps just leave them at stock HP and don't tweak the swap with additional HP mods?
here is my analogy for a TDI swap in a vanagon..
BIG MOTOR
small mechanical connection to the road.
how long do you think the crank, chain or bearings will last..
Link
_________________
Abscate wrote: |
These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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dobryan Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006 Posts: 16510 Location: Brookeville, MD
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elizer Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2016 Posts: 1471 Location: Northern Virginia
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 8:07 am Post subject: Re: syncro trans/TDI victims? |
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Multiman MV has put some miles on his fas tdi/2wd. I think he did have to swap out a diff clutch or flywheel can't remember
My fas swap should be wrapping up in a couple weeks. The transaxle was rebuilt by gta with every single product that Paul (Gears) provides and will have a weddle oil cooler on it.
When I get some real miles on it I will be sure to drop by this thread if anything positive or negative happens.
There have been a lot of discussion on decouplers. At the end of it I still can't determine if it helps or not. But on long highway stretches will decoupling with a tdi help reduce stress on the gearbox? |
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?Waldo? Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2006 Posts: 9752 Location: Where?
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 8:08 am Post subject: Re: syncro trans/TDI victims? |
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clift_d wrote: |
This sharpness comes down to the burn pattern of the fuel, which in a diesel is almost instant as the fuel almost entirely combusts at the moment of injection giving a sharp kick. In a petrol engine the fuel starts burning at the ignition point and the combustion spreads out through the fuel air mixture from there, giving a slightly more gradual burn pattern, and so a less sharp input of torque. |
Diesels certainly have sharp power pulses, but that description of the way diesel is injected and the way it burns is not at all correct. For high fuel operation, the injection event lasts all of the degrees of crank rotation where the diesel actually has time to burn. |
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Zeitgeist 13 Samba Member
Joined: March 05, 2009 Posts: 12115 Location: Port Manteau
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 8:32 am Post subject: Re: syncro trans/TDI victims? |
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If these dastardly diesel engines are so hard on trannies, it seems that the trans in other models would be prematurely dying as well. This site is literally the only place I've ever encountered this purported phenomena. _________________ Casey--
'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik? |
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clift_d Samba Member
Joined: December 02, 2012 Posts: 265 Location: Hackney innit, UK
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 8:34 am Post subject: Re: syncro trans/TDI victims? |
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?Waldo? wrote: |
clift_d wrote: |
This sharpness comes down to the burn pattern of the fuel, which in a diesel is almost instant as the fuel almost entirely combusts at the moment of injection giving a sharp kick. In a petrol engine the fuel starts burning at the ignition point and the combustion spreads out through the fuel air mixture from there, giving a slightly more gradual burn pattern, and so a less sharp input of torque. |
Diesels certainly have sharp power pulses, but that description of the way diesel is injected and the way it burns is not at all correct. For high fuel operation, the injection event lasts all of the degrees of crank rotation where the diesel actually has time to burn. |
I'm happy to be corrected. _________________ 1988 LHD T25 1.6TD Westfalia Club Joker syncro |
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elizer Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2016 Posts: 1471 Location: Northern Virginia
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 8:43 am Post subject: Re: syncro trans/TDI victims? |
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Zeitgeist 13 wrote: |
If these dastardly diesel engines are so hard on trannies, it seems that the trans in other models would be prematurely dying as well. This site is literally the only place I've ever encountered this purported phenomena. |
FEAR MONGERING
I just dropped coin on a conversion ... now I am terrified.
FS: 91 syncro westy 3 knob with rebuilT everything 150k OBO.
In the other thread regarding liveworkwander didnt a lot of people poke holes in their build and weight that likely caused the demise of their transaxle? |
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