Transaxle locked up

[crofty]

I was warming up my bus last week in the driveway and when I came out it had stalled. Not unusual it was a cold morning so I hopped in and turned the key- whole bus lurched like it was in gear. Bus was in neutral but the motor still wouldn't turn. I was able to start it if I engaged the clutch.

So, I pulled the motor and checked the couplings. couplings are fine .

I cant turn the input shaft in the bellhousing. In any gear.

Any ideas?
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[mdege]

I am afraid this sounds like a bearing of the input shaft froze up.

Most likely it is PN 113 309 123 A

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- Michael

1965 21F: Restoration of a former '65 firetruck
1963 Typ3 Notchback project
1988 Multivan Magnum 112i
1984 Standard: My son wanted a bug for his first car

[hazetguy]

i don't think Sean has any busses with crashbox/splitcase transmissions, but i could be wrong?

anyway Sean, if it's in gear (also presuming it is parked with the e-brake on), and you try to turn the input shaft, i don't think it would turn because it is in gear and you're fighting against the braking force and trying to push the bus forward at the same time.

you mentioned that you "cant turn the input shaft in the bellhousing. In any gear." are you able to turn the inupt shaft when the trans is in neutral?

i'd start by putting it up on jackstands, releasing the e-brake, then trying to turn the input shaft and/or the wheels while both in gear and in neutral, then report back.
if that doesn't yield any results or confirms it being locked up, drain the gear oil and see if any chunks come out.

have you noticed any noises at start-up, squealing like a bearing isn't getting oil for a few seconds? if so, then, as mentioned, the front mainshaft bearing could be a possible issue.
any weird shifting issues, clunks, grinding sounds, other trans noises or problems recently?
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[crofty]

[Lind]

does it shift through the gears? I have had a transmission stuck in two gears at the same time, but that certainly didn't happen on its own, it happened when a shift went wrong with sloppy tolerances inside the nose cone.
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[Erik G]

Once I did a brake job, put the vw back on the ground and it did this exact thing. Spider gears. They had already busted and it was "convenient" that it let me know while already in the garage...
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[crofty]

[crofty]

[Busted-bolt]

Besides the input and counter shaft bearings that transmission has four needle bearings inside the four gears that always are spinning when engine is running in neutral clutch released. Most have steel cages between the needle bearings ,but the newer ones have plastic and when they are run dry the plastic melts the needles go sideways and lock the gear to the shaft. Usualy its the fourth gear because it spins the fastest in neutral.
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I do all my own work,body,engine and transmission.

[turkis-deluxe]

Sorry Sean sounds like your tranny is coming out for rebuild.

[crofty]

[Bulli Klinik]

Slightly off topic, but isn't this virtually the same scenario which destroys motors and transaxles when flat towing which some claim is impossible to occur?

And this happened while parked.

Sorry for your loss.
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I've never met a Bus I didn't like.
Mike K
Bulli Klinik
Colorado Springs