Vanagon clutch question

[Dharma_Bum]

I am new to Vanagons. I have always owned manual transmission vehicles and as a youth even drove large vehicles like dump trucks and delivery vans. I consider myself pretty good on a clutch but I just can’t get used to the clutch on this Vanagon.

When the vehicle it cold the engine seems to shudder when the clutch is released. This will be noticeable for the first few minutes of driving. It seems to go away after the engine gets warm.

I don’t know if my driving skills are slipping or whether it is a mechanical or adjustment issue with the clutch….

Any thoughts?

[pocvw]

It's a hydraulic clutch, so you can't adjust it. I let my Vanagon warm up for at least 5 minutes (10 during the cold winter months) and don't seem to have any problems.
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Life is a garden - dig it!

1980 VW Westfalia

[mlf]

i drove a stick truck for years as a mechanic. it is just getting use to a high releasing clutch . where we are use to a low releasing clutch from a truck.

[Dharma_Bum]

pocvw / mlf - thanks for the replies.

mlf - would you explain the difference between a high releasing clutch and a low releasing clutch?

Thanks.

[CF]

your regular style clutch on your mack would grab about 1/2 way off the floor .while your vw grabs almost 3/4 off the the floor.

[wythac]

Your pressure plate is in need of resurfacing. When you remove it to do your clutch, you will find little blue scuff marks on the pressure plate. A resurfaced plate adds about 80-100 bucks to a clutch job, but is worth it...MAKE SURE YOU GET THE RIGHT PLATE. There is more than one for Vanagons.