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BigNick0
Samba Member
Joined: September 14, 2007
Posts: 112
Location: Asheville, NC
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 Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 12:59 pm Post subject: Mission Report: 1150 miles roundtrip |
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My van survived our ~1200 trip to Cincinnati and back to Asheville, NC over the Thanksgiving weekend. Amazingly, the van pulled VERY strong up the mountain inclines along I-75 through Tennessee. It handled them at speed (70mph @4K RPM) without issue. I maintained about 29 PSI of OP the whole way, dipping to about 26 PSI under the heavy load on the hills. Average MPG was 20.2 for two tank fulls (odometer divided by gas pump gallons).
One small snag... about half way to Cincinnati (after about 200 miles) I noticed some bearing noise with the clutch pedal depressed while at a gas station. After arriving in Cincinnati the noise was notably louder. I searched the SAMBA and I believe I am hearing my pilot bearing. I managed to make the trip back to Asheville, and it's definitely gotten even worse. I'll be pulling the transmission out and doing all the maintenance that I can handle myself (clutch, bearings, seals) in the next few weeks.
Can someone explain something to me, though: Why would the bearing get worse after long extended intervals with no shifting? I was under the impression that this bearing isn't under load unless you are operating the clutch pedal. I guess it spins continuously though; am I right?
Thanks.
-Nick |
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jackbombay
Samba Member
Joined: October 19, 2007
Posts: 2725
Location: Portland Oregon
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59 dormi
Samba Member
Joined: September 06, 2006
Posts: 621
Location: Ontario Canada
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| Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 12:38 am Post subject: |
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throw out bearing indeed
_________________
1959 Dormobile
Mini R53 bob the tomato
Range Rover L322 |
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morymob
Samba Member
Joined: November 09, 2007
Posts: 4683
Location: east-tn
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| Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 6:03 am Post subject: |
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| Once a bearing starts to get noisy it continues to get worse with use, each pedal use. |
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ftp2leta
Samba Member
Joined: October 11, 2004
Posts: 3271
Location: Montreal
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| Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 7:11 am Post subject: Re: Mission Report: 1150 miles roundtrip |
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| BigNick0 wrote: |
Can someone explain something to me, though: Why would the bearing get worse after long extended intervals with no shifting? I was under the impression that this bearing isn't under load unless you are operating the clutch pedal. I guess it spins continuously though; am I right?
Thanks.
-Nick |
Yeap, very bad design. The old Bus's had a "return" spring on the tranny/arm that kept minimum tension to no tension at all.
The vanagon hydro clutch system is design so the slave cylinder is always pushing on the arm-lever so the bearing is always sniping with some considerable amount of pressure.
I have seen my share of worned out bearing way before the clutch was due.
I also have seen some horror story in the bell housing due to exploded bearing. The slave cylinder as a spring inside so it maintain tension on the bearing / pressure plate. I cut one open so i know. But no one in the clutch industry agree with such a design. I ask VW Canada and i had no good explanation from them.
On my van i have installed a return spring (not so easy). The clutch pedal is a little bit harder but i don't care....
My brother in law Jason is the biggest westy traveller i know. I have maintain his van for year:
http://www.benplace.com/jason.htm
From stock engine to Subi, 2 transmission (the first one exploded - that bearing - bell housing). Last year we had to remove the trany again to block a leaking bore hole behind the flywheel, the clutch had only about 20k miles. I was amaze to see tha the bearing was seize!!!!
A month ago we converted the van to
subi, he also has a AA Transaxle trany. Believe it or not, the bearing was again very very noisy.
So new master, new slave, new trany, new engine and still.... a noisy bearing.
He does between 20-25k miles per year. From Mexico to northern Alberta, Quebec, North Carolina....
So the conclusion is to change that bearing anytime you need to go in there.
Ben
_________________
Working with rust, grease, dirt and dust is a sad truth.
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FI part for sale: http://www.benplace.com/parts_sale1.htm
My site: http://www.benplace.com/vw2.htm
Subi conversion: http://www.benplace.com/vanaru_eng.htm
Youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/ftp2leta |
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MrPolak
Samba Member
Joined: June 20, 2004
Posts: 1381
Location: AG ,atnaltA
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| Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 6:57 am Post subject: |
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| Congrats! I just took my '84 Westy on a 1900 mile round-trip from GA to TX. I had 5 people, some of them children, plus luggage inside for about 750lb load. I cruised at a comfortable 70 and averaged 18mpg. This was my first long trip with the DJ-code 112hp WBX motor. The difference between a 1.9 and DJ WBX is unbelievable. |
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