'72 Super - DIY Resurface Flywheel & Pressure Plate..Or Buy New?

[vamram]

[mark tucker]

personaly i like new stuff. Ive seen people/shops serface things like you did and turn them into junk... I also dont trust machine shops that Im not running.. to Properly serface the flywheel... you could send it to mofoco he reworks the oe flywheels and should be doing it right. dont forget a new oring in the flywheel to keep out oil&slipery stuff. dont forget the trans seal too witch may be leeken too, I kinda doubt the starter can sling greese into the clutch. the pilot needs little greese. as for your shaking...kinda doubt it was the clutch unless your talking abolut a chattering issue then it may be clutch along with motor mounts& bowden tube.

[Dwayne1m]

I've had 2 flywheels recut and haven't had a problem. I remember them telling me these flywheels are a 2 step cut so it costs a bit more to do it. I don't remember what they charged me though.

[vamram]

Thanks both for your input. Dwayne what did it cost you to get it resurfaced?
_________________
Eventually, "we are what we pretend to be.’”
Give peace a chance - Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!

'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...waiting it's turn in line behind '74.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!!

[Tim Donahoe]

Victor, I'd just buy a new flywheel (I don't know who makes them) and a Sachs pressure plate. By the time you send it off and pay for return shipping, plus not knowing what you'll get back, I'd rather just bite the bullet and be done with it by buying new.

While you're at it, get the kind of clutch driven disc that has the springs. They're much smoother in my opinion, although some of the Sachs have springs that hang up on the pressure plate. Wolfgang International sells one from China that doesn't cause any issues like this. The brand is, I believe, OE, or something like that, but it's a very nice clutch disc, nonetheless. About $34 dollars.

I just removed my engine to install a new alternator, and while it was out, I figured, yet another flywheel seal was in order--especially since it had been leaking more oil than I like from the bottom of the bell housing.

When I took the clutch apart, I was shocked to see there was grease on the outer edge of my fairly new clutch driven disc. It was just on the outer 1/4 inch, so there was no slipping, etc., so I didn't think there was anything going on, but there was.

I had put a very thin layer of Sta-lube black moly grease in the gland nut bearing, as well as a very thin film on the tube the throw out bearing rides on. The grease had to have come from either of these two sources; and I suspect it was the gland nut, since the throw out-bearing sleeve doesn't spin around.

This time around, I didn't grease the throw out bearing sleeve at all, and I was very, very thrifty with greasing the bearing in the new gland nut I installed.

Speaking of grease, I suppose it's possible some of the grease from your throw out bearing may have leaked out? I don't know if that's possible, but you may as well check it out and get a new German Sachs if necessary.

Expensive advice, I know, but I've found that doing things one at a time, makes for more issues down the line--and more engine pulls.

Tim
_________________
Let's do the Time Warp again!

Richard O'Brien

[modok]

Checking flywheel, put it on the engine and check the runout.

As far as the pressure plate....is the shoe flat? Does it rattle?
Does it have weights or rivets attached and/or holes or marks from being
balanced?
Does it fit in the flywheel snug?
When you bolt it in look at the angle of the diaphragm spring arms, should be near flat across when installed.

[bluebus86]

vibration in the steerin wheel could be from something else, unless you feel it when car is not moving. if the vibration is only when car is not moving, then motor including flywheel issues are likely, so does it vibrate when car moving or not or both?

usually a worn flywheel wont cause vibration but may cause slipping if the cluth one that is out of balance is another matter, ideally the flywheel is balanced with the crank.

the friction disc MUST be centered during assembly of it and the pressure plate to f
ywheel, are you using a centering tool while bolting together the flywheel and clutch, if not that maybe the whole problem, lack of centering will cause unbalace and thus vibration

does depressing clutch pedal effect change in vibration?

no need to polish the surfaces, simply degrease, and sand to remove any glaze, if not rutted or gouged, and within wear limit, Id reuse it.

go easy on tbe grease next time. and be sure to use a centering tool.

good luck, bug on!
_________________
Help Prevent VW Engine Fires, see this link.....Engine safety wire information

Stop introducing dirt into your oil when adjusting valves ... https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=683022

[ashman40]

[modok]

[vamram]

tMan, lots of great info here, w/a mix of replace new, take to a shop and resurface, just deglaze and replace. I'm a little stumped.

Bluebus - i did feel slight vibration in the wheel when idling, but much stronger as soon as i put a load on the engine - driving it basically.

Tim - I already bought a sprung disk here on the samba. The TO looks and feels fine. The current plate has a thin film of grease over pretty much the whole surface, not just the outer edge. There was mild film on the flywheel and pressure plate as well.

Modok - here's the pressure plate before I removed it from the motor, maybe you can point out the items you were asking about - rivets, drillings, etc.

How do I measure run out? I can look this up in the Bentley later, but a quick tip perhaps...? I probably need a dial indicator? I'll check to see if it fits snugly on the flywheel after work today.
_________________
Eventually, "we are what we pretend to be.’”
Give peace a chance - Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!

'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...waiting it's turn in line behind '74.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!!

[Dwayne1m]

[vamram]

For 60 bucks i might as well go new. Bughaus sells one for $64. Unless the one I have is a VW one that's still serviceable and worth preserving.
_________________
Eventually, "we are what we pretend to be.’”
Give peace a chance - Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!

'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...waiting it's turn in line behind '74.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!!

[vamram]

[ashman40]

I found an old thread with the 200mm flywheel specs (courtesy of modok) :
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7451260
_________________
AshMan40
---------------------------
'67 Beetle #1 {project car that never made it to the road }
'75 Beetle 1200LS (RHD Japan model) {junked due to frame rot}
'67 Beetle #2 {2019 project car - Wish me luck!}

[vamram]

Thanks for the link, Ashman. Modok has a lot of good info out there in samba land.

Speaking of Modok - I just checked and the pressure plate sits nice and flat on the flywheel, no high spots at all.

And here's another shot of the flywheel - not sure why there are two big drillings there on the edge or what the two little nipples at the bottom of the picture are for.

The drillings don't go all the way thru. Are they made as part of balancing that's done when it's manufactured?

Is there anyway to tell if this is an original VW factory flywheel? There are no VW or other stamps on it, but it may be worth saving if it is.

Off to the FLAPs to see if I can borrow a dial indicator.
_________________
Eventually, "we are what we pretend to be.’”
Give peace a chance - Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!

'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...waiting it's turn in line behind '74.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!!

[ashman40]

The drilled holes on the outer edge are for balancing the flywheel.

The two prongs are for the later sensor/pickup that was mounted into the flange of the case and connected back to the diagnostic plug in the engine compartment. It allows the diagnostic machine to read each time the flywheel rotated past the pickup and measure the engine rpm.

I don't think those pegs were used on any aftermarket flywheels so you probably have an original VW flywheel. Though there were literally millions made each year so I'm not sure they have any significant value.
_________________
AshMan40
---------------------------
'67 Beetle #1 {project car that never made it to the road }
'75 Beetle 1200LS (RHD Japan model) {junked due to frame rot}
'67 Beetle #2 {2019 project car - Wish me luck!}

[vamram]

Ok, that's good to know. I wasn't thinking of it in terms of resale value, more in terms o quality - maybe I'm better off refinishing this one than buying new. Like getting a VolkzBitz rebuilt solex vs a new empi carb.
_________________
Eventually, "we are what we pretend to be.’”
Give peace a chance - Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!

'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...waiting it's turn in line behind '74.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!!

[Dwayne1m]

One thing to consider before having your flywheel cut is the surface for the rear main seal. If that is questionable you probably should go with a new flywheel.

[vamram]

Here's what it looks like w/out having been wiped down. There are rings on it but it's smooth - I can't feel any ridges w/my fingers or finger nail - and the seal is undamaged. Go or no-go...?

_________________
Eventually, "we are what we pretend to be.’”
Give peace a chance - Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!

'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...waiting it's turn in line behind '74.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!!

[Tim Donahoe]

The area where your flywheel's seal rides is much different than mine. I call that area a "horn" because on mine, it looks sort of like the mouth of a horn. The edges are sloped, while yours appears stick out straight and then flattens to a right angle. Maybe they changed the design on the '74's.

Edit: someone is selling an NOS 200 mm flywheel in the 1968 parts in the Classifieds. It still has cosmoline on it. Not too expensive, either.

Tim
_________________
Let's do the Time Warp again!

Richard O'Brien