Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1998 16:51:47 EDT
Reply-To: Jwilli941@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Todd Hill <Jwilli941@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: syncro trans gear engagement
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Michael Sullivan wrote:
<< I have the same deal -- suddenly hard to get
into first gear, shifts fine everywhere else. Should
I continue to use the vehicle until it "goes" or
should I get it repaired soon? How long can this
condition last until it dies? Another 1000mi?
Another 10,000mi? Another 50,000mi?>>
VW realized that there was a problem with the GL5
petroleum based gear oil causing a hard shift. From
what I was told and read from the factory when I worked
at the dealer was that there were some sulphur compounds
in GL5 and higher gear oils that could be corrosive to
the brass syncros and cause premature wear/failure.
Their suggested course of action was two fold if a
customer came in the shop complaining of this-
normally around 60K+ miles or so. First off we would
drain the petro based oil and install the GL4 rated G50
VW synthetic gear oil and have the customer drive
the Van for a week or so. If that did not cure the problem
then we would tear down the trans for a rebuild due to
excessive wear. (customer pay-of course!). At that time
we would install an updated syncro ring on all forward
gears which was moly coated. Before not all the rings
were and if I remember right some of the early transaxles
even had a steel ring for 2nd or 3rd? Also, the clutch hub
for 3rd/4th gear was updated to the new style to help stop
cracking due to stress. On rare occasions there would
be stress cracks on the 1st/2nd hub as well. And we
would update the shift fork for 1st/2nd to the welded pin
type vs. the earlier press in pin. If you look at your
Bentleys you'll see that pin goes into the case right under
the spring loaded shift rod and allows the 'fork' to pivot
to engage either 1st or 2nd. The press-in units tended
to stretch and shear over time which meant no 1st or
2nd. The new parts that VW put into inventory seem
to take care of these problem areas. At least I haven't
had a failure of a updated part in my Vanagon rebuilds
yet.
Since it is 1st that is difficult to engage the above
mentioned pin maybe beginning to stretch and cause
problems. The last waterboxer trans I did the customer
stated that it became more and more difficult to engage
1st/ 2nd and then on day would not go into those gears
at all. They didn't have any problems with 3rd or 4th but
when I disassembled the trans I noticed that that hub
was cracked all the way 'round!
W/O starting another 'whats the best gear oil for my
transaxle' debate I would suggest giving the synthetic
gear oil a try. I realize that the G50 VW oil is expensive-
around $20+ a quart so if you elect not to use that then
I have had very good success with Redline MTL or MT-90.
Whatever you choose to use make sure that it is GL4
rated and not the others. If that does not due the trick
then start saving your money for the upcoming rebuild.
Todd Hill
VolksWerks Transaxles
Olympia, WA
