Das Volks Vintage Volkswagen Gruppe

ObnoxiousBlue wrote:Next year we out that beast up on your trailer, and decorate it like a float with fake snow, snowmen, and seagulls. Lol

Fixed for you.

Maybe a couple of my Real Estate signs?? Lol!

Took the day to continue work on the house. I took the bus to grab some pizza for lunch, and she was running great. But on the way back, I couldnt grab anything expect 3rd or 4th. Milked it home in 3rd. Later when I put her away for the night i did some investigation. While it's running, no 1 or 2 and hard to grab 3 and 4. But when it's not running, all gears are easy. I think it's a stretched clutch cable. I'll adjust the cable tom am and see if that fixes it for now.

How are the linkage bushings?

I'd imagine they are original and shot. If adjusting the clutch doesn't help I'll move the bushings up higher on the priority list.

Tried to adjust the clutch but the wing nut was rusted on there pretty good. Looks like PO also had an issue bc one wing nut was busted off the nut. So cut the cable and replaced with a new one. I adjusted it on the aggressive side as I wanted to make sure that the clutch was fully engaging. I drove it to get lunch yesterday, and the clutch was slippy as expected ( over tightened nut). Disappointed that the gear selection was still very hard and bitch to find. Before I closed up shop, I loosened the nut to hopefully fix the slip.... we'll see if there is any changes on the gear finding.

So as Im reading up on it, I think they say that if you can find the gears with the motor off, its not a shift rod issue, rather a clutch issue ( maybe pilot bearing). Need to read up on it, and do some more diagnoses. If you have an idea... pls lemme know

Raj, if you're comparing the shifting in the bus to that of your beetle or thing, you are bound to be disappointed.
Buses are notoriously sloppy shifters - don't get me wrong, the gears should be in predictable places and you should be able to find the gear...
But, remember the throw on a bus is two times longer than on your thing and that compounds the loss of sensation when shifting.
You may be happier with a more rigid cage and bushing on the nose of the trans. The rubber tends to absorb alot of "slack" when you shift and in some ways makes you "over compensate" because it cushions the feeling of shifting.
Are your other shift rod bushings decent? The major ones are the one immediately under the front shifter and the nose of the trans but there are more along the shift rod that look like badminton shuttlecocks.

Good point. Dont think Im expecting a new euro sports car shifting sensation. More so, Im looking for the same or close to same, shifter performance with the engine off or on. ( i just want to find the gears, which right now only happens with some colorful non G rated language)

As I said to someone recently, I have no idea of the condition on anything on it unless I replaced it. So, so far we have one good brake line, a clutch cable and P&C's. lol
Its prob all shot other then that.
What Im trying to figure out now is, clutch issue or shift rod issue or other?

I would check out the bushings.

I would also reset the shifter plate. I'm sure it is out of adjustment.

So I hopped in it this am before work. The shifter moves smoothly and gear selection is like butter with the engine off. We are going to look at lights tonite, so we can take the bus locally. Lemme see if adjusting the clutch the other helped it.

Took it grocery shopping this weekend, clutch was slipping like a mofo. And still real tough to find 1st and 2nd. Im going with ; 'needs a clutch'. Shes in line for the next opening in the garage.

Finally getting back to my cars.

Bus is next for a muffler and clutch.

Any recommendations on a paint for the muffler before install? I have never had any great luck with any hi temp paint, but if anyone feels differently or has used something good, lemme know!

POR 20

http://www.por15.com/POR-20_p_52.html

I'll give a whirl. SK carries the line locally.

I've tried many i gave up painting the muffler, vht or rustoleum bbq have been the best for me.. still only last a season.

ceramic coated is the way to go.
Just my opinion .

BusBq Bill wrote:I've tried many i gave up painting the muffler, vht or rustoleum bbq have been the best for me.. still only last a season.

ceramic coated is the way to go.
Just my opinion .

Me too, but for $25 bucks, I'll give a shot. Years ago I sanded a brand new header down on my baja and painted it her the instructions. ( forget the name... I think I still have the can) Even followed the instructions that started to get the header hot and cold a few times and reapply. Didnt even last one year......

I've had decent luck with the VHT. I followed the instructions for curing and generally it has done good. I usually respray it once or twice a season just because I don't like when the muffler looks gray and faded. Probably why it has held up so far.

So got a few moments Late Sat night to yank the motor and swap the clutch disc. The old disc def was warn, but, honestly, I have seen and driven on with no issues, much worse. As far as thickness, it looked very close to the new one. Oh well, swapped it out anyway. Didnt get to drive it too much on Sat, and had to adjust the clutch a few times Sun during the inital test so something much have changed. I was able to at lease hit all 5 gears... but its def not like butter.

I'll check the coupling, shifter, guides etc as recommended next.

Sunday, logan and I swapped the mufflers. Oh well, it was a great day out and my buddy had a great time wrenching on the old girl.

fail.
muffler is for the smaller 1200cc 40hp

Been fighting with the idle in this for some time, so I tried a rebuilt carb off a new to me vendor. After a few snags, Im happy with this.






Been putting some light miles on it. Mostly grocery shopping. Went to pick dinner etc.



Still having some shifter issues. Ordered the full linkage bushing kit, so I'll do that as time permits. Currently, my issue it
a) if I tighten he clutch cable, shifts good, but clutch slips under throttle
b) If I loosen it, good grip on the clutch disc, but tough to get into 1st/ 2nd / rev. Clanks/ grinds on the way in.

Going to try to find that sweet spot and see where that gets me.

has the flywheel been cut/resurfaced to many times,ive had those kind of problems on other cars with the flywheel being out of spec

elrockk wrote:has the flywheel been cut/resurfaced to many times,ive had those kind of problems on other cars with the flywheel being out of spec

Good point and never even thought of that. As you know, these cars switch hands many a times over the years. The PO did ' rebuild' the engine at some point. Considering it condition of the heads that came off this motor.... id say the flywheel could be an issue. Let me see how see is as is.... if not, I have a new flywheel at home for the next time the motor comes out.

Raj wrote: tough to get into 1st/ 2nd / rev. Clanks/ grinds on the way in.

Going to try to find that sweet spot and see where that gets me.

sure sounds like bushings (including the hockey stick bushing)

put the bus on the lift and see if the rear wheels spin while the bus is in gear with clutch pedal depressed..if they spin while in the air you will know the clutch is grabbing. Since it shifts fine with the engine off i would think its a clutch related issue, If the two flywheel surfaces were not machined equally you may have an issue as well .. also check for a bent clutch fork.

thanks

BusBq Bill wrote: Since it shifts fine with the engine off i would think its a clutch related issue,

agreed 100%

BusBq Bill wrote:put the bus on the lift and see if the rear wheels spin while the bus is in gear with clutch pedal depressed..if they spin while in the air you will know the clutch is grabbing.

When in gear, and clutch pedal depressed in, I feel a slight creeping in the direction i have it in gear. So its def ' grabbing'. Hence why I loosened the clutch nut. But then I got some slippage with the pedal all the way out. Im hoping to find that sweet spot, but wondering if something else could be the issues; ie wrong arm on clutch fork, pilot bearing, etc.

BusBq Bill wrote: If the two flywheel surfaces were not machined equally you may have an issue as well

Im leaning towards a new flywheel and pressure plate to see if that corrects it.