1600 1980 Air cooled gear and clutch issues

[fall-apart-dave]

Well, I'm new here, but not new to 'dubs. Been on VZi for a while, had a couple of Bugs before, but just bought my first T25.

Looked it over, took it for a spin, all in all was happy with it. After parting with the cash, I had problems on the drive home.

First off, when I selected reverse with the engine running, the shook violently which got worse as I let the clutch out, didn't have the bottle to make it move like that. When you start the van in reverse though, it's fine.

Then, on the drive home, the gears were a bit of a pain to find but they were there, all 4 of them. Then it popped out of 4th (coincidence?) and the clutch went real light, doesn't feel like it's disengaging. Couldn't get it back into gear with the engine running. With the engne off, the gears do select (when you can find them) but doesn't feel very positive, gearstick still moves laterally when in "gear". When I try to start the engine with the van in gear, it tries to pull the van foward with the clutch depressed.

Anyone any thoughts? It's a cable clutch and I've adjusted it as far as it will go, still no change.

Thanks

Dave

[fullsunian]

Hi and welcome! Even though you have tried to adjust the clutch cable, are you sure its not broken? I would have somebody work the pedal, as I watch the lever at the gearbox, just to make sure its still moving. Failing that is the cable fraying, stretched and about to snap??...Or it could be a clutch problem, in which case its the box out...
IAN

[kevtherev]

First off, when I selected reverse with the engine running, the shook violently which got worse as I let the clutch out, didn't have the bottle to make it move like that. When you start the van in reverse though, it's fine.

that could be oil contamination on the fly wheel from the crankshaft seal or release bearing perhaps

Then, on the drive home, the gears were a bit of a pain to find but they were there, all 4 of them. Then it popped out of 4th (coincidence?) and the clutch went real light, doesn't feel like it's disengaging. Couldn't get it back into gear with the engine running. With the engne off, the gears do select (when you can find them) but doesn't feel very positive, gearstick still moves laterally when in "gear". When I try to start the engine with the van in gear, it tries to pull the van foward with the clutch depressed.

lots of issues here.
My thoughts are new clutch kit for starters new release bearing and cable if needed. As the clutch is quite obviously not disengaging.
selector shaft bushes needs to be looked at and may be replaced

[ermie571]

$And while box is out, bung a new spigot bearing in?

My 2.1 did this - refusing to go into gear, and stalling not idling. Pulling away when engine running despite being in "neutral". Wouldn't go into gear with the engine running. There was a lovely grinding noise....which was the needle bearing eating itself!

Clutch and pressure plates fine, clutch operating.

puller got the thing out in minutes, replacement less than a tenner.

Just a thought. And while the box is out....


oh - and while its out drain and replace gear box oil.....

Em
xx

[fall-apart-dave]

Thanks for the advice guys. I puleld the engne, and had a LOT of issues...

Missing BOTH mounting studs on the bottom of the engine block, so the engine had pushed away from the gearbox. The engine support bar had a bolt missing either side, and the bolt on the pasenger side had a nut on it that was only half done up. So, unbolted the support bar and the engine dropped to the floor with a crash... Shouldn't there be a gearbox support somewhere here?



This is the engine bay as I received it...



Can anyone spot what's missing from the engine bay..? (It's ok, I spotted that before i bought it and slapped a cone filter on there for the drive home).

And here is the source of all my woes!







New clutch needed, then!

No other issues that I have found though... Yet... Not looked at the gearbox linkage yet mind you, and the engine is now pissing oil out after it all dropped.

Still, once I get a new clutch, and slap it all back together, hopefully it will all come right!

So far on the shopping list:

Crank Case oil seal
Clutch (obviously) - best to get a new pressure plate or the complete kit?
Crankcase mounting studs
New clutch retaining bolts (the ones I took off were a mishmash of random bolts)
Air box (Where the "feck" do I get one of those from???)
Anything else that people can tell is missing from the pictures...

If anyone could tell me what they can see is missing from the pics please do say!

[A KIRK]

Not sure if it will help you at all, but here is a pic of my CT lump to give you some idea, does look like the wrong dizzy you have though and your vac pipes all look like there in the wrong places.

[dugcati]

oooooh check you Mr Kirk with the posh leccy fuel pump upgrade on your infamous Elite recon!

If you get any stick over the CT on here ignore it - they are an engine that is the but of many jokes... if you've had beetles then you'll get on OK with the CT lump (just don't expect any forward motion in large quantities!)

[A KIRK]

That is no longer an Elite recon, it was once but I had to recon it again after only 5000 miles and 14 months lol

[fall-apart-dave]

I've had two Bugs, and am trying to buy back the type 4 lump out of a Porsche 914 I sold a while back for it.

[fall-apart-dave]

Clutch done, just need to replace a couple of exhaust studs, slap the tinware on, replace two damaged wheels studs then it's off for the MOT! Woohoo!

Oh yeah, need to actually test drive it too, of course... Because I had a flat battery last night from having lights on to work in the dark, so couldn't start it to take it for a blast

[dugcati]

jolly good Whilst your under the van it's worth cable tie'ing the heater pods in the open position while the cold weather is around