clutch or related issues

[JamesT25]

Hello all, got my bus out but couldn't get too far! The easiest way I can describe my problem is as follows

Set off lovely all working well all gears OK but then when I had pushed hard on the brake couldn't pick a gear again.

Give it half an hour and you can select what you want.

No loss of hydraulic fluid shows as full in the reservoir.

In am at a little bit of a loss.

Can anyone help or has anyone had similar problems?

Thanks in advance

Also going to put my corrado mirror.mod up soon but it moving is better than wing mirrors at the moment!

[Plasticman]

what does your clutch pedal feel like when this happens
mm

[JamesT25]

Feels OK to be honest just doesn't seem to ever engage the clutch like I said no change in fluid level etc its so weird!

[Ian Hulley]

When was the last time you changed your brake/clutch fluid ? If the 'hard braking' boiled the fluid it would lose it's properties until it cooled down again ..... clutching at straws I know. (if you'll pardon the pun )

Ian

[JamesT25]

clutch fluid was replaced about 5 years ago from my recollection but i had literaly driven the bus 30 metres and then pushed hard on the brake it wouldn't be what I call stomping on it

i have no obvious leaks from the master cylinder but dont really know where to go from here. I bought a new slave cylinder so would replacing both the master and slave be a worthwhile exercise?

thanks for all you ideas so far keep em coming!!!

Cheers

James

[Plasticman]

i think its a mechanical issue related to the pedal box, fluid wouldnt be the issue in so far as the resevoir only supplies fluids to the pump,ie brake and clutch masters
but the pedals are on a common box so will go dig a spare unit out the shed and have a look as im sure this is where your problem lies
mm

[Ian Hulley]

Fluid should be changed every 2 years from memory.

[Plasticman]

maybe but that wont be the issue here imho
mm

[California Dreamin]

From a pure mechanical viewpoint, it is hard to see where one operation could have any effect on the other.
Sure, both master cylinders share the same reservoir but you have indicated that the fluid level is fine so the take off for the clutch would have been unaffected by the heavy braking.
Ian's point about boiling fluid isn't really valid as 'boiling' only occurs close to the heat source (callipers/wheel cylinders) and so doesn't effect the reservoir fluid. Sure, you need to change brake fluid every two years but again I can't see contamination playing a part in the fault as described.

As Metalmick8y has indicated the ONLY common denominator is the pedal box OR the chance that the two faults are completely unrelated and this was purely coincidental.

To that end it begs a question....is the fault repeatable?

Martin

[Plasticman]

ok heres some picks of a late box

distant diagnosis is not easy
remove clock cowl and resevoir cap,
i would look to feel the pedal and sense its effect with engine off, then press and hold brake and repeat, .is there a difference in perceived feel at any time.and is there anything happening in the resevoir
start engine and repeat.
as the clutch pedal is direct linked to the master cyl' then as long as the pedal stay up when brake applied then it would be un likly to be this area, could there be a blockage in the fluid line between resevoir and M cyl'
as if memory serves then as you depress clutch piston displaces fluid providing its there to be displaced
so given it only happens after a hasrd press of the brake then on reflection this is an area i would look at.
more picks for interest



mm

[JamesT25]

thanks for the pics they help explain a lot of what is where and makes more sense than me being upside down on my back in the footwell.

I am leaning more towards muck or blockage in the system as my bus has been sandblasted and when i got it the slave cylinder was shot at

would it be possible to replace all the lines front to back? is the pipework still available from VW or would i need to improvise something?

i will be able to get it up on a ramp one evening this week and plan to see how far the slave moves when it is OK and how far after i brake heavily

thanks for all the info so far and I will be back with more info in case this happens to anyone else or we all manage to learn something!!!!!

[JamesT25]

just thought I would close this thread off with a report on what it was. my mechanic found a worn pinion bearing which holds the shaft from the gearbox. this was waggling around just enough to stop gears from engaging or clutch from disengaging (not quite sure)

new bearing and new clutch while he was in there and all is good again.

trip down to bugjam and back 350miles round trip with no problems and a new feature this year of freshly fitted corrado mirrors meant my mirrors didnt fold in at 70 again which was amazing!!!

thanks for all you advice and hopefully my experience can help someone else

[Plasticman]

ta for the update
mm

[champy2k]

just thought I would close this thread off with a report on what it was. my mechanic found a worn pinion bearing which holds the shaft from the gearbox. this was waggling around just enough to stop gears from engaging or clutch from disengaging (not quite sure)

new bearing and new clutch while he was in there and all is good again.

trip down to bugjam and back 350miles round trip with no problems and a new feature this year of freshly fitted corrado mirrors meant my mirrors didnt fold in at 70 again which was amazing!!!

thanks for all you advice and hopefully my experience can help someone else

how did you end up fitting the mirrors?