[Vwdiesel] Slipping Clutch and Crazy Idea

[James Hansen]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com [mailto:vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com]
> On Behalf Of Dave Cook
> Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 6:58 PM
> To: Audi-VW-Diesels Group; VW Diesel Group
> Subject: [Vwdiesel] Slipping Clutch and Crazy Idea
> 
> So the clutch in my Cabriolet is slipping very badly.  I have a new
> clutch in a box, and have been weighing my options as far as installing
> the TDI motor into the Cabriolet instead of the bus.  If I do this
> swap, I would like to do it all at once.
> 
> What I don't have for at least a couple weeks is time.

Get used to it, it just keeps gets worse, eventually stretches out to a year
at a time you have no time...
Lol.
Go for it.
Then chip the tdi, and smoke the clutch.

> 
> Just how crazy is the idea of emptying a can or two of brake cleaner
> into the bellhousing with the clutch pedal pressed (so the disc isn't
> contacting anything) and engine idling, hoping to clean off the oil
> that is presumably causing it to slip?

On older (60's) caterpillars, the protocol to wash the steering clutches
(for slippage) was to put 5 gal of clean solvent into each steering clutch
compartment and run the cat back and forth a bit, then drain.  You were
NEVER EVER to touch the clutch levers while doing this, for fear of washing
junk into the clutch between the mating parts; then for sure you would have
to take it apart and install new discs.  This was for when you had oil on
the clutch, and wanted to try to get them to not slip. You then left the
covers off to air dry.
I would not use brake cleaner.  Too volatile.  Not enough volume at once.
Clean solvent would be just fine, and quite frankly, I would just duplicate
the cat procedure.  I still don't think it will work, usually tiny little
automotive clutches that are oily will slip slip slip, then GRAB when the
oil gets chased away by heat, or just grab and not engage smoothly, shudder
and chatter on engagement. Slippage under application of power is indicative
of a clutch failing from too thin a disc from wear, or worn out/failed
springs.
Besides, it's hard to keep the stuff in there long enough to wash much.  The
little tin cover on the bottom would leak pretty fast...

> What are the odds of it working, or at least improving the drive-
> ability of the car?  I can't think of much that it could damage, seems
> the worst-case scenario is that I waste a can or two of brake cleaner
> and absolute worst is the clutch is rendered completely unusable. 

Worst case scenario.  LOL.  You have no imagination Dave. I have mental
images of a burning car, oil pouring from a trashed rear main seal as you
cruise down the highway, gradually losing oil until the rods seize to the
crank... pieces of clutch blowing through the bell housing, taking the rad
out, that sort of thing....
You're such an optimist!

-pessimist james