Re: Good place to look . . .

["Fred Munro" <munrof@isys.ca>]

Hi Gisli;

    I've been following this thread and agree with Mike - I think you'll
have to pull the tranny to see what's going on in there. If you continue to
drive with a slipping clutch, you run the risk of overheating and burning
your flywheel friction surface, which then may require resurfacing.
    From what you've said, the most likely problem is an improper pressure
plate (wrong spec, assembled with the wrong springs, missing springs,
damaged), something causing the clutch disc to bind on the transmission
mainshaft splines so that it doesn't properly seat against the flywheel, or
a problem with the clutch release assembly.
    My experience with contaminated clutch plates is that they get
"sticky" - they shudder when engaged and, if badly contaminated, will tend
to stick to the flywheel when disengaged. If your clutch slipped right after
you assembled it, it is unlikely to be contamination from leaks - this
should take some time. It could be contamination from an anti-corrosion
compound, though.

    Good luck, this is a major PITA :o(

HTH

Fred Munro
'94 S4  91k km

----- Original Message -----
From: Gisli Ottarsson <gisli@master.adams.com>
To: Dupree, Jim <dupree@alldata.com>
Cc: <quattro@audifans.com>
Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 1999 6:37 PM
Subject: Re: Good place to look . . .


>
> >>>>> On Wed, 27 Oct 1999 09:02:10 -0700, Jim Dupree said:
>
>   DJ> It is not possible to install the other way (monkeyladds
>   DJ> excepted) the springs will hit the flywheel bolts.
>
> Nice comfirmation and a nice monkeylad shot (I may yet find myself a
> member of this group at which point I will have to take this as a
> personal insult :-)
>
>   DJ> Possible problems I can think of: (no order, some may not even
>   DJ> be possible, just thoughts)
>
> Exactly what the situation calls for, thanks.
>
>   DJ> 1) Incorrect pressure plate, poss.  plate for flat flywheel pair
with
>   DJ>    recessed flywheel, weak or damaged pressure plate, pressure
>   DJ>    plate not seated all the way on/in the flywheel.
>
> This is becoming likelier and likelier, later suggestions
> notwithstanding,
>
>   DJ> 2) Incorrect clutch disc, poss. too thin so pressure plate does
>   DJ>    not apply enough pressure.
>
> Clutch disk was thicker than the one I removed.  Probably not this.
>
>   DJ> 3) Grease or oil on disc/press plate from assembly or from pilot
>   DJ>    bearing, mainshaft seal, flywheel bolts (the holes go through
>   DJ>    the crankshaft) or flywheel seal.
>
> Aha, here is a new candidate.  I replaced the pilot bearing and
> greased it with careless amount of grease.  Some of this may have been
> squeezed out and pushed out to disk surface via centrifugal forces.
>
> What's the word on this?  If the clutch is contaminated, does it clear
> itself up or is the disk ruined?
>
> I suppose I should drive the car for a while and see.
>
>   DJ> 4) Something binding the throw out arm/lever or bearing so it
>   DJ>    does not fully release from the pressure plate.
>
> Interesting.  I could easily remove the slave again and try to poke
> the arm through the hole.  I might also be able to gauge the distance
> to the arm and possibly try to get a loop around it to pull on it a
> bit.
>
> Thanks for the ideas.
>
>   Gisli
>