Aircooled VW South Africa

I remember them but have not got a sample anymore but VS sells them
And if you would go to those idiots now they most prob will not have that place has got so backwards in Quality and workmanship since I left I would not even send a enemy there

And so the amazing Bus clutch story and woes goes on. It's been 8 weeks since the release bearing went, and almost 12 000 kms (city driving) later. About a week ago I noticed that it was getting harder to get the Bus into gear, so I climbed under it, and gave the clutch cable a bit more tension by turning the large wing nut at the end of the cable. End of problem - or so I thought

At about noon today, while in Boksburg, engaging a gear became increasingly difficult, to almost impossible. I had a bad feeling about it, and bought a new LUK clutch kit (luckily spares shops are quite common in Boksburg.) Phoned the work and told them I'm taking the afternoon off. Got home, and started to take the Bus engine out. I was afraid that the 'house brand' Midas release bearing was on its way out, and thought one couldn't go wrong with a new clutch kit anyway (R 650 at Autozone).

When the engine was out at last, I saw that one of the bolts (marked with an arrow on the pic below) was loose. Funny enough, the other two had some welding on to keep them tight. I don't even want to think about the amount of damage it would have done if the bolt came completely undone!



So, it was OUT with the old clutch, and IN with the new!! (Old one available for free to anyone who wants it)
I know it is technically speaken advisable to rather have the flywheel machined first, but mine still looks good and I simply did not have the time to have it done.

This is what the complete new kit looks like:



Friction plate installed with (supplied) centering tool:



Diaphragm installed:



Put the engine back, and the gear change is better than ever!!

PS: The 'house brand' Midas release bearing is still brand new, and shows no sign of wear. It looks identical to the one supplied with the LUK kit. Put the new one in though 'just in case'.

Your old pressure plate is the wrong one; it's the older type with the ring in the centre that someone has "modified", and that's what killed your old release bearing. The new diaphragm style is correct; no wonder it feels better.


PS: Please contact me to arrange pick-up of my models from Henry.

Hi my name is dubster and i was a release bearing blues virgin...until tuesday...was driving along changing gearsand when i wanted to shift down the shift stick went solid and i couldnt get any gears!also just as you go over the apies river headind towards van der hof road...wich isnt at all traffic-less at 7.30 in the morning...i couldnt do your trick pine as its no push no go for me...so i towed it back today after leaving at the koshuis close to tech...pull the motor and found the two things...

The one clip had broken off and the one fork of the clutch crossbar...dont know wich went first...but now i need to know can i buy the clips seperatly at a spares shop...and can i weld back the fork on to the bar?is it normaal steel or cast iron?bugger?

I have one for you that came out of my fasty- Just come and pick it up and it's yours

This is the old type cross shaft.

Thanx blitz would really like to get it going before this sunday i CANT miss another event!

Will pm you tomorrow just want to figure out how to get this thing out first...

Did you come right?

im going to try and fix it today gonna see if i can get it welded...cause it looks like a mission to get out...need to buy a release bearing and then i should be sorted...if not ill let you know...

dubster wrote:im going to try and fix it today gonna see if i can get it welded...cause it looks like a mission to get out...need to buy a release bearing and then i should be sorted...if not ill let you know...

The release fork can be welded. It is tricky to remove and reinstall, but not difficult. I don't recommend welding it in situ, as you will burn the plastic bushes.

When you weld it, make sure they weld each arm all the way round the shaft, which will make it a lot stronger than the factory spot welds.

I just want to get it runnig for this sunday...if can still have that bar,blitz could bring it with and then il will somer do it proper with new bushes because mine looks worn out...will have them welded properly...cause its exactly where it broke,on the spot weld...

I came right...see you guys at the show!