bad shudder in first - infrequent

Hi All. This is my first post so please direct me if i am doing anything wrong.

I have owned my 74 kombi for over a year now, and she's been treating me very well. However, recently there has been a problem developing.

I went to take off in first the other day, and there was an incredibly bad shudder coming from the rear of my beast. It happened right when the clutch was doing its thing. Instead of getting power to the wheels, it just shuddered really badly. This is the second instance in a couple of weeks. I have noticed both the incidents happened when i was on an incline. ie my front wheels were higher than my rear wheels.I still rolled forward a bit when it happened, and quickly changed into second, which wasn't so bad. After i got a few feet forward on flatter ground, i changed back into first and everything then worked as it should.

Also, a few minutes later i noticed that not all of my power was getting to the wheels. I floored the accalerator, and the engine revved loudly, without powering me forward. It was like i had the clutch depressed half way.

If anyone could give me some pointers it would be great. I am going to take her to a mechanic once i can point him in the right direction. He is a great mechanic but not very experienced with kombis.

Cheers in advance.
nathan

Hey Nathan,

Sounds like you've got a combination of clutch shudder and a slipping clutch.

Clutch shudder normally means a grooved friction plate or flywheel face, or a pressure plate that's failed. It'll show up more the higher revs are when you let the clutch out. The engine revving higher than it should be (ie the clutch slipping) is normally from a worn or oily friction plate, or possibly a dead pressure plate.

Either way, you're probably up for a clutch job. When your mechanic has it all apart, if there's even the slightest hint of oil around the clutch then replace the rear main seal as well (some ppl say do the seal regardless).

cheers man.

i'll let my mechanic know what u reckon.

i did just take it in for a service last week, and he said the clutch was out by a lot, and adjusted it accordingly.

the shudder happened a couple of months ago as i said, but this time it seemed a lot worse. i think its coming to a head.

Also please check you engine mounts and bowden tube bend/alingment as this can also be a cause of shudder on take off.

Does anyone know if i will have to remove the engine to get to the problem area?
(My mechanic wanted me to ask)

Is there a "how to fix it" guide i can buy? I haven't got much "hands on" experience, but i am learning.

thanks

If the problem is with the bowden tube, then no.

If it is a clutch problem, or a problem with the transmission mounts, then yes.

Checking the bowden tube bend/alignment and the engine mounts like BiX has suggested is pretty simple to do with the engine still in. To do a full clutch job though you're talking engine out.

There are a heap of manuals that cover pulling the engine out of a kombi - you can find factory ones around the place occasionally (ebay), or there's also ones from Haynes and Bentley that are pretty good. Places like Repco used to stock them, but kombi's might be a bit old for them now.

thanks all.

should make the job a bit easier. i'm takin her in at the end of the week. fingers crossed it all goes well.

:thumb