Paul's problem is one of those elusive things you just have to keep looking
for, or simply wait till it breaks. Had a similar, though I don't think
its his problem, with my 65 Westy. Ran great, drove like new, but on the
way home from the very first bus camp out at Belton running about 60 it
made a "chunking" noise from the drive train and vibrated. I shut the
engine down immediately and began coasting. Sounded just like a rear break
drum just about to strip out the splines. After stopping I started back
up and drove slowly the rest of the way home. Never made another
noise. Checked both rear drums. Fine, no problem. OK, I'm lost; what is
it? Next trip was to Longview, about 150 miles round trip. Half way back
home it makes the same noise and vibration again. Loose flywheel, broken
pressure plate, redux box about to let go? I don't know. Never did it
again. Had a slight rear main seal leak, so at the first opportunity, time
permitting I'm going to pull the engine, examine the flywheel, clutch, etc
and replace the main seal. Pull the pressure plate and it looks
fine. Examine the clutch disc. Found the problem. Center of clutch disc,
not the lining, on this particular type of clutch plate had become worn
where it was attached with rivets. Apparently it would occasionally decide
to jump around and rattle. It was about to break, and if it had I would
have known for certain. Replaced the clutch disc, problem solved.
Have talked to Paul about possible problems. The possibility of bad wheel
bearings sounds the most plausible. Maybe adjusted too tight and heating
up? How bout letting some really good VW mechanic drive it while it's
doing its thing? Other wise we can only speculate, or wait till it breaks.
Sammie
My brother in law, the ex VW mechanic, wants to know if we found the problem with Paul's Zone. I still think it is a bad tire or a lost balance eight on the passenger side. Chuck thought up something gruesome, a loose flywheel.
