I have a triker friend that converted to an auto-stick, he keeps breaking the flexplate where the bolts attach, he has broken two now. Any Suggestions? Thanks Bobby
Hi,
I've never heard of anyone breaking a flexplate.
Does Your friend have a large Engine or Twin Carbs etc..?
I have heard that the AutoStick will take a larger than 1600 but I can't remember how Big... Maybe 1834 or 1916cc??
I know that the Trikes in Australia usually have manual gearboxes with 1st gear locked out, so they don't wheel stand... all the time..
The only problem I've had, is a flexplate Nut coming loose while i was doing it up...
so, I couldn't do it up or undo the bolt...
used My angle grinder to take the bolt off... with the engine out....
Lee - 68AutoBug -- Australia --
http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug
Do you mean that the flexplate cracks on the outside of the hole where the nut is? My plate is cracked on all 4 holes and all the nuts fell out. I bought 8mm jam nuts that are thinner than regular nuts and fit perfectly. I removed the flex plate and installed 10mm long button head cap screws to hold it to the torque converter and then welded the nuts in place.
Hi,
My Nut just came loose..
the reason....:
I had used the very strong locktite on the bolts threads last time
and the loctite had clogged the nut thread up..
I should have put a tap thru the nuts...
I will next time...
I have a replacement flexplate, but I'll get My Son to weld
all 4 nuts to the old flexplate so they will never come loose again...
this time I only used the loctite on the last couple of threads of the
bolts.... on the replacement flexplate...
I don't know why the flexplate would crack around the nuts...?
Lee -- 68AutoBug -- Australia --
http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug
I had a problem similar with locktite. I bought 4 new bolts and one refused to thread in the nut. I took one of the old bolts and cut four slots down the length of it with a dremel tool. This made a great tap to clean out the threads. Luckily I checked the bolts before replacing the engine!
I wish i had done that Johnr....
but I'm learning....
there isn't much left to go wrong.... :D :D
I've done most of them,..... :D :D
I just hope I'll remember them all....
although once everything is correct and running right...
the auto sticks are very good....
We just have to remember how old they are..... :?:
and keep collecting spare parts for them...
Lee -- 68AutoBug -- Australia --
http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug
sometime I'll tell you about all my screw-ups! Like the time I tightened the 4 flex-bolts nice & snug but not TOO tight. I'll bet you can guess what happened! There I sat by the side of the road with my engine running as sweet as could be, and not going anywhere!
Luckily, the foreign car garage in Coos Bay had a used flex plate as the old one was destroyed. Also the loosened bolts machined a nice groove in the bell housing before they left.