VWAR Old forum !

I have questions about two different seals - the torque converter seal and the final drive seal.

1974 Beetle manufactured in 1973

I am replacing the clutch.  When I ordered the clutch I also ordered a torque converter seal, however the seal that was sent to me does not have the depth of the original seal, and appears do be a wrong part.  If installed it will sit deeper into the case than the original.   The seal I bought is part #VWC-001-301-083 from cip1.com.  Has anyone had any experience using this item?

I have not yet removed and destroyed my original seal and there is no sign of leakage.  I'm thinking of trying my luck and leaving the old seal in place.  

The  original final drive seal which is exposed after you remove the bell housing is part # 001 311 113.  Do you know if it is the same item as part #113 311 113?    Has anyone had any experience changing this seal?  It sits recessed in the housing with a cylinder protruding.  How do I go about removing the cylinder without ruining it, so that I can get at the seal?
Thanks for your assistance.

Hiya 74,

Right off the bat know that I am not all that conversant with AutoStick seals.  However, let me share a couple of items of information which I have picked up along the way.  

The primary reason so few shops rebuild an AutoStick (other than the know-how dieing out) is a lack of seals.  Ken Harvey at German Transaxle in Bend, Oregon told me that he has enough spare parts and the technicians to rebuild AutoSticks all day long.  He simply cannot get all the seals anymore.

The torque converter seal changed more than once during the AutoStick production run.  When I changed out my clutch last year I had to give my parts man the serial number of the car to insure the correct seal.

So...........you have a requirement for the exact seal and there's not many of them around anymore.

Here's what I would do....... give Ken at German Transaxle (541-382-7723) a call.  If anyone out there can help you locate a particular AutoStick seal, it would be Ken.  He can also give you some excellent technical support with any other problems you might be having.

And finally a question for you.  You mentiuoned that you ordered the clutch.  Would you mind sharing exactly what you bought (clutch disc, pressure plate, throwout bearing, etc.) and where you bought it?

Mike

1970 AS Bug

Mike,
Thanks for the information.  I've been wondering why some of the trans shops haven't contacted seal manufacturers to make these seals.  It appears that there is a market for them.  

What I should have done in the first place was to look inside my Bentley Manual.  After putting on my reading glasses I realized that the torque converter seal mounts around the housing and not recessed inside it.  Then I looked in the Manual in section 6.2 of Auto Stick chapter.  There is text and photos on Replacing Converter Seal.

What I call the Final drive Seal is covered under section 8.3 Replacing Main Drive Shaft Seal of the Auto Stick chapter of Bentley.  I purchased  two of VWC-113-311-113-A from www.cip1.com.  This may not be the correct seal.  My problem with this job is that it appears to me that  the clutch release bearing guide sleeve should be removed before replacing this seal, but it appears in the photo in section 8.3 like the seal is being removed from within the guide sleeve.

The guide sleeve appears to be pressed on.  I tried to gently pry at the base but it doesn't want to move.  I was thinking about applying a little heat to expand it, but I'm going to give the shop in Oregon a call to see if they have some info on it.   I am installing my spare trans in place of the one with the leaky Drive Shaft seal.  I am replacing the torque converter seal.

I am only installing a new clutch disc.  The pressure plate is good and the mating faces for the clutch disc just need a cleanup.   The clutch was also purchased from cip1 at what I consider to be a steep price.  I'm going to check out the 180 mm disc for standard transmissions.  It appears that this clutch disc will work in the Auto with a little grinding of the center hub.  

I checked your photos, you did a great job with your car.

Bernard  



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Hi,
The torque converter seal was changed in 1970 [1971 year model beetle]
the part number is : 001 301 083B
I was advised that the torque converter oil seal be renewed each time the torque converter was removed....

Maybe You should have taken the clutch plate to a clutch repair shop where they could replace the clutch linings on the original plate....


Lee Noonan    68AutoBug    Australia

http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug
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