ATF filler tank leak

[KevM]

Hi,

after years of re building a semi automativ VW I have finally got it on the road, everyone thought I was mad and parts are getting hard to aquire these days.

I have got the whole unit working but have quite a worrying problem which means my car is off road again and I need some help if anyone can.

It is throwing a lot of ATF out of the filler tank cap area which because of where I have positioned it is dropping into my flywheel and decorating my engine  :-(

:?:  How pressurised is the ATF system supposed to be?
Is the cap supposed to be tightly sealed. I am worried that if I make it really air tight and sealed it will blow something somewhere else. Or is it supposed to be tight. I will be cleaning up the oil pump pressure release tonight, not sure what I will find there so I may need a new pump if it is badly corroded.

:?: Also the hissing noise from the engine area, I came across somethig somewhere regarding this but cannot find it, if anyone can point me in the right direction I would be grateful.

:?: Lastly, this is a new/rebourn semi which I have never driven before, when I select reverse it clunks, the rest of the gears are fine. Is this because reverse requires a slight downward push?

Many thanks, it is good to finally be back on the road again. Are there any semi auto experts in the essex area of the UK?

rgds

Kev

[bookwus]

Hiya Kev,

I cannot tell you what the operating pressure of the ATF system is supposed to be.  However, I can tell you that my ATF cap/dipstick twists into place with very little effort/resistance.  I have had no leaking whatsoever.  If the cap is holding any accumulated pressure in the ATF reservoir, the amount of that pressure can't be much.  Are you sure your ATF reservoir is not overfilled?

As to your hissing noise.  The clutch servo will hiss when functioning.  Is this what you might be referring to?  More specifics on the noise (like when it occurs and where it seems to be coming from) will help pinpoint it.

It has been my experience that all AutoSticks "grab" into reverse with a "thunk".  Nature of the beast, I suspect.  You can, however, modify your shifting action by adjusting the control valve.  Directions for that procedure will be found in your Bentley.

Mike

1970 AS Bug

[KevM]

Hello Mike,

many thanks for your speedy response, it is really good to talk to a fellow enthusiast. You were indeed correct, I have too much ATF fluid so that will be drained today to a proper level.

Thanks you also for your valuable insight into the hissing noise, it is I think a normal hissing and is from the clutch servo area but i was not certain whether it should be there or not, it doesn't whine, it just emits a hiss and i was worried something was leaking but if it is normal that is a relief.

Can I ask one more question, how high does your car rev at various speeds. It has been so long since I drove a beetle and I have never driven a semi before, which I might add is a real pleasure, but I am worried it is revving highly which makes me think worst case scenario is  clutch slip or just not quite set up correctly although it seems to drive and engage/disengage ok and doesn't appear to slip excessively when I change gear.

Going up a medium hill I had to change into second as it was losing a bit of grunt, is that normal?

I have fitted new guages which are not original so I have yet to calibrate them but I have no benchmarks for speed to rev ratios.

You are probably used to your car so may not notice it but do they rev highly (not excessive but just seems a bit high). After a lot of effort to get this back on the road I really don't want to over cook or strain the poor thing.

I have no intention of breaking or even attempting land speed records but what is the expected top speed of the car, I read 70mph would be normal but I worry about straining the torque converter or plate and also what sort of rev count could I expect for this.

Thank you again for your time, it was really nice to hear from another semi owner.

rgds

Kev

[bookwus]

Hiya Kev,

Before I address your questions, let me relate something that happened to me this past summer to you.............
I had my AutoStick completely rebuilt by German Transaxle of America.  I wanted to make sure that I broke it in correctly so I asked Ken Harvey (the owner and lead technician) about shifting and such.  In the course of that conversation he mentioned that the AutoStick has exactly the same gear ratios (in fact he described both the AS and the manual as being exactly the same) past first.  That got me to thinking.  I do not have a tach in the car.  You know those manual shift marks on the speedometer?  The little orange marks around 32 and 46 mph?  I have been shifting at or just before those marks and the tranny (and the engine) perform just fine.  Just like the manual.  Food for thought anyway on the question about concerning how high to rev.
I'm running the engine (a 1600 dp) out of a 73 in my 70.  It's producing about  60 hp SAE.  I'm guessing that your 1500 would be about 7 or 8 horses less.  And that could make a difference in performance.  I have not found my engine to be straining under any sort of load I have put on it.  Top speed in my car (or as fast I am ever going to drive it) was 84 mph.  Scary!

Mike

1970 AS Bug