Clunk when going into gear

[bigpapa]

After some trouble with my new ride - all the bolts holding the torque converter to the flexplate left the scene - I've been driving my 68 and would like to find out if the noises it makes are normal. When I put it into gear at a stop there is a distinct clunk when I release the shifter. The idle speed is low and the car doesn't jump, just a clunk. I'm wondering if this is a normal thing.  Also, when I shift from first to second gear on the highway, it almost feels like the clutch is slipping. The car seems to accelerate at this time and I can't feel any slipping of the clutch at any other time. Could this be the torque converter, or do I need to fiddle with the vacuum control valve?

[68AutoBug]

Hi Big Papa,
My Autostick does the same thing.
It clunks mainly in Low and Reverse.
and clunks when I touch the gearlever to take them out of those gears,
so I presume thats normal.
My Beetle also slips in the Torque converter in Drive 2..
I sometimes drive around town in Drive 2,
and nearly get caught when trying to accelerate away from
oncoming traffic...  
I also believe Your control valve is working OK..
You can make the control valve release faster or later, unless You already are at the fastest setting...
I haven't adjusted My control valve, I will have a fiddle one day... lol..

As Ours Clunk into gear, maybe We have Our Control Valve operating too fast?
Anyone have their control valve operating too slowly??
or anyone that doesn't have the Clink??

Lee   68AutoBug  Australia

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









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[NOVA Ghia Owner]

My AS does not clunk at all.  When I bought it, it would crash when shifting into reverse.  The vacuum was being picked up from below the butterfly - too much vacuum.

A switch of the vacuum lines fixed it.  No clunks in any gears and the car shifts smoothly.  When putting the car into gear from neutral, it is very smooth - similar to shifting from Park or Neutral in a regular automatic.

The car should be very smooth.  My parents had a '70 AS Beetle when I was young so I know how it originally worked.

[68AutoBug]

Hi Nova,
Well, I have the too much vacuum problem as My Autostick has a weber carburetor and the vacuum is much too strong..
I have in the small vacuum line a small fuel filter with a small hole in it so it works OK, apart from the clunk in Reverse and Low...
Because of My Carburetor, the vacuum available at the small hose is never quite correct, so I believe thats why it clunks...
and possibly why it takes so long to accelerate, if I try to accelerate too quickly in Drive 2...

cheers
Lee -- 68AutoBug -- Australia

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

[bigpapa]

Nova, thanks for the suggestion. I'll check to see if I'm connected to manifold vacuum or ported vacuum. The funny thing is that the car will go into low gear at a stop more smoothly than first. Reverse is unpredictable, sometimes it's smooth and sometimes a bang! :shock:

[NOVA Ghia Owner]

Bigpapa:

Make sure your linkage is adjusted properly and all bushings are not worn.

Reverse on these cars is fickle.  I find it tricky to get the gear shift in the reverse "notch".  I find it best to shift into Low range first.  Then push down hard and up and over into reverse.  I find trying to shift into reverse any other way results in grinding of the gears as its difficult to find the reverse "notch".  Starting from Low and shifting into reverse, I never grind the gears unless I am not paying attention and don't push down hard enough on the shift lever.

[bigpapa]

Nova,

Thank  you for your information. I'm mostly nervous because the car had some fairly serious falling to pieces problems when I started driving it. I'm hoping that they are all behind me now, and the car seems to be pretty well replenished, even if the parts are inexpensive Brazilian stuff. I'm nervous about the shifter control valve, where new parts aren't available, but generally the car is pretty clean, so I'm just trying to figure out what is normal and noisy and what is clanking and going to be a breakdown.

[68AutoBug]

When selecting Reverse, I sort of feel My way...
I hold it down for a second or two, and slowly creep into Reverse before it knows it has...  lol..  
and I also only crunch when I'm not paying attantion to what I'm doing..
I think if You can crunch reverse sometimes means Your clutch is adjusted just about right...
I think if You can just get reverse all the time..
maybe You don't have any freeplay...? in the clutch...
I adjusted mine so I can get into Low all the time without crunching...
and reverse if I feel My way.... as above....

Lee -- 68autoBug -- Australia --

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

[bigpapa]

I gave the engine a tuneup and adjusted the valves, which probably helped my vacuum, and checked the signal vacuum connection to the carb. The hose was to ported vacuum, but it had a crack at the end of the fitting. Clipped off the bad end and the transmission is very smooth into forward or reverse now. It's much more enjoyable to drive now, and I'm not so worried that the shift mechanism or transmission is on the verge of breaking. Thank you all for your advice.