LEAKING OIL ROM GEARBOX

[ANNIE]

Hi I realy need anyones help. My 68 beetle has oil leaking from under the gearbox. I cant find anyone who will even look at it, let alone fix it. The gears get stuck in and out of gear aswell. Although even with these problems, she has kept going for over a year so far. I could do with any advise, and if anyone knows who would look at her in England I would greatly appriciate the advise. Please help us, Annie & Bernnie

[bookwus]

Hiya Annie,

We really need some more specific symptoms before handing out any advice.  Exactly where is this leak?  Where does it appear to be coming from?  What color is the oil?  Does it leak as much just sitting in the driveway as it does driving around?  Tell us about gears getting"stuck".  What exactly does that mean? How have you managed to cope with this leak over the past year?

Give us some more info and we'll be able to point you towards some good help.

Mike

1970 AS Bug

[68AutoBug]

Getting stuck in the gears Annie, sounds like the vacuum hose, either the small one to the control valve, or the Large one from below the carby to the control valve & to the vacuum tank & the clutch hose is leaking... If You haven't before. renew all these Vacuum hoses..
The do need renewing anyway... also the ponts at the bottom of the gearlever may need cleaning...
The oil leak may be difficult to find if it only leaks when the car is driving, as the air blows the oil everywhere... Hopefully it will be a drive shaft oil seal... or rear gearbox oil seal...  there is also a seal behind the gearbox side constant velocity joints...
Remember how old these cars are....
Gearbox oil is different to Auto transmission fluid
Lee

[ANNIE]

Hi its Annie again. Scince I last spoke to you I have bought two fantastic Bentley manuals, and found my long lost beetle machanic friend. We have found a long list of problems with the car.
1) The vacum hose has been fitted on using garden hose, creating very little suction.
Where can we get vacum hose from?
2) The gearbox and engine mounts are shot to pieces, not allowing the gears to engage properley.
3) The wire going to the gearbox is old and keeps falling out.
We hope to solve my gear shifting problem by fixing these three things.

4) The torque converter is pumping out red oil faster than we can pour it in. Only when the engine is turned on.
We think the problem is all the seals and bearings in and around the gearbox.
Is there anything else it could be? And where can we get hold of these seals and bearings?

5) The clutch plate needs re-placing.
Can we put a normal manual beetle clutch plate on?

Any help would be fantastic! Thanks for your last replys. Cheers for now. Annie and rather broken Bernie

[68AutoBug]

Hi again Annie,

Its best to use hydraulic hose for ALL the hoses on the auto beetle, they will last MUCH longer...   Normal hose from auto shops doesn't last long.
A normal clutch plate can be modified I believe to fit the auto.  
In the pump, You need two small common oil seals & 3 gaskets,
common to standard beetles from VW air cooled [aftermarket] shops..
There is a Torque converter Oil seal, which You will have to buy from an air cooled [aftermarket] VW shop ..   It IS a special seal..
You will also need an engine front main oil seal...  You may as well replace it when You have the engine out...
There are gearbox axle seals, you may want to replace including small special ones behind the CV joints.
I replaced all of these as I'm doing a complete restoration.
Hydraulic hose may be a bit costly, although You aren't using much...
Use the best hose You can get for the vacuum hose... a thick reinforced hose is all You need.   An Hydraulic shop will probably carry that too..
The Clutch plate & Torque converter oil seal are the other costly items..
My T/C oil seal cost 1/3 the price of a standard clutch plate for a beetle that My Son just bought...
Well, You have something I want Annie, A bentley VW manual which were made for VW of America... I have 10 other workshop manuals... but the Bentley are rare here in Australia...
Best Wishes & Good Luck..

Lee Noonan -- 68AutoBug -- Australia--

[ANNIE]

Hi Lee! Thanx for your reply it will help a great deal. I only just recived both my official bentley service manuals one week ago. If you go to AMAZON.COM they have a couple of the Bentley manuls. Get the = Official service manual Beetle and Karmann Ghia-1966,67,68,1969. Robert Bentley. ( Code 11-0701  if you need it ). This is the best Bentley book that has helped us so far! I bought both my Bentley books as second hand books, and they arrived from America very quickly. Hope this helps. Talk soon. Annie

[bookwus]

Hiya Lee,

Are you still looking for a Bentley?

Go (now!) to www.vwbooks.com (a branch of the Amazon octopus) and order the durn thing.  It's only $32.36US and used ones are available for $24.00US.  

I can't imagine working on a VW without this manual.  Go now!  Hurry!  You can have it down there in Scone in a week or so.

Mike

1970 AS Bug

[68AutoBug]

Bentley manuals...
Most of My VW manuals did come from Amazon and most were used.
I had them sent to an address in the US, as this person was coming to visit My Sister in law in Australia... She bought the books over for Me..
I think the freight would be very expensive...
I will wait until I find someone who can bring the books back for Me..
Why did You need two bentley Manuals??
I also need some parts for My Beetle, $150 US from CIP , I have been trying to find someone who is going over & back.. Many of these made in USA parts are not available at all over here, but the Air freight is usually the same cost as the parts... We live just too far from anywhere...
I'll keep looking... VW parts in Australia have tripled in the past few years.
and yet they are so inexpensive in the US... they are far too expensive in the UK too, with our exchange rate...
I bought a bolt on sump with a filter enclosed from the US for $37-95US and a fellow bought it back for Me..
The same sump costs $150 AUS... plus the Made in USA parts are good quality... VW Mudflaps cost $150AUS where in the US they are about $30US..
regards

Lee Noonan -- 68AutoBug -- Australia--