propshaft syncro |
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Andrew
Groupie Joined: 29 Aug 05 Location: Norway Status: Offline Points: 165 |
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Posted: 07 Apr 08 at 14:10 |
Some like to remove the propshaft for summer driving on asphalt (recommended by VW?) while others tell me that the viscous coupling shouldn't be run without the propshaft coupled up. What is the truth here, and does anyone have a scientific explanation as to why a viscous coupling could be damaged by letting it spin free with no load?
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Andrew in Norway
+4790198654 andrew@domkantor.no |
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Syncro G
Groupie Joined: 21 Mar 07 Location: Peak District Status: Offline Points: 202 |
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Shouldn't break the VC running it without a prop, though a broken VC is the usual resion the prop is removed in the first place.
When the prop isn't conected the entire VC just spins with the front diff, no torque is put across it apart from that needed to spin the prop shaft flange - that'll take little effort and should be achived by the VC's natural stiffness (they always send a bit of power through if not failed open, and even then they could probubly manage that). As for is it worth it in the summer...My take is this,
Thats just my opinion. If you want a syncro,a fully functioning one is what you want; if you don't want a fully functioning syncro, well, why have a syncro? ---- Glen |
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Ghia
Vanorak Nesh Joined: 04 Mar 05 Location: Banbury Status: Offline Points: 2889 |
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There's a lot of nonsense going around about vc's and propshafts. VW would never recommend removing the propshaft for any reason. The VC cannot be damaged by the propshaft being removed. It just spins freely and the van handles very badly. Some of the Americans like to remove the propshaft thinking it will give them better mpg but tests have been carried out by many people (including myself) which disprove this theory. The usual reason for removing the propshaft is because there are problems either with it, and/or the rest of the drivetrain. MG |
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SyncroSpares UK
Vanorak T3 Undertaker. Joined: 18 Nov 04 Status: Offline Points: 10000444 |
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ditto
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Andrew
Groupie Joined: 29 Aug 05 Location: Norway Status: Offline Points: 165 |
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Many thanks, I've always thought that having no propshaft should not be a problem for the VC. I've taken it off recently because the visco is now so hard that cornering is difficult and I don't want to bugger the gearbox. Can't really say that the car handles badly without it so long as there's asphalt under the wheels, but the embarassment if you get stuck with a syncro without 4wd just can't be lived with. I have another visco on the way!
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Andrew in Norway
+4790198654 andrew@domkantor.no |
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lee.
Yardie Joined: 10 Nov 07 Location: Wales Status: Offline Points: 420 |
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taigagreen
Yardie Joined: 29 Mar 08 Location: Norway Status: Offline Points: 300 |
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In the manual for my syncro (in norwegian) VW actually recommends removing the propshaft in the summer months stating that it will result in less wear of the gearbox and cv-joints. Could this be something VW in Norway invented? Doesn't manuals in every language say the same? Curious. Having driven two summers without the propshaft I can report no difference in fuel consumption. Not being an avid offroader I managed nicely using the rear difflock in demanding conditions. A decoupler is on the wishlist though :D Edited by taigagreen |
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Andrew
Groupie Joined: 29 Aug 05 Location: Norway Status: Offline Points: 165 |
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Hallo Tage! Nice to meet you here as well as on vwbus.no, your english is perfect, wish I could say the same about my norwegian! I seem to remember reading that which you mention, namely the recommendation from VW about removing the propshaft in the summer. A swedish driver also reported that the swedish manual for the car says the same. With an even longer summer and even more asphalt in the UK it does seem strange that the english manual doesn't mention this. Maybe it's because of the mud and floods and the assumption that only country bumpkins or off-road maniacs drive syncros! I'm not out to save fuel, simply wear and tear on the drive train. |
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Andrew in Norway
+4790198654 andrew@domkantor.no |
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taigagreen
Yardie Joined: 29 Mar 08 Location: Norway Status: Offline Points: 300 |
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Thanks Andrew :D Norsken din er upåklagelig :D
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Tage is my name :D
Too many T3's... |
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Syncro G
Groupie Joined: 21 Mar 07 Location: Peak District Status: Offline Points: 202 |
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Wonder if they fitted stiffer VC's to vehilces for that market then? That could make sence as it'd make it better on slippy roads and still not damage stuff. In the UK we only get about 2 decent days of snow each year (and the country grinds to a halt because of it as no one can cope! I go playing instead Had snow this morning actully but it lasted 5 minutes, just like every other snow atempt this year) so our syncros would have to be designed to survive use on grippy roads all year round. Main land europe would be simular, so maybe they don't recomend it because its not an isue in these markets?
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Ghia
Vanorak Nesh Joined: 04 Mar 05 Location: Banbury Status: Offline Points: 2889 |
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Well you learn something new everyday. Do you have a copy of the vw manual Tage? I'd be very interested to see exactly how it's worded. I guess it's possible that there were different VC's supplied but I've never heard of it. Mike Plompen at busman.be now supplies a 'Sport' VC which is more aggressive so this could be similar. Driving a syncro everyday, I can say that without the propshaft, the syncro has a tendecy to spin the inside rear wheel and generally doesn't handle as well without. I wouldn't want to remove it even in the hope reducing wear on the gearbox or cv joints as the weather in this country is so changable that you can be in blinding sunshine or pooring rain within 30 minutes of each other. MG |
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syncro'magnon
Not Quite Newbie Joined: 01 Nov 07 Location: Belgium Status: Offline Points: 14 |
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That's true, busman propose a stiffer visco which is recommended working with a decoupler.
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taigagreen
Yardie Joined: 29 Mar 08 Location: Norway Status: Offline Points: 300 |
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A copy can be produced. I'd have to scan and since I dont have the equipment for that it would probably take a few days. Andrew: there should by now be an available copy of the manual in your family. Doesn't Patrick have one or perhaps one of your fellow syncronauts down south?
Using the syncro as an everyday car really open your eyes to what a truly great allrounder it is. I have been driving syncro only a few years now and the only weakness that really shines through is not having a decoupler when parking and manouvering at slow speeds on paved sufaces. Since I live in a (mildly speaking) rural area I live happily with my syncro but I cannot imagine driving the thing in towns or cities with the entire drivetrain connected as original. DECOUPLER is my new mantra :D |
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Tage is my name :D
Too many T3's... |
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lee.
Yardie Joined: 10 Nov 07 Location: Wales Status: Offline Points: 420 |
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i thought the 16" syncro came with a slightly more agressive vc as standard, would it be likely that the manual for these would suggest a similar practice with the prop.
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Ghia
Vanorak Nesh Joined: 04 Mar 05 Location: Banbury Status: Offline Points: 2889 |
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I've heard about the 16 coming with a more agressive VC too. The one in Limey is fairly tight and it's the orignal from what I can make out but whether it's just worn or tight from the factory.. who can tell! MG |
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manxman
Not Quite Newbie Joined: 02 Nov 07 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 35 |
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swaped mine that had failed open in my 16" with one from a 14" and they both had the same part numbers
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lee.
Yardie Joined: 10 Nov 07 Location: Wales Status: Offline Points: 420 |
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the plot thickens
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