"John Willis" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 22 Nov 2004 17:48:01 +0200, "Kevin" >
> scribbled this interesting note:
>
> >Hi all
> >
> >I have a 1600dp, with about 3000miles on the clock and is about 10 months
> >old. It doesn't drip a drop, well at least not in my carport. I do
however
> >have a mean clutch shudder, it's not the Bowden tube, I have replaced it
and
> >set the correct "dip".
> >
> >I suspect the clutch or pressure plate, as I've discovered it was the
same
> >one that was on the original oil leaking engine. I want to remove the
engine
> >and replace the clutch but get the whole system balanced, the clutch,
> >pressure plate and flywheel, so that every thing is matting probably. My
> >question is that, I'll have to remove the flywheel for this, will I have
to
> >replace the rear main seal when I do? It's not leaking and is less than a
> >year old, I'm not a believer in fixing something that isn't broken. Could
> >removing the flywheel damage the seal?
> >
> >Thanks in advance
> >Regards
> >Kevin
>
> Let me get this straight...
>
> Someone built or rebuilt an engine yet used the same damaged clutch
> plate upon installation? No offense, but what else was reused that
> shouldn't have been?
>
> To answer your question, if the main oil seal (which is on the front
> of the engine as it is installed in the car) isn't leaking, removal
> and reinstallation of the flywheel should not cause any damage.
>
> Balancing the pressure plate, clutch plate, and flywheel as a unit is
> good, but when the engine was being worked on, those, as well as the
> crank and pulley should have been balanced as a unit if you are
> concerned about balancing issues.
>
> But really, why go to the trouble of building an engine and then try
> to save a few pennies by not using a new clutch? It isn't as if they
> are all that expensive. As a percentage of the cost of doing a proper
> build, it is very, very little. This is becoming my mantra these
> days...You have to know which pennies to pinch!:~)
>
> Look he
>
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=bo...roup=rec.au t
os.makers.vw.aircooled&selm=20000223002540.19135.0 0001175%40ng-bg1.aol.com&r
num=5
>
> or even better, look he
>
>
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=bo...=en&lr=&gro u
p=rec.autos.makers.vw.aircooled&selm=1998102906120 0.06767.00000910%40ng137.a
ol.com&rnum=31
>
> Hope this helps...
>
>
> --
> John Willis
> (Remove the Primes before e-mailing me)

Thanks guys for all the quick Reponses. I have checked tranny mounts, they
are fine that's why I suspect the clutch plate. I will replace the o-ring.

I don't take offense it wasn't me who rebuilt it, nor knew what was being
reused. The spark plugs, points, condenser and the clutch plate to my
knowledge were things that were reused; I was a bit disappointed at this but
it was a really cheap deal and while my original single port lies in wait
for a rebuild by my hands; this engine will have to do. I agree replace
these maintenance parts while spending on the engine, but I only discovered
it a while after the engine had been installed when I couldn't find my
clutch plate I realised it was on the engine. The plugs and leads were also
reused, but have since been replaced along with pitted points and a
maintenance that I didn't quite trust.

Thanks for all the responses
Regards
Kevin