Rebuilding front Syncro diff -whining.

1
Hi guys
 
New to this forum,but hope someone can help.
As original owner of my 1991 Syncro delux,now with 355000 on the clock its into its second diff to start  playing tunes  ie whining up and down the power on/power of range. I still have the original diff and would like to rebuild it . Can anyone recomend a good diff rebuilder in the Sydney /Newcastle area
 Am I right in thinking that I can get away with just bearings or do these tunes suggest something more sinister? The VC was working fine when I last used it 5years ago.Any likelihood of it deteriorating during that period.
Ron Shmidt in Kempsey is my present option but a fair way away.
 
Love the banal chitchat and the occasional helpfull hint.
 
Cheers
Graham Adams
2
Graham, If Ron Schmit rebuilds your diff you'll have no further problem. Also on gearbox/diff issues there is a 5/43 syncro crown wheel and pinion for sale on ebay under car parts. Cheers Bill.
3
Hi Bill
 
Thanks Bill for your input in finding someone to rebuild my front diff.
We have just returned from a great week traveling and camping from Central Coast (Sydney) camping at Diamond Head up through Port Macquarie,the old sand mining road (she's rough,but fun) , past Point Plummer,Delicate and Racecourse camp sites and on to Crescent Head and Kempsey.Nothing at Kempsey except for a very talented self taught guy by the name of Ron Shmidt.
I had bought my spare front diff up with me for him to rebuild. His backyard workshop was to us like Santas workshop. It was spotlessly full of gearbox cases ,mostly VW ,gears,shims,lathes,milling machines ,crack testers,computers and a couple of half built desert racing  race cars that he is building gearboxes for. The price was right so my diff will be ready around Xmas time.
 
The rest of our trip took us over a massive mountain range between Bowraville and Bellingen on fire management trails using all the Syncros abilities because the direct route was buried by half a mountain in the March floods.30kms in 3hrs.
On via the Waterfall way past many landslides and again back to Kempsey via the back dirt roads. The campsites were all but empty but will be very different around Xmas and New Year.
 
I may try and coincide my return pickup trip to Kempsey with Hartmutts and Scotts trip after Xmas but heat and crowded roads suggests that that may not be a good idea.
 
PS Before we got home a.The oil pressure light and buzzer came on after high speed cruising, for no reason.
                                   b. The Aircon started smoking through the outlet vents.
                                   c. The fridge spat the dummy.Maybe a new Westinghouse Syncro fridge/freezer with decoupler is needed.
 
     Cheers Graham.
 
 
----- Original Message -----
From: Bill range
Sent: Monday, November 16, 2009 1:06 PMho
 
Subject: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Re: Rebuilding front Syncro diff -whining.

 

Graham, If Ron Schmit rebuilds your diff you'll have no further problem. Also on gearbox/diff issues there is a 5/43 syncro crown wheel and pinion for sale on ebay under car parts. Cheers Bill.

4
Graham,
Welcome back.
Yes the fridge, mine spat the dummy a while back to.
Weigh up the pros and cons, depends on the condition of the fridge, size etc whether or not to keep it ... in my case I chose to refurbish mine at a camping fridge specialist in Sydney. Not cheap but what is anymore? Murray used the same ppl for his fridge refurb also, we both added module for auto detect/switch to 240vac running (when available). Huge practical improvement over the original 12vac only battery feed source.
Cheers.
Ken 
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
From: g.adams@bigpond.net.au
Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 20:56:31 +1100
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Re: Rebuilding front Syncro diff -whining.

 
Hi Bill
 
Thanks Bill for your input in finding someone to rebuild my front diff.
We have just returned from a great week traveling and camping from Central Coast (Sydney) camping at Diamond Head up through Port Macquarie,the old sand mining road (she's rough,but fun) , past Point Plummer,Delicate and Racecourse camp sites and on to Crescent Head and Kempsey.Nothing at Kempsey except for a very talented self taught guy by the name of Ron Shmidt.
I had bought my spare front diff up with me for him to rebuild. His backyard workshop was to us like Santas workshop. It was spotlessly full of gearbox cases ,mostly VW ,gears,shims, lathes,milling machines ,crack testers,computers and a couple of half built desert racing  race cars that he is building gearboxes for. The price was right so my diff will be ready around Xmas time.
 
The rest of our trip took us over a massive mountain range between Bowraville and Bellingen on fire management trails using all the Syncros abilities because the direct route was buried by half a mountain in the March floods.30kms in 3hrs.
On via the Waterfall way past many landslides and again back to Kempsey via the back dirt roads. The campsites were all but empty but will be very different around Xmas and New Year.
 
I may try and coincide my return pickup trip to Kempsey with Hartmutts and Scotts trip after Xmas but heat and crowded roads suggests that that may not be a good idea.
 
PS Before we got home a.The oil pressure light and buzzer came on after high speed cruising, for no reason.
                                   b. The Aircon started smoking through the outlet vents.
                                   c. The fridge spat the dummy.Maybe a new Westinghouse Syncro fridge/freezer with decoupler is needed.
 
     Cheers Graham.
 
 
----- Original Message -----
From: Bill range
Sent: Monday, November 16, 2009 1:06 PMho
 
Subject: [Syncro_T3_Australi a] Re: Rebuilding front Syncro diff -whining.

 

Graham, If Ron Schmit rebuilds your diff you'll have no further problem. Also on gearbox/diff issues there is a 5/43 syncro crown wheel and pinion for sale on ebay under car parts. Cheers Bill.




Australia's #1 job site If It Exists, You'll Find it on SEEK
5
Hi Graham. Glad Ron was of help. His workshop is white glove stuff and Ron is a gem both as a bloke and a vw transmission guru. Those off road buggies are podium winners in the australian championships at Fink etc. Gives you an idea of the level he works at.
The Nambucca/ macleay valley's are a massive wilderness usually only used by locals. The mountain road from Bowraville to Bellingen is called the "horseshoe trail" a great wilderness drive. Did you camp at Georges junction stock reserve or kunderang (west or east). Magic spots but to be left alone during school holidays. Ken i'd be glad to point anyone to some nice spots. Graham just nailed a beauty. For a start google "west kunderang". It's an upper macleay 4wd camping paradise. Cheers Bill.
6

Graham,

We are putting together a list of workshops of known expertise as a resource for Syncro owners in Australia and it looks like this one should be on it.  Can you or Bill provide contact details please?

Les

 

From: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com [mailto: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com ] On Behalf Of Graham Adams
Sent: 06 December 2009 20:57
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Re: Rebuilding front Syncro diff -whining.

 

 

Nothing at Kempsey except for a very talented self taught guy by the name of Ron Shmidt.   I had bought my spare front diff up with me for him to rebuild.  His backyard workshop was to us like Santas workshop.  It was spotlessly full of gearbox cases, mostly VW gears, shims, lathes, milling machines, crack testers, computers and a couple of half built desert racing  race cars that he is building gearboxes for. The price was right so my diff will be ready around Xmas time.

 

 

     Cheers Graham.

 

 

7
Les
I thought that Ron was already on the list , certainly a worthy resource for a very specialised area.Incidentaly Ron has never rebuilt a front syncro diff before but was champing at the bit to look inside.Experience with the gearboxes he rebuilds for racing suggested that this was no problem and in fact he had all the spare parts on the shelf.I left him my Bentleys for reference and after a couple of hours chatting left him to it. As Bill mentioned ,Ron is a top guy to work with and does all this rebuilding in his spare time,as he said he works 24/7 and loves every minute of it.I'll see if I can get him on the forum as he has dealings with Albins gears,makes his own difflocks and strengthens gearboxes for Subaru type power.Come in Scotty
 
Details                   Ron Schmidt 
                                  c/o Bridgestone Tyres
                                           2  Stuart St   Kempsey        Mobile 0428625730
 
I have his home address but I haven't asked to publish it.
He said that he was quite happy to take on more work.
 
I would also like to put up my local mechanic for reference.He does general VW servicing and looks after 3-4 Syncros in the area.
In particular he rebuilt my engine after a catostrophic Ottinger conversion in Sydney that blew 2 sets of piston/barrels in 40000k.Removing the offending"high compression pistons/barrels'also reduced the massive crank case pressure problem.Now with high lift cams,port and polished heads and no oil leaks it runs well.
 
Details                     Gert Lourens                                     
                                     39 Bungary Road
                                        Norah Head   2263          0243964461                             Email    lomerep@ozemail.com.au
                                         Central Coast
He has an auto electrician next door.
 
 
 
---- Original Message -----
From: Les Harris
Sent: Monday, December 07, 2009 3:06 PM
Subject: RE: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Re: Rebuilding front Syncro diff -whining.

 

Graham,

We are putting together a list of workshops of known expertise as a resource for Syncro owners in Australia and it looks like this one should be on it.  Can you or Bill provide contact details please?

Les

From: Syncro_T3_Australia @yahoogroups. com [mailto: Syncro_T3_Australia @yahoogroups. com ] On Behalf Of Graham Adams
Sent: 06 December 2009 20:57
To: Syncro_T3_Australia @yahoogroups. com
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australi a] Re: Rebuilding front Syncro diff -whining.

 

Nothing at Kempsey except for a very talented self taught guy by the name of Ron Shmidt.   I had bought my spare front diff up with me for him to rebuild.  His backyard workshop was to us like Santas workshop.  It was spotlessly full of gearbox cases, mostly VW gears, shims, lathes, milling machines, crack testers, computers and a couple of half built desert racing  race cars that he is building gearboxes for. The price was right so my diff will be ready around Xmas time.

     Cheers Graham.

8
Sorry Les I forgot to sign of on this one
 
Graham Adams
 
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, December 07, 2009 9:32 PM
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Re: Rebuilding front Syncro diff -whining.

 

Les
I thought that Ron was already on the list , certainly a worthy resource for a very specialised area.Incidentaly Ron has never rebuilt a front syncro diff before but was champing at the bit to look inside.Experience with the gearboxes he rebuilds for racing suggested that this was no problem and in fact he had all the spare parts on the shelf.I left him my Bentleys for reference and after a couple of hours chatting left him to it. As Bill mentioned ,Ron is a top guy to work with and does all this rebuilding in his spare time,as he said he works 24/7 and loves every minute of it.I'll see if I can get him on the forum as he has dealings with Albins gears,makes his own difflocks and strengthens gearboxes for Subaru type power.Come in Scotty
 
Details                   Ron Schmidt 
                                  c/o Bridgestone Tyres
                                           2  Stuart St   Kempsey        Mobile 0428625730
 
I have his home address but I haven't asked to publish it.
He said that he was quite happy to take on more work.
 
I would also like to put up my local mechanic for reference.He does general VW servicing and looks after 3-4 Syncros in the area.
In particular he rebuilt my engine after a catostrophic Ottinger conversion in Sydney that blew 2 sets of piston/barrels in 40000k.Removing the offending"high compression pistons/barrels' also reduced the massive crank case pressure problem.Now with high lift cams,port and polished heads and no oil leaks it runs well.
 
Details                     Gert Lourens                                     
                                     39 Bungary Road
                                        Norah Head   2263          0243964461                             Email    lomerep@ozemail. com.au
                                         Central Coast
He has an auto electrician next door.
 
 
 
---- Original Message -----
From: Les Harris
Sent: Monday, December 07, 2009 3:06 PM
Subject: RE: [Syncro_T3_Australi a] Re: Rebuilding front Syncro diff -whining.

 

Graham,

We are putting together a list of workshops of known expertise as a resource for Syncro owners in Australia and it looks like this one should be on it.  Can you or Bill provide contact details please?

Les

From: Syncro_T3_Australia @yahoogroups. com [mailto: Syncro_T3_Australia @yahoogroups. com ] On Behalf Of Graham Adams
Sent: 06 December 2009 20:57
To: Syncro_T3_Australia @yahoogroups. com
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australi a] Re: Rebuilding front Syncro diff -whining.

 

Nothing at Kempsey except for a very talented self taught guy by the name of Ron Shmidt.   I had bought my spare front diff up with me for him to rebuild.  His backyard workshop was to us like Santas workshop.  It was spotlessly full of gearbox cases, mostly VW gears, shims, lathes, milling machines, crack testers, computers and a couple of half built desert racing  race cars that he is building gearboxes for. The price was right so my diff will be ready around Xmas time.

     Cheers Graham.