Stranded in Montville, QLD

1
Hy all, first I like to say thanks for all the replies on my last cry for help and all the members inviting me over for a coffee along our planned rout.


After my hand break locked up on Fraser which I got going again (I thought) I cooked up my drum a bit and I guess that the cylinder didn't enjoy the heat it was exposed to. This or the age of the unit caused it to blow up during a solid stopping attempt before hitting one of those gutters on the beach. Breaking power was bad but still drivable when I filled up the reservoir occasionally . Not the way to drive safely!!!


My van is at Pete's (member of this forum) house and we have a cylinder available to replace the buggered one.


Is there a way to fix the buggered one with parts from super cheep or one of those standard spares shops or is the best way to get the replacement unit dorm a donor van and install it straight.


Kind regards and a happy new year,


Jens
2
G'day Jens

The rear slave cylinder is identical on all T2 and T3 kombis from 1972 onwards. They are cheap and readily available from any VW dealer, VW aftermarket supplier, or brake repair shop. Repco or similar would order them in overnight. There are plenty of good VW shops up your way.

Last time I bought one from Tooleys Imports (Sydney) It cost me about $16 complete. At this price, it is not worth mucking around with buying a honing tool and installing new rubber cups and boots. Ask the salesman if there is a choice between cheap imitations and genuine quality, as the original German cylinder is readily available.

Buy two and replace both sides at the back.

While your at it, clean the sand out of everything as it is very abrasive. Spin your wheels while the car is on the jack-stands to check for noisy wheel bearings, and examine the rubber gaiters on the CV joints - if they are split or damaged, the sand will have to be cleaned out of the CV's to save expensive replacement down the track.

Clean and spray the handbrake cable (where it enters the conduit near the back wheels) with WD40 and clean and lubricate the gear linkages on the side of the transmission.

Jack up and check the front wheel bearings and brush the sand out of the front brakes too.

Check and clean the air filter and throttle linkage.

After driving through sand and salt water you need to do a day's work under and around the vehicle. It is best to brush or blow the dry sand out first, then use a high-pressure water blaster (be careful around the delicate rubber components).

The best way to sluice the salt away is to drive several times through a freshwater creek or river.

Allow the water to dry away for a day or two then spray liberal amounts of lubricant on everything that moves. Buy Inox, WD40 or similar in a bulk container, and use a weed-sprayer to coat the whole underside of the van. It's cheap insurance, and stops the van rusting away before your eyes.

I used to run a Baja Bug and learnt the hard way!

You'll be surprised how sweet the gearchange and everything else will work after you lubricate everything under the vehicle.

Consider spraying a rust-preventative under the vehicle if you do regular beach work. There are many available, but choose one that does not leave a sticky residue that attracts the sand.

Happy jacking,
Roger (Beetle) Bayley.


3
Thanks for the detailed reply, I am on the road again after installing a used one that was still in good order. I did check the bearings and washed the shift linkage, lots of WD40 was sprayed into some moving parts.
Will work my way through your suggestions and luckily I did some sort of preparation before I went on tip there. I wax-sprayed lots of parts under the van including the inside of the rails and so on. Will check and clean all breaks after arrival at home and while I'm at it some more break repair.

If anyone is keen, I will send some pictures and maybe a little video of my Fraser trip after the editing.

Happy new year,
Jens

Von meinem iPad gesendet
4
Jens,

Great to hear you are back on the road easily - I see your syncro is very keen to a trip on the back of a tow truck like mine has and all my kombis have.

I would love to see your instalment of the Fraser syncro 4wd adventure - love the place and did it in a Mitsubishi L300 4wd (poor man's syncro) about 17 years ago - would love to do it in my syncro.

Looking forward to your video/ photos.

Cheers,

Skot

On 1/01/2014 9:57 PM, Jens Baufeldt wrote:
 

Thanks for the detailed reply, I am on the road again after installing a used one that was still in good order. I did check the bearings and washed the shift linkage, lots of WD40 was sprayed into some moving parts.
Will work my way through your suggestions and luckily I did some sort of preparation before I went on tip there. I wax-sprayed lots of parts under the van including the inside of the rails and so on. Will check and clean all breaks after arrival at home and while I'm at it some more break repair.

If anyone is keen, I will send some pictures and maybe a little video of my Fraser trip after the editing.

Happy new year,
Jens

Von meinem iPad gesendet


5
Hello group, I am away here in hat head and I am having trouble with my sliding door popping open on rough tracks.This is a problem I have only had since the door has been off when it was repaired.It pops open at the back whilst the front of the door stays locked.I have adjusted the striker with no luck.I know of no other adjustments.Am I missing an adjustment somewhere?Please help as it is driving me nuts.thanx
BenC

From: spbconsulting@bigpond.com <spbconsulting@bigpond.com>;
To: <Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com>;
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Re: Stranded in Montville, QLD
Sent: Wed, Jan 1, 2014 11:36:28 AM

Jens,

Great to hear you are back on the road easily - I see your syncro is very keen to a trip on the back of a tow truck like mine has and all my kombis have.

I would love to see your instalment of the Fraser syncro 4wd adventure - love the place and did it in a Mitsubishi L300 4wd (poor man's syncro) about 17 years ago - would love to do it in my syncro.

Looking forward to your video/ photos.

Cheers,

Skot

On 1/01/2014 9:57 PM, Jens Baufeldt wrote:

Thanks for the detailed reply, I am on the road again after installing a used one that was still in good order. I did check the bearings and washed the shift linkage, lots of WD40 was sprayed into some moving parts.
Will work my way through your suggestions and luckily I did some sort of preparation before I went on tip there. I wax-sprayed lots of parts under the van including the inside of the rails and so on. Will check and clean all breaks after arrival at home and while I'm at it some more break repair.

If anyone is keen, I will send some pictures and maybe a little video of my Fraser trip after the editing.

Happy new year,
Jens

Von meinem iPad gesendet
6
Hi Jens,
Glad you are mobile again, where are you heading, South,? North ? What wax did you use for under the car ? Did you thin it so that you could spray it or did you use pressure tins?
Totsiens Hart

Sent from my iPetersilienSchneidBrett

On 01/01/2014, at 9:57 PM, "Jens Baufeldt" <jens.baufeldt@me.com> wrote:

 

Thanks for the detailed reply, I am on the road again after installing a used one that was still in good order. I did check the bearings and washed the shift linkage, lots of WD40 was sprayed into some moving parts.
Will work my way through your suggestions and luckily I did some sort of preparation before I went on tip there. I wax-sprayed lots of parts under the van including the inside of the rails and so on. Will check and clean all breaks after arrival at home and while I'm at it some more break repair.

If anyone is keen, I will send some pictures and maybe a little video of my Fraser trip after the editing.

Happy new year,
Jens

Von meinem iPad gesendet

7
hi Hart,

i used Würth spray wax in a can. it is called "Hohlraumversiegelung" i emptied 2 cans under my car. i read a few experience reports on that stuff and only found good reports.

am in Byron for a few days before heading down past Port Macquarie.

Jens



Am 02.01.2014 um 19:46 schrieb Hartmut Kiehn <hartis@live.com.au>:

 

Hi Jens,
Glad you are mobile again, where are you heading, South,? North ? What wax did you use for under the car ? Did you thin it so that you could spray it or did you use pressure tins?
Totsiens Hart

Sent from my iPetersilienSchneidBrett

On 01/01/2014, at 9:57 PM, "Jens Baufeldt" <jens.baufeldt@me.com> wrote:

 

Thanks for the detailed reply, I am on the road again after installing a used one that was still in good order. I did check the bearings and washed the shift linkage, lots of WD40 was sprayed into some moving parts.
Will work my way through your suggestions and luckily I did some sort of preparation before I went on tip there. I wax-sprayed lots of parts under the van including the inside of the rails and so on. Will check and clean all breaks after arrival at home and while I'm at it some more break repair.

If anyone is keen, I will send some pictures and maybe a little video of my Fraser trip after the editing.

Happy new year,
Jens

Von meinem iPad gesendet



8
Jens, if you are interested, go out to Tyagarah Airfield on the Southern side of the airfield and ask for Macca he would take you up in a motor glider , VW powered of course, and he you can soar at the cliff under the light house tower. Let us know so that I can let Macca know to charge you next to very little. Hart
Also , when coming down from BB look us up please, you can camp here also, power avail plus your own amenities . 2mins off the Pacific Goat Track.

Sent from my iPad

On 02/01/2014, at 9:02 PM, "Jens Baufeldt" <jens.baufeldt@me.com> wrote:

 

hi Hart,


i used Würth spray wax in a can. it is called "Hohlraumversiegelung" i emptied 2 cans under my car. i read a few experience reports on that stuff and only found good reports.

am in Byron for a few days before heading down past Port Macquarie.

Jens



Am 02.01.2014 um 19:46 schrieb Hartmut Kiehn <hartis@live.com.au>:

 

Hi Jens,
Glad you are mobile again, where are you heading, South,? North ? What wax did you use for under the car ? Did you thin it so that you could spray it or did you use pressure tins?
Totsiens Hart

Sent from my iPetersilienSchneidBrett

On 01/01/2014, at 9:57 PM, "Jens Baufeldt" <jens.baufeldt@me.com> wrote:

 

Thanks for the detailed reply, I am on the road again after installing a used one that was still in good order. I did check the bearings and washed the shift linkage, lots of WD40 was sprayed into some moving parts.
Will work my way through your suggestions and luckily I did some sort of preparation before I went on tip there. I wax-sprayed lots of parts under the van including the inside of the rails and so on. Will check and clean all breaks after arrival at home and while I'm at it some more break repair.

If anyone is keen, I will send some pictures and maybe a little video of my Fraser trip after the editing.

Happy new year,
Jens

Von meinem iPad gesendet



9
Ben,

Great to hear you are up and enjoying Hat Head - Is that track down to Port fully open this year or have the drug mules taken over?

I had a look at Bentleys and the rear lock is called the "centre lock".

That lock can be adjusted up and down and in an out - just with the screws - it also has a "plastic spacer clip" at the mouth to the back area of the lock which can be adjusted along to allow it to move in and out.

The rear hinge can also be adjusted up and down back and forth .

It seems the door is set down too low for the striker and isn't fully grabbing the rear striker and therefore releases upon vibration.

A common problem I think with sliding doors that have been adjusted. Bay kombis have a similar problem.

Best of luck.

Cheers,

Skot


On 2/01/2014 8:14 PM, Ben Croft wrote:

Hello group, I am away here in hat head and I am having trouble with my sliding door popping open on rough tracks.This is a problem I have only had since the door has been off when it was repaired.It pops open at the back whilst the front of the door stays locked.I have adjusted the striker with no luck.I know of no other adjustments.Am I missing an adjustment somewhere?Please help as it is driving me nuts.thanx
BenC


From: spbconsulting@bigpond.com <spbconsulting@bigpond.com>;
To: <Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com>;
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Re: Stranded in Montville, QLD
Sent: Wed, Jan 1, 2014 11:36:28 AM

Jens,

Great to hear you are back on the road easily - I see your syncro is very keen to a trip on the back of a tow truck like mine has and all my kombis have.

I would love to see your instalment of the Fraser syncro 4wd adventure - love the place and did it in a Mitsubishi L300 4wd (poor man's syncro) about 17 years ago - would love to do it in my syncro.

Looking forward to your video/ photos.

Cheers,

Skot

On 1/01/2014 9:57 PM, Jens Baufeldt wrote:

Thanks for the detailed reply, I am on the road again after installing a used one that was still in good order. I did check the bearings and washed the shift linkage, lots of WD40 was sprayed into some moving parts.
Will work my way through your suggestions and luckily I did some sort of preparation before I went on tip there. I wax-sprayed lots of parts under the van including the inside of the rails and so on. Will check and clean all breaks after arrival at home and while I'm at it some more break repair.

If anyone is keen, I will send some pictures and maybe a little video of my Fraser trip after the editing.

Happy new year,
Jens

Von meinem iPad gesendet

10

Hi Ben, had same problem when I first got my van 20 years ago. With the door open get a screwdriver or rod so you can simulate the latch closing over the striker. Notice it has 2 stages. First stage is where it pops open to once it slips past the second, fully closed stage. With the latch in the fully closed stage you will see what looks like two hooks that clasp each other over the striker. If those hooks wear down so that they look more like two "L's" , they will slip & let go with vibrations. You gotta get those two hooks looking like hooks or J's again so they have better "grab "over the striker. I did mine with the door & latch in place with a small file . A 90 degree dremmel would be ideal but would be easiest with the latch off. Oh yeah , try other , easier adjustments first as they might work. Hope this helps if all else fails. Cheers & happy new year Eddie.

11
Thanks Skot and Eddie.I Have had a play around with the door and lock and striker this morning.I am limited to what I can do as I don't have a No 3 Phillips screwdriver and haven't been able to test as I have been parked in by a king hi tide which I am waiting to subside.
Fingers crossed as I want to head down Harts way on Sunday and my wife gets the shits when I tell her to get in the back so she can shut the door whilst we are on the move.

and yeah Skot the gate is not even there this year,I have been through a number of times,yesterday a group of us got out onto the sand dunes on Hungary beach and all of us got stuck in different places,the worst of us was a Jeep AWD that took us ages to did out up to its running boards.Photos coming soon.

Hart,are you at home?I have no service on my phone here,I am borrowing internet from a mate.

BenC

From: bergodaz@ozemail.com.au <bergodaz@ozemail.com.au>;
To: <Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com>;
Subject: [Syncro_T3_Australia] RE: Sliding door
Sent: Thu, Jan 2, 2014 10:14:31 PM

Hi Ben, had same problem when I first got my van 20 years ago. With the door open get a screwdriver or rod so you can simulate the latch closing over the striker. Notice it has 2 stages. First stage is where it pops open to once it slips past the second, fully closed stage. With the latch in the fully closed stage you will see what looks like two hooks that clasp each other over the striker. If those hooks wear down so that they look more like two "L's" , they will slip & let go with vibrations. You gotta get those two hooks looking like hooks or J's again so they have better "grab "over the striker. I did mine with the door & latch in place with a small file . A 90 degree dremmel would be ideal but would be easiest with the latch off. Oh yeah , try other , easier adjustments first as they might work. Hope this helps if all else fails. Cheers & happy new year Eddie.
12
Hi Ben, HAve a great New Year ! Yes , 2013 was a bummer, can only get better if we get a grip on the inflationary development of our economy. As it is now we all are getting poorer every single day.

Yes , we will be here and can fix the darn door (not barn door). Have got the No 3 driver. 

For the last few days go into the lagoon and chill out mate....



On 03/01/2014, at 2:24 PM, Ben Croft wrote:

 

Thanks Skot and Eddie.I Have had a play around with the door and lock and striker this morning.I am limited to what I can do as I don't have a No 3 Phillips screwdriver and haven't been able to test as I have been parked in by a king hi tide which I am waiting to subside.
Fi

13
I arrived home tonight,all good.
No more sliding door issues.I adjusted the striker out further after checking the lock mechanism and tested it on Sunday on my way down to Port to visit Hart.Went down Plomer road which I dont enjoy the corrugations shake the bejesus out of you.If the door doesnt come open over that road it never will.
Looking foward to some syncro get togethers this year with others at the Nationals,Valla and Old bar.

Heres an action shot just for Skot.



On Friday, 3 January 2014 3:39 PM, Hartmut <hartis@live.com.au> wrote:
 
Hi Ben, HAve a great New Year ! Yes , 2013 was a bummer, can only get better if we get a grip on the inflationary development of our economy. As it is now we all are getting poorer every single day.

Yes , we will be here and can fix the darn door (not barn door). Have got the No 3 driver. 

For the last few days go into the lagoon and chill out mate....



On 03/01/2014, at 2:24 PM, Ben Croft wrote:

 
Thanks Skot and Eddie.I Have had a play around with the door and lock and striker this morning.I am limited to what I can do as I don't have a No 3 Phillips screwdriver and haven't been able to test as I have been parked in by a king hi tide which I am waiting to subside.
Fi


14
Nice Ben.

Looks like you were digging a hole - or 4!

Cheers,

Skot

On 7/01/2014 11:21 PM, Ben Croft wrote:
I arrived home tonight,all good.
No more sliding door issues.I adjusted the striker out further after checking the lock mechanism and tested it on Sunday on my way down to Port to visit Hart.Went down Plomer road which I dont enjoy the corrugations shake the bejesus out of you.If the door doesnt come open over that road it never will.
Looking foward to some syncro get togethers this year with others at the Nationals,Valla and Old bar.

Heres an action shot just for Skot.



On Friday, 3 January 2014 3:39 PM, Hartmut <hartis@live.com.au> wrote:
Hi Ben, HAve a great New Year ! Yes , 2013 was a bummer, can only get better if we get a grip on the inflationary development of our economy. As it is now we all are getting poorer every single day.

Yes , we will be here and can fix the darn door (not barn door). Have got the No 3 driver.

For the last few days go into the lagoon and chill out mate....



On 03/01/2014, at 2:24 PM, Ben Croft wrote:

Thanks Skot and Eddie.I Have had a play around with the door and lock and striker this morning.I am limited to what I can do as I don't have a No 3 Phillips screwdriver and haven't been able to test as I have been parked in by a king hi tide which I am waiting to subside.
Fi