Syncro's Viscous Coupling System Description

1

 

 

Hi Folks,
I think the following U.S, posting could interest many of our members.Don't suppose anyone is aware of this video and/or similar ones being posted on the Net for viewing?
Cheers
Roger
 
Syncro's Viscous Coupling System Description

Posted by: "SyncroHead@aol.com" SyncroHead@aol.com   syncro4me

Thu Jul 2, 2009 9:14 am (PDT)



Syncronuts,

I've just re-watched an old video from VW's marketing department made in
1987. I believe it was intended to show to potential customer in dealer
showrooms. I've transcribed an excerpt of the video here that describes the
Syncro's viscous coupling system below. Please note that VW never said the
Syncro was for off-roading and the context of this description is for improved
performance in on-road conditions, especially in wet/icy conditions.

============ ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ==
VOLKSWAGEN COMMUNICATION NETWORK, VW VANAGON VIDEO - 1987

"Syncro is not just four-wheel drive, it's better. Conventional four-wheel
drive systems commonly used today have several disadvantages.
- They're designed for part-time use.
- The driver must switch them on.
- They require a heavy and bulky transfer case.
- They make steering difficult since the front and rear wheels
can't turn at their own normal speed during cornering.
This can also cause tire scrubbing, increased tire wear,
and reduced traction.

"The Vanagon Syncro's system avoids these by replacing the bulky transfer
case with a compact, lightweight viscous coupling which sends power to the
front wheels only when necessary on a need-to-have basis. The viscous
coupling uses two sets of 24 plates surrounded by a special silicon fluid. One
set is attached to the rear wheels, the other to the front. If the rear
wheels lose traction and begin slipping, the attached plates begin to spin. As
they spin, they heat the silicon fluid which quickly thickens to lock the
plates together sending power to the front wheels. This entire process
occurs automatically within one tenth of a second providing traction at all
four wheels instantly without the need to shift.

"In addition, the Syncro system reduces the tire scrubbing associated with
cornering and four-wheel drive. Syncro allows each wheel to turn at its own
speed. All this means you get better performance under poor conditions
when you need it most."
============ ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =====

While this is a obviously a marketing message, not an engineering document,
I believe it provides a succinct, generally accurate description of the
Syncro's all-wheel drive system.

The video's "marketing" bent and associated "puffing" can be noted
elsewhere in the video where they describe the 2.1L engine as "strong" and
"robust". I'd say that's pretty optimistic, but when the context was that they'd
recently upgraded from the less powerful 1.9L engine, the 2.1L is indeed
stronger. Another place where the video's script is not so accurate is
"providing traction at all four wheels". Technically, no drive system can provide traction as that's a result of the friction between the tire and the road
surface. It would have been more accurate to state that the Syncro system
can "provide power to all four wheels".

This is not intended to provide any sort of authoritative description of
how the viscous coupling system works, but it does show how VW described its operation.

Regards,
Jim Davis

Access Yahoo!7 Mail on your mobile. Anytime. Anywhere. Show me how.
2
I've probably seen this video, or ones like it. I don't regard them as hard to find or view.
It is nice factory propaganda ....
and I do believe the stock syncro is magically quite capable, within limits of course.
 
the debate rages here about keeping the VC, .......or ......
after putting in a decoupler, so it can run in RWD  on pavement, then off road, with a Solid Shaft in place of the VC , there is much better off road performance........but you loose on-pavement AWD of course, which I would never do personally. I want the on-pavement AWD capability. 
But for SERIOUS off road types.....
evidently only a solid shaft in place of the VC will make it. 
 
My ideal set up would be a de-coupler, but keep the VC also.
Scott
Oregon, USA
----- Original Message -----
From: Roger Bell
Sent: Friday, July 03, 2009 8:38 AM
Subject: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Syncro's Viscous Coupling System Description

 

 

Hi Folks,
I think the following U.S, posting could interest many of our members.Don' t suppose anyone is aware of this video and/or similar ones being posted on the Net for viewing?
Cheers
Roger
Syncro's Viscous Coupling System Description

Posted by: "SyncroHead@ aol.com" SyncroHead@aol. com   syncro4me

Thu Jul 2, 2009 9:14 am (PDT)



Syncronuts,

I've just re-watched an old video from VW's marketing department made in
1987. I believe it was intended to show to potential customer in dealer
showrooms. I've transcribed an excerpt of the video here that describes the
Syncro's viscous coupling system below. Please note that VW never said the
Syncro was for off-roading and the context of this description is for improved
performance in on-road conditions, especially in wet/icy conditions.

============ ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ==
VOLKSWAGEN COMMUNICATION NETWORK, VW VANAGON VIDEO - 1987

"Syncro is not just four-wheel drive, it's better. Conventional four-wheel
drive systems commonly used today have several disadvantages.
- They're designed for part-time use.
- The driver must switch them on.
- They require a heavy and bulky transfer case.
- They make steering difficult since the front and rear wheels
can't turn at their own normal speed during cornering.
This can also cause tire scrubbing, increased tire wear,
and reduced traction.

"The Vanagon Syncro's system avoids these by replacing the bulky transfer
case with a compact, lightweight viscous coupling which sends power to the
front wheels only when necessary on a need-to-have basis. The viscous
coupling uses two sets of 24 plates surrounded by a special silicon fluid. One
set is attached to the rear wheels, the other to the front. If the rear
wheels lose traction and begin slipping, the attached plates begin to spin. As
they spin, they heat the silicon fluid which quickly thickens to lock the
plates together sending power to the front wheels. This entire process
occurs automatically within one tenth of a second providing traction at all
four wheels instantly without the need to shift.

"In addition, the Syncro system reduces the tire scrubbing associated with
cornering and four-wheel drive. Syncro allows each wheel to turn at its own
speed. All this means you get better performance under poor conditions
when you need it most."
============ ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =====

While this is a obviously a marketing message, not an engineering document,
I believe it provides a succinct, generally accurate description of the
Syncro's all-wheel drive system.

The video's "marketing" bent and associated "puffing" can be noted
elsewhere in the video where they describe the 2.1L engine as "strong" and
"robust". I'd say that's pretty optimistic, but when the context was that they'd
recently upgraded from the less powerful 1.9L engine, the 2.1L is indeed
stronger. Another place where the video's script is not so accurate is
"providing traction at all four wheels". Technically, no drive system can provide traction as that's a result of the friction between the tire and the road
surface. It would have been more accurate to state that the Syncro system
can "provide power to all four wheels".

This is not intended to provide any sort of authoritative description of
how the viscous coupling system works, but it does show how VW described its operation.

Regards,
Jim Davis

Access Yahoo!7 Mail on your mobile. Anytime. Anywhere. Show me how.

3
Hi Roger

It is actually on our Syncro Website (www.syncro.com.au) under videos.

There are 3 parts.

The first is here: http://www.syncro.com.au/Volkswagen-Syncro-Introduction-Video

Enjoy!

Mark.

On Sat, Jul 4, 2009 at 1:38 AM, Roger Bell <bellrmit@yahoo.com.au> wrote:


Hi Folks,
I think the following U.S, posting could interest many of our members.Don't suppose anyone is aware of this video and/or similar ones being posted on the Net for viewing?
Cheers
Roger
Syncro's Viscous Coupling System Description

Posted by: "SyncroHead@aol.com" SyncroHead@aol.com syncro4me

Thu Jul 2, 2009 9:14 am (PDT)



Syncronuts,

I've just re-watched an old video from VW's marketing department made in
1987. I believe it was intended to show to potential customer in dealer
showrooms. I've transcribed an excerpt of the video here that describes the
Syncro's viscous coupling system below. Please note that VW never said the
Syncro was for off-roading and the context of this description is for improved
performance in on-road conditions, especially in wet/icy conditions.

============ ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ==
VOLKSWAGEN COMMUNICATION NETWORK, VW VANAGON VIDEO - 1987

"Syncro is not just four-wheel drive, it's better. Conventional four-wheel
drive systems commonly used today have several disadvantages.
- They're designed for part-time use.
- The driver must switch them on.
- They require a heavy and bulky transfer case.
- They make steering difficult since the front and rear wheels
can't turn at their own normal speed during cornering.
This can also cause tire scrubbing, increased tire wear,
and reduced traction.

"The Vanagon Syncro's system avoids these by replacing the bulky transfer
case with a compact, lightweight viscous coupling which sends power to the
front wheels only when necessary on a need-to-have basis. The viscous
coupling uses two sets of 24 plates surrounded by a special silicon fluid. One
set is attached to the rear wheels, the other to the front. If the rear
wheels lose traction and begin slipping, the attached plates begin to spin. As
they spin, they heat the silicon fluid which quickly thickens to lock the
plates together sending power to the front wheels. This entire process
occurs automatically within one tenth of a second providing traction at all
four wheels instantly without the need to shift.

"In addition, the Syncro system reduces the tire scrubbing associated with
cornering and four-wheel drive. Syncro allows each wheel to turn at its own
speed. All this means you get better performance under poor conditions
when you need it most."
============ ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =====

While this is a obviously a marketing message, not an engineering document,
I believe it provides a succinct, generally accurate description of the
Syncro's all-wheel drive system.

The video's "marketing" bent and associated "puffing" can be noted
elsewhere in the video where they describe the 2.1L engine as "strong" and
"robust". I'd say that's pretty optimistic, but when the context was that they'd
recently upgraded from the less powerful 1.9L engine, the 2.1L is indeed
stronger. Another place where the video's script is not so accurate is
"providing traction at all four wheels". Technically, no drive system can provide traction as that's a result of the friction between the tire and the road
surface. It would have been more accurate to state that the Syncro system
can "provide power to all four wheels".

This is not intended to provide any sort of authoritative description of
how the viscous coupling system works, but it does show how VW described its operation.

Regards,
Jim Davis

Access Yahoo!7 Mail on your mobile. Anytime. Anywhere. Show me how.