turbo pete
06-01-2002, 21:07
How long would you estimate it would take to do a clutch on a VW polo.
I looked at the job and thought I'll do it Saturday. Get up nice and early. Finsihed by evening at the very latest. If I were waiting for a mechanic to do it I would have guessed 3 hours tops.
Well the nightmare began at 8.30am. The haynes manual (which I have now found a use for - yes - starting fires) suggested removing the washer bottle. Presumably to make space. As I remove it the dam thing start leaking everywhere. Turns out the hole in the washer bottle is partially sealed by the holder. That explains why the missus goes through washer fluid every two days. Hmmm - after I had given her a rollocking for excessive washer fluid use as well. Best keep that quiet.
So now I have a clutch and a washer bottle to fix. Do I glue/fill it or get a 2nd? Either way it will involve fannying around some more.
Next I go for the drive shafts. Silly allen key bolts so care taken. Whilst I am doing this I am getting dripped on. i ask my assistant to check that the washer bottle has been removed. Hmmm - is it melting snow. NO it is a leaking gasket. Coolant now steadily dripping away. So I decide to empty the coolant to stop me getting soaked. Off comes the bottom hose expecting a nice neat flow of coolant into the bucket. No - it goes sideways, upwards, etc. Now I have a puddle the size of the car.
Eventually the gear box is removed. Now it should be plain sailing. WRONG. 6 bolts on the pressure plate. First five are easy. ^th one and the allen key head strips. Tried mole wrench, tried cutting a groove and using a screwdriver. Tried an impact driver. 3hours later it comes off with a hammer and punch.
Can I finish it in the 2hours before I have to knock off. Easy. Wrong - the clutch I have been given is the wrong one. Shop now closed.
SUNDAY
refreshed. Go shopping. Found a sunday trader with correct clutch. Now I need a bolt to replace the jiggered one. Turns out it is an M7. So not only do VW use crappy allen key bolts which shear off with the smallest amount of rust but they also use an M7 thread. Nobody uses an M7. Hence nobody stocks M7 bolts.
Now I will have to wait until nest weekend to do the job and get parts this week. my car is sitting on the cold cause I can't get it in the garage and I am losing my patience.
Grrrrr
Turbo pete
I looked at the job and thought I'll do it Saturday. Get up nice and early. Finsihed by evening at the very latest. If I were waiting for a mechanic to do it I would have guessed 3 hours tops.
Well the nightmare began at 8.30am. The haynes manual (which I have now found a use for - yes - starting fires) suggested removing the washer bottle. Presumably to make space. As I remove it the dam thing start leaking everywhere. Turns out the hole in the washer bottle is partially sealed by the holder. That explains why the missus goes through washer fluid every two days. Hmmm - after I had given her a rollocking for excessive washer fluid use as well. Best keep that quiet.
So now I have a clutch and a washer bottle to fix. Do I glue/fill it or get a 2nd? Either way it will involve fannying around some more.
Next I go for the drive shafts. Silly allen key bolts so care taken. Whilst I am doing this I am getting dripped on. i ask my assistant to check that the washer bottle has been removed. Hmmm - is it melting snow. NO it is a leaking gasket. Coolant now steadily dripping away. So I decide to empty the coolant to stop me getting soaked. Off comes the bottom hose expecting a nice neat flow of coolant into the bucket. No - it goes sideways, upwards, etc. Now I have a puddle the size of the car.
Eventually the gear box is removed. Now it should be plain sailing. WRONG. 6 bolts on the pressure plate. First five are easy. ^th one and the allen key head strips. Tried mole wrench, tried cutting a groove and using a screwdriver. Tried an impact driver. 3hours later it comes off with a hammer and punch.
Can I finish it in the 2hours before I have to knock off. Easy. Wrong - the clutch I have been given is the wrong one. Shop now closed.
SUNDAY
refreshed. Go shopping. Found a sunday trader with correct clutch. Now I need a bolt to replace the jiggered one. Turns out it is an M7. So not only do VW use crappy allen key bolts which shear off with the smallest amount of rust but they also use an M7 thread. Nobody uses an M7. Hence nobody stocks M7 bolts.
Now I will have to wait until nest weekend to do the job and get parts this week. my car is sitting on the cold cause I can't get it in the garage and I am losing my patience.
Grrrrr
Turbo pete