Add me to the list of folks who have successfully push-started many times,
both my 85 and my previous '78. I've always heeded the dire warnings about
the case splitting and letting the innards out, so I've always used 2nd
gear, sometimes 3rd if going fast enough. Always be gentle on the clutch,
striking a compromise between getting the motor to spin and start vs.
stopping the momentum of the roll. If I think there's a chance of needing
to do this, I'll always park in such a way that I can roll out, and have
never had to try it in reverse, as that seems to be the gear that invites
trouble.

I agree it's not the best thing to do for the trans or the catastrophic
converter, but I figure the trans is spared (somewhat) with the easy clutch
movements and the cat is spared as mine has always started right up, so
minimal gas goes unburned.

When I was in school, I had a '68 MB diesel which was somewhat fond of
sleeping in on cold mornings. Before I could afford a real battery for it,
I'd be able to get one good glow and crank, after that it was just enough
to glow and roll down the street, when it would always start (well, almost
always). If the street was dry, 2nd gear. If it was wet, 4th gear and
crossed fingers (any lower gear would lock the wheels up).  Fortunately,
I've not had to do this in any car for some time now (testing the Vanagon
Gods here).

steve
'85 westy
kent, wa