Thanks for all the advice and the video link, really wish I had seen
that before I started this whole mess.

Got the flywheel off, looks like the damage to the case isn't too bad:
http://share.ovi.com/media/t_w.public/t_w.10119

Would this warrant any dremeling, as per Ken's suggestion?

Also, it looks like the innermost (widest) shim got bent at the outer edge:
http://share.ovi.com/media/t_w.public/t_w.10120

Assume that needs to be replaced as well, and that it is a dealer-only
item? (Murphys law and all that...)

--Thomas

On Sun, Sep 14, 2008 at 6:12 PM, Ken Lewis <kdlewis@northstate.net> wrote:
> Thomas,
> The first thing that comes to mind: The thrust washer has dropped and was
> subsequently pinched between the case and flywheel. This usually results in
> damage to the case.  Careful application of he proper Dremel tool may repair
> damage.
>
> Ken"I hate it when that happens." Lewis
> http://neksiwel.20m.com/
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Thomas Wilsher" <tw67syncro@GMAIL.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Sunday, September 14, 2008 8:48 PM
> Subject: [VANAGON] Crankshaft stuck?
>
>
>> I'm in the process of changing the clutch on my '87 Syncro, and since
>> the front crankshaft seal appeared to be original one I went ahead and
>> changed that while I have the tranny droppped. However, when I
>> proceeded to put the flywheel back on I was surprised to see that I
>> didn't have to block the flywheel in any way when tightening the bolts
>> back on, the way I had to do when I took the same flywheel off. I am
>> completely unable to turn the flywheel with my hands, it seems frozen
>> solid. Could this be due to anything I did when changing the
>> crankshaft seal or taking the flywheel off? The shims behind the seal
>> itself are all in place and in the same order as when I took the seal
>> out , though they did seem to move around a bit when I put the new
>> seal back on. The new seal is perfectly flush with the surrounding
>> bellhousing, I installed it by pushing on the outer edge only.
>> Any ideas? Am I just being paranoid? Certainly would hate to put the
>> transmission back on and then find that the engine still won't turn...
>>
>> As an aside, I did try searching the archives, but it seems the search
>> engine just times out these days. Any help is greatly appreciated.
>>
>> --Thomas
>>
>
>