Vacuum Operated Air Clutch Help

[RMartens]

Wilmac body on VW trike, Springer front end. Not sure who built it. Both brake levers operate single master cylinder. Shifter sticks out hole in left side. Has a wire running up shifter handle, no sign of switch. Clutch arm attached to what looks like an air brake actuator, plumbed to air tank and electric valve and carb and manifold vacuum. What do I have here?

[Sidecarbill]

You have an automatic stick shift. The clutch should disengage as soon as you touch the shifter. Take your hand off after the shift and it reengages.

[RMartens]

Thanks @SideCarBill! I didn't get many pictures, but was the vacuum tank also part of the semi-automatic or was it possibly added later? I tried to add a photo--we'll see if I succeeded.

[RMartens]

Did a vacuum tank come with that set up or is the one I have custom? Will try to attach picture to next reply, thinking maybe attachment is killing my replies.

[RMartens]

Photo attached, I hope.

[DeathBySnuSnu]

Vw called it an "Autostick"

The 3 speed box is a manual shift like any other vw.

There was never a full auto in a beetle.....this Autostick is as close as the beetle ever got.

Functionally it had NO clutch pedal.

The vacuum servo workes a small clutch for you. The vac servo is actuated by a switch on the stick shift lever. The switch is sensitive, just the weight of your hand on the stick will activate the clutch.

It will idle in gear at a stop light because it has a torque converter much like a full auto would.

So you would put foot on brake.

Put hand on shifter.

Select first gear.

Remove hand.

Let off brake.

Apply throttle

Drive off in 1st gear like and automatic.

Get done with first.

Put hand on shifter.

Select next gear.

Remove hand.

Apply throttle.

Get done with 2nd

Put hand on shifter.

Select 3rd gear.

Remove hand from shifter.

Continue in down the road.

Come to a stop light.

Stop and wait until time to go like an automatic.

Press the throttle.

Forgot that you left it in third gear.

Put foot on brake.

Put hand on shifter.

Select first gear

Remove hand from shifter.

And take off again and repeat.

How it works

The torque converter runs on auto trans fluid. It has its own tank and oil lines. The pressure pump for the hydraulics is piggy backed into to engine oil pump. It is a specialized pump on for the Autostick....and rare and hard to get

The clutch works on vacuum. Micro switch on shift lever turns on a solenoid valve. Which draws a diaphragm that is connected to the throw out lever. It also has its own vacuum reservoir tank and hoses.

[Sidecarbill]

I mostly don't shift. 2nd around town 3rd on any road above 50mph. Mines a gutless wonder and it doesn't make much difference what gear i pull away in.

[stacebg]

Vw called it an "Autostick"

The 3 speed box is a manual shift like any other vw.

There was never a full auto in a beetle.....this Autostick is as close as the beetle ever got.

Functionally it had NO clutch pedal.

The vacuum servo workes a small clutch for you. The vac servo is actuated by a switch on the stick shift lever. The switch is sensitive, just the weight of your hand on the stick will activate the clutch.

It will idle in gear at a stop light because it has a torque converter much like a full auto would.

So you would put foot on brake.

Put hand on shifter.

Select first gear.

Remove hand.

Let off brake.

Apply throttle

Drive off in 1st gear like and automatic.

Get done with first.

Put hand on shifter.

Select next gear.

Remove hand.

Apply throttle.

Get done with 2nd

Put hand on shifter.

Select 3rd gear.

Remove hand from shifter.

Continue in down the road.

Come to a stop light.

Stop and wait until time to go like an automatic.

Press the throttle.

Forgot that you left it in third gear.

Put foot on brake.

Put hand on shifter.

Select first gear

Remove hand from shifter.

And take off again and repeat.

How it works

The torque converter runs on auto trans fluid. It has its own tank and oil lines. The pressure pump for the hydraulics is piggy backed into to engine oil pump. It is a specialized pump on for the Autostick....and rare and hard to get

The clutch works on vacuum. Micro switch on shift lever turns on a solenoid valve. Which draws a diaphragm that is connected to the throw out lever. It also has its own vacuum reservoir tank and hoses.

thanks i knew the function but never knew how it worked .... very interesting