Newbie Question - Shifting suddenly difficult !

Dave,
We are happy to have you join us. Ignore the
pinheads that fuss.

I'm 80 and learn from the Barn every day.

Hint: all my old cars are parked on used carpet. Easier on the back AND BRING A FULL ROLL OF PAPER TOWELS WITH YOU. MOMA WILL THINK YOU ARE BEING NEAT, BUT THE ROLL MAKES A GREAT HEAD PILLOW.

What town are you near?
 
Dave in the future, Mitchell makes a ****** dip stick (I think all of the vendors sell it) that you can install and check from above. If the floor boards are new, cut a hole in it and hinge it. Then flip it up when you want to check it. Assuming that there is oil in it, and since it just started last week it is possible that something loosened up in the clutch (adj. the fingers or the arm) or maybe grease/replace the throw out bearing.

Mike
 
I think the very first thing I would check is to make sure the engine throttle lever on the steering column is fully backed off so the engine is not ideling too high. This will cause the gears to grind when shifting. Do this and go for a test ride and see if it solved your problem.
 
Here’s a thought ? Has the temperature dropped in pa.? When it’s cold, it certainly harder to shift——- at first, but gets easier as oil warms up.
I say, get someone to check oil level use your, or their, finger in the fill hole.
 
Thanks guys ... good advice and suggestions from all. Will try to go under the car today to check the trans oil level. (if I can still find the strength after putting up the outside Christmas lights, etc.). Oh, and I’m quite interested in those suggestions about a lower idle speed. I might be guilty there ... just never paid much attention to it. (so much to learn, so little time)

I’ll report back ...

And Clem, I’m about midpoint between Reading and Lebanon, on 422. Nearest towns are
Robesonia (east) and Myerstown (west)
 
Looks like you're out by Reading. I live in Malvern, PA, not too far from you. For sure check the level, but it could just be the colder weather. My A's are always harder to shift once the temps drop and the 600W turns to goo. After the transmission warms up a bit things go back to normal. Happens every year and we have had below freezing temps fairy routinely now. There is a very active driving club in your area called the Active A's with lots of helpful people.
 
Wayne (rosenkranswa) ... I was very interested to hear about the Active A's (been searching for a local club) but I fear they're out of business.

Their website hasn't been updated since 2012 and my email to them ten minutes ago
was returned as un-deliverable.

But thanks, anyway. Dave
 
On my car the floor boards are not screwed down. Which makes it really easy to check the trans oil. Mine was a inch low. The gears take up most of the space in that section so it was just a cup low. my plug was stuck a bit. Hitting a dead blow mallet into a crescent wrench can take the strain out of a stuck plug. I have the screw kits in new bags. And when my car gets back together I will probably screw the front board down fully and just put two in the larger floor board.
 
Dave Young said:
Wayne (rosenkranswa) ... I was very interested to hear about the Active A's (been searching for a local club) but I fear they're out of business.

Their website hasn't been updated since 2012 and my email to them ten minutes ago
was returned as un-deliverable.

But thanks, anyway. Dave
Click to expand...

Hmm........might need to change their name to "Inactive A's".:D
 
Some of the old members may still be active or better yet, looking for someone to rub elbows with. Join the national club of your choice and get the member rosters. A little detective work might be the next hobby......... or just look at the above post !
 
Ok ... an update. I did manage to get under the car. Actually found the transmission, the drain plug and the fill plug. Unfortunately, I couldn’t move the fill plug. No way. It’s gonna
need to be up on a lift with a beefy mechanic with more strength in his wrists than I have.

But as I was crawling out from under the car (didn’t need the rope) a neighbor strolled up and asked what the problem was. Turns out, he once owned a model A and knows a hell of a lot more about them than I do. I explained the situation and he checked my clutch pedal.

Here’s your problem ... way too much play in the pedal and desperately in need of an adjustment. He explained why, and it made a lot of sense. So my next task is to find
someone who knows how to adjust it and can do it for me. (he didn’t offer and I didn’t ask)

I’ll conclude this thread when I can solve the problem. I’ve heard rumors of a mythical
mechanic who knows model A’s. I’ll try to track him down next week.

Thanks for all your comments and good suggestions. I appreciate them. Cheers, Dave
 
This is an easy one if everything was OK before. Not much to clutch free play adjustment, do a little research on how to do it and slide under there with a couple wrenches for a minute or two.

John
 
Just remove the pin from the clutch adjusting rod, then turn the rod to take up the freeplay. You need about 3/4" pedal movement before the bearing touches the 6 fingers on the pressure plate.
 
The Active A's are alive and well, but are no longer a MARC chapter, now under the AACA umbrella. Contact: Membership Chairman, Bob Collins, 610-384-0236, rlcollins@verizon.net. We don't have a lot of younger folks in the club that are interested in maintaining the website, unfortunately.

We unfortunately just lost a longtime member last month and former MARC President, Don Ludwig.

Good Model A mechanic in the area is Mike Etling in Aston, PA, down towards Wilmington: Modelamechanic@gmail.com, 610-505-4504. Aston's about a half-hour south of me. For engine work, Ora Landis at Schwalms out by Intercourse. Rag Tops in Pottstown works on Model A's as well. Used to be a really good guy in Downingtown but he retired and went out of business.
 
Dave, you learned a good lesson. Before you drain fluid from ****** be sure you can open the fill plug. Nothing more frustrating than draining out the fluid and finding out you can't fill it. This applies to any car, not just As.
 
heneste said:
Sorry to hear some have given you a hard time, questions are made to be asked. Anyways, it could be a slow leak that occurs when the car is in gear on the road or the gears could be splashing the oil through the vent hole on the top of the transmission. Is it possible the clutch may need adjustment? I'm thinking the pedal may not be travelling as far as it should if the clutch has become worn. Keep us updated on what you find and hope it's easy to fix.
Click to expand...

I agree on adjusting the clutch.
 
Dave, so here's the thing. Yes, your clutch needs adjustment, and Tom explained exactly how to do it, but why would your clutch it be out of adjustment this week and work perfectly last week? It's because your clutch release arm is slowly letting go. Happened on a friend's car last summer. Clutch not releasing , so he adjusted the clutch, and it worked a few miles and then the release arm finally broke. Those arms are sneaky, because they sometimes don't snap at once, bit rather, slowly give way. Soooo...when your mechanic is adjusting your clutch, get him to inspect that release arm very carefully. If it's cracked, or looks like the one in my photo, then replace it and you will never have another problem with your clutch. Happy motoring! mike
 

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