Your guess at the cause?

Roger V

Roger V

Well-known member
A friend just called this morning that he was broke down in his '30 Townsedan. At a stoplight, he tried to get going and couldn't so coasted into a parking lot. The engine is running, the gear lever shifts, no noise, but won't move. Seems like a broken axle but the drums are close (as normal) to the backing plates. With it in gear and pushing , there was a slight sound listening with the hood open but couldn't narrow it down as trans or telescoping up the torque tube. A flatbed arrived and that's the last I saw of it. Your guess?
 
if the speedometer moves when put in gear its a problem behind the transmission. if it does not move its clutch or trans problem
 
I had a similar problem twice. The first time it was the main input shaft on the transmission broke in two. No warning, I drove out to the end of the driveway and stopped to see if the coast was clear. When I let off the clutch to take off there was nothing, just like being out of gear. At least I was still in the driveway. The next time was about 12 years later in a different model A. I was going to work, I stopped at a stop sign , it gave no warning, This time it was the clutch disc. The rivets that hold the center hub to the disc all broke. That time I had to be towed. Both times I thought that it was an axle key.
 
I agree that Mitch mentioned a very good first check. If the speed registers with the ****** in gear, then put the rear axle on jack stands and see if the rear wheels spin when it's put in gear. They should have enough friction to spin, even with a broken or missing axle key.
 
I agree with Mitch. Had both problems i.e, axle key and clutch disc. axle key was easier.....
 
Roger V said:
He called and said the speedometer didn't move when reving the engine.
Click to expand...

assuming he put it in gear and let the clutch out simulating take off then i believe its a trans or clutch problem. i would think if the trans blew up you would hear some sort of noise or at least have a lot of metal in the fluid and problems shifting through the gears. maybe open up the inspection cover on top of the flywheel / clutch housing and take a gander at the fork/ bearing linkage etc.
good luck let us know what you find
 
On my buddies Triumph Spitfire, the engine ran, the tans mixer shifted, but no go.

Since Spitfires are hand grenade, sooner or later they blow up. The clutch center section let go of the friction surround. And as said below by Roger V...the Spitfire did come apart silently. Thanks for reminding me. One engagement worked fine. Next engagement...absolutly nothing. How strange.

The friction plate was gone.

So do you pull the engine or pull the rear end? Inquiring minds want to know?

Oh I read below you pulled the engine.

skip.
 
Last edited:
Called this morning and said the clutch disc came apart. Sure would have thought there would be a lot of noise. He's holding it for me to see so will post a description.
 
Roger,you can pull that motor replace all clutch parts replace the motor in less than 5hrs.And knowing you,you won't even break a sweat or get dirty.:D
 
You're right about not breaking a sweat as I'm not working on it! I've got two down now that I'm working on. BTW, he pulled the engine last night and clutch parts are due in tomorrow.
 
Here is a pic of the clutch. The springs and rivets are in a can that is not shown. It's hard to believe that it didn't make any noise considering the center of the disc is ripped away!
 

Attachments

  • Clutch.JPG
    Clutch.JPG
    81.5 KB · Views: 71
wow i have seen many clutch failures but never had one like that where the center spline came apart. were talking 40 h.p, here. what do we chalk this up to defective or just junk parts?
thanks roger for posting the pics
 
Last edited:
Wow, Only seen that with big horsepower, Son did that last week in his off roader while leading his class but that was in a 6pack Ford powered Nissan Titian, ( what else would you put in a jappa??) Still won his class. Derek from still dry chilly Nelson. Start place for 2011 National meet, Be in A* Heaven in 2011.
 
Roger,

I can do that with the 5.0. You know me and my normal chase of the problem. Sooo what will be the rest of the story???

Hank
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top