Hal,
When my clutch plate went last year the symptoms were pretty similar
except there was a kind of muffled bang. For me it also happened when
I downshifted to third but the clutch had been getting a little
"grabby" the previous few days. Replacing the clutch turned out to be
fairly easy despite my lack of experience. If I had had the time and
the tools I could have done it alone in about 2 eight hour days. With
Frank's experience I could have done it on... Oh... Say .... 10
minutes, right Frank? Anyway, it's not hard even for a 61 year old
novice with a bad back. Hardest part was getting the drive shaft back
into the tranny!
Frank is correct. Check the half shafts first. Way back when, I broke
a couple of half shafts on my 46 TC. Jack up the rear of the car so
that both wheels are off the ground. Turn one wheel and watch the
other one. If it doesn't turn, you have a broken half shaft. It should
turn in the opposite direction of the one you are rotating.
Also, can you move the shifter through the gears? That's what pretty
much assured me that I didn't have transmission troubles.
If all else fails, put it on a flat bed trailer and tow it down to
Buster's. It'll be just one more little challenge for the OSHIT
team...
Cheers!!
Jim - 68 Midget in Dodge City
On 5/13/06, Hal Faulkner <hal@katemuir.com> wrote:
> Tonight, on my way home from work at 11:30 local time, I shifted down from
> 4th to 3rd, only to have the engine speed become independent of the road
> speed. Good thing I had my cell phone with me, was that a premonition I had
> this afternoon that made me put it in my pocket? AAA card was in the
> wallet. And FROG AYE got his 3rd ride on a flatbed tow truck since he came
> to live with me, So what has happened? No loud noises or thumps like
> things flailing around, just let out the clutch and it does nothing, my
> money is on a broken half-shaft, but I've not taken a look, won't 'till
> tomorrow (ooops, I mean later today.)
>
> The tow truck driver said, "when you're tired of it let me know." To which
> I replied, it'll be quite a while..."
>
> Maybe I'll have to drive something else to Buster Cluster. Or carpool with
> someone... Planning to be there one way or another.
>
>
> Hal
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