Clutch Chatter?

mschuep · 07-11-2005, 07:49 AM

Hello folks, thanks in advace for any advice,

Recently purchased an 85 Targa from my aunt w/ 23k. Was my Uncles Sunday driver before passing away a few years back. Told by their mechanic that car was in great shape, but I'm not so sure because he couldn't tell me when was the last time he adjusted the valves.

I replaced the bushings a week or so ago due to sloppy shifting. Seems a bit better, the bushings in the coupler were a little loose, the other ones looked new. Stiffer shifter now, but I assume that is normal until the bushings get worn in a bit. Still having some trouble w/ 1st and 2nd, but for a pre-G50 gearbox, I hear that is par for the course as well.

Main concerns which I am uncomfortable about are:
1) Cannot go into 1st at any speed above about 5 mph, tried double clutching, etc, but I always get the same ****ty sound, almost like I don't even have the clutch disengaged. Stopped trying in order to spare myself the heart attacks.
2) Funny noise kinda like muffled marbles in a can when accelerating in 2-5 gears. Usually goes away at higher rpms, and varies in frequency and intensity from day to day, and even whether the car is hot or cold. Only happens with my foot on the gas. I thought this might be the valves making noise, but if I take her out of gear and rev the engine, it sounds perfect. The other day I could hear the noise just barely at idle, when I depressed the cluth, the noise went away. I get a bit of shudder when the engine is cold starting out in 1st, and I usually fail the classic test of a bit of grindage going into reverse. I am going to check the tranny fluid for any bits and pieces as soon as I can get the damn plug out that hercules tightened. Does this sound like a clutch problem and/or clutch chatter? I sincerely hope it isn't the transmission with only 23k.
3) Also, if anybody lives in NJ (around morris county) I am looking for a trustworthy mechanic to possibly do some work. I probably have the tools to do it, but I'm not sure how comfortable I am dropping the engine, etc. to replace clutch.

Thanks

asphaltgambler · 07-11-2005, 08:10 AM

Sound like an internal trans problem for pissue 1&2 Maybe someone here could help with the G-50

JeremyD · JeremyD's Garage

915 in a 1985... Sounds like detonantion #2 - you are using 93 octane, right? Old gas? Change the tranny fluid with swepco - see if that clears the tranny problems. Cheap test.

#1 - not many 915's go into 1st when moving - non-issue
#3 - buy wayne's book - actually pretty easy - 4 bolts hold the engine/tranny to the car - I did mine a few weeks ago - took me 4 hours and I did it twice...

k9handler · 07-11-2005, 08:16 AM

throw out bearing going bad? Just a guess.

juanbenae · juanbenae's Garage

the rubber center clutches were gone by 85 right?

mschuep · 07-11-2005, 10:00 AM

Thanks guys. Got the book, just not the balls I guess. I just got another 17mm Hex, the one in the factory kit was bending when I was trying to get the trans. fluid plug out. I have the swepco lined up, Ill give it a whirl tonight, hopefully the plug de-seizer is working. If dropping the engine is that easy, I'll definitely do it. Not sure about the rubber center question.

North · 07-11-2005, 10:16 AM

Go for it! Drop that engine and do the clutch work yourself. As mentioned before, it's easy and fun for girls and boys!

Early_S_Man · 07-11-2005, 10:39 AM

mschuep,

Grinding going into reverse while sitting still is a classic sign of a maladjusted clutch with insufficient or zero freeplay! Adjust your clutch freeplay and inspect the Bowden tube [plastic-covered sheath over cable between transaxle and firewall] for proper seating at the dimple in the firewall, and also for preload. It should be bowed upwards beside transaxle, and it should take significant force/effort to pull tube away from firewall. Insufficient preload is a known cause of clutch chatter taking off from a stop.

Graunchy 1 - 2 shift is possibly due to dirty gear oil, but it may improve with proper clutch freeplay adjustment, too. I suggest a 'cheap flush' of the gear oil with a high-quality petroleum gear oil such as Valvoline or Castrol ... run it for 500 miles, and then switch to Swepco.

I wouldn't worry too much about internal 915 taransaxle problems until routine, neglected maintenance is taken care of.