trans problem

drystack · 05-25-2009, 05:40 AM

I placed this in the main forum yesterday when the car was sitting on the side of the road forgetting that this model specific forum existed. Car is now home.

93 RSA. shifted from 2-3 then no more drive. no noise, axles ok. Shift rods move with stick as seen thru inspection cover. Thought ring rear, but with engine running can row thru gears fine and no gear noise. Appears as selector has disconnected from transmission? Not familiar with the interface and its too low to see anything here. Flatbed on the way, but could use any troubleshooting advice.

The response from another forum suggested the shift bushings or the rod itself could have failed at the trans. Before I start tearing it apart is there any other suggestions? I'll be searching the archives for a little longer....

Matt

kurquhart · 05-25-2009, 06:59 AM

Since you can "row through the gears", it is not the external coupling - else the shifter would just flop around with no notion of gear selection.

One possibility is that your clutch is stuck open (disengaged), but I'm not sure how best to diagnose further, sorry.

drystack · 05-25-2009, 07:12 AM

The clutch was my first thought as well, but I've never had one fail "open". The car has 49k and is on its second clutch. I did think it was weird that I cold feel the shifter go into all 5 forward gear positions instead of just flop around. Hopefully others will know where best to look.

Matt

drystack · 05-25-2009, 09:19 AM

So far I think I've at least found the source of oil/exhaust smell in the cabin when the heat is on (no hose clamps on the right side heat tube from the exchanger), but nothing is jumping out at me from first glance. I did find it odd that the car has never left oil on the ground, but when I pushed it from the spot the carrier left it there was 4 decent sized deposits on the drive.

To recap, with the stick in any position, the car moves as though its in neutral. Both axles still spin together when jacked up (LSD). Why the exposed area on the drive side on the bellhousing (when looking up from the ground?) I can see what I assume to be the flywheel?

CLutch pedal feels good. IS there any way to diagnose engage/disengage that I am missing? I don't have a factory manual, but I am guessing the slave cylinder and fork are on top of the trans? Short of a broken shaft or pinion I am at a loss as to what it could be.

Matt
207-745-1789

Don Plumley · Don Plumley's Garage

Yes, the slave is on top of the tranny. It sounds like a clutch open or failure, but just a guess.

john walker's workshop · 05-26-2009, 11:28 AM

broken cv is my guess.

drystack · 06-03-2009, 08:54 AM

All apart. I broke the splined center section of the clutch off the friction surface. Not real surprising for a track car with 49k (this replacement will be the third clutch).

My stack of receipts from the seller states that a previous owner paid to install an RS clutch and lightweight flywheel. It feels like a lightweight when driving, but it sure was heavy when removing. The broken part numbers are as follows

Flywheel: LUK 458 04
Pressure plate: Sachs 3032 125 199
Clutch disk: 964 116 013

Sound right? If it is in fact the correct lightweight flywheel I need to find the tolerances to see if it can be milled or not. If its the stock unit I plan to replace. Can anyone comment on the clutch assembly. There is some play in the shift coupler bushing as well as the clutch release fork. Any upgrade suggestions or is a bushing replacement typical? BTW, if doing this yourself for the first time.......just drop the entire motor/trans combo instead of splitting them. Also, if pics would help for those comtemplating doing this themselves for the first time please let me know and I can post some.

Thank you for the help and input.

Matt

lucittm · lucittm's Garage

A few pictures would help us identify those parts in a jiffy.

Mark