The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Clutch Gone?

Hi All,

I have some symptoms from test drives of the 57 3100 (3 on the tree with a disconnected OD) that I'd like to run by you to confirm a likely bad clutch.

When I drive the truck, all goes well until a fairly lengthy drive (3 miles is long for now). I notice that, as the drive lengthens, I need to put in more accelerator pedal to keep up with what feels like a gradual loss of power. Speed drops slowly with the steady gas pedal pressure. Added noise too.

When driving it the other day, at 50 mph (and about 5 miles into the drive), the shift lever popped up out of third and into neutral.

I just changed my motor mounts out, and I'd swear I can feel more vibration now than before. Don't know that this is related, of course.

Any thoughts on what to check would be appreciated.

Jim

doesn't sound like anything to do with the clutch ... popping out of third is bad syncros, not uncommon, and the trans could have other wear problems - the power loss may be that the brakes are tightening up with heating [dragging too much] - vibration could be bad Ujoints or something in the trans

Bill

Wow,

Thanks Red58. Much more to check on. Never considered the brakes and I went completely through that system a couple of months ago. Will go through again.

Now, the issue of bad synchros is going to keep me up at night...no idea how to do that type of work and zero local sources for help rebuilding one of these. I been askin'...

On another topic, if you have time and could send a PM, I'd like to ask a couple of deluxe heater questions of you offline.

Thanks,

Jim

pm'd .... the popping out of 3rd isn't necessarily a disaster unless it's real often, I drove a 57 that way for years, just need to rest your right arm on the shifter when you're cruising, when you feel it start to move press down

Bill

Thanks again,

Been doing the arm rest thing already...seemed natural. Now I just need a pack of cigarettes rolled up in my left sleeve and I'll look just like my Dad!

Appreciate the help. Returned the PM.

Jim

If the engine revs up as you accelerate like a sliping auto matic trans you have a slipping clutch. Make sure there is some free play in the pedal before you feel resistance of the clutch pressure. That is not directly related to the trans jumpinhg out of gear.

Could be that after you installed the new motor mounts,you may need to readjust you're shift linkage.That may take care of the truck popping out of third gear.On a three speed trans the linkage goes between the column and the engine ,trans.
When you changed the mounts that changed the shift linkage going to the trans.


Pete

Best way to check the clutch is to put it in a higher gear and push the accelerator, if the engine revs without the truck moving forward, then the clutch is not adjusted correctly or going bad. It is really noticeable going up a hill.

Sound like you have a different problem like everyone else is pointing out.