MTFCA Forum

I had a guy contact me today to work on his T. He said it was idling in his garage and heard a "horrible" nouse from transmision. It killed the engine. The car will start with wheels off the ground and its in gear. He said peddles work as they should. If he applies the E brake it kills the engine. He took the inspection cover off and bands and springs are in tact. He has another T and compaired the two and said the 3 clutch fingers are 1/4 from the collar with lever in neutral possition. What broke?

No visible damage? My first guess, triple gear seized. Could be clutch disc(s) broke. With rear wheels jacked up, rotate engine by hand crank. All three triple gears should have SOME slop in them. If any or all won't move or rock at all, more likely that is the problem. If all three have a bit of movement? Most likely the clutch. If any or all triple gears have a LOT of movement? The transmission needs a rebuild anyway. And it may be due to a seized bushing anyhow.

When rebuilding transmissions, do NOT make the mistake of getting the pins and bushings too tight (modern machinists almost always make that mistake!). Ts need a bit of clearance to get adequate oiling.

He said that he was told the engine was rebuilt before he got it. I will try to get more info from him.

Stuck clutch
Start the xar rev it some slowly pull on e beake and off keep doing this as it get hot turn off motor pull e brake on all the way let sit repeat cars not driven much clutch discs tend yo stick

Besides the triple gear bush locking up which is easy to check like Wayne has posted, the drive plate bush can also sieze, that will give the trans top gear and the drums not able to get low or reverse. Another one is if the last time it was in pieces and rebuilt with a mix of year parts, the first clutch disc if the wrong one on an early clutch hub can fall between the clutch hub and brake drum jamming all up.

Have to pull engine to find the problem?

Transmission rebuilt with bushings too tight. Most likely triple gears but any of them can cause this. I have had to fix many of these here. Some of them are so bad they rip the pins out of the flywheel. Others just weld the bushing to the pin. Anyway, your engine is coming out for repairs. A problem with the clutch is also a possibility but still requires engine out to repair. This too shall pass. Get it fixed and back on the road. I am in Northern California if I may be of any assistance.

Update, he contacted me this morning. He sprayed everything with WD-40 last night. This morning the clutches released and its working as it should. Problem is not likely solved but it is working. I will be waiting on his call.