In gear, but engine just revs

Post by **Kimba** » Sat May 30, 2009 1:47 am

Hi, I have a 1951 1000 (I think it was converted from a side valve at some point i.e. I have only had the car for 23 years). I was doing a right hand turn, changed down to second, released the clutch, and nothing happened.
If I put it into gear and release the clutch I cannot stall it. Is it a clutch problem, a drive shaft?
Hope you can help.

Sat May 30, 2009 3:36 am

hello Kimba welcome aboard..

I believe and will probably corrected by the next post but it sounds like your clutch has gone. if you had broken a half shaft in the axle it would make a great deal of noise as the two bits of half shaft hit each other. If it was the prop shaft again it would make a noise and you would hear a bit dragging on the floor if indeed it is possible to "break" it in the way I have described...

I would be tempted to put the car on some axle stands, put it in gear and use the starting handle to turn the engine over.. do not run the engine with the car on stands in case it comes off the stands.

but i think the most likely is a failed clutch as you have identified.

Post by **Alec** » Sat May 30, 2009 7:08 am

Hello Kimba,

I think it is more likely to be a half shaft as the loss of drive is so sudden. It doesn't necessarily make a noise after a shaft breaks.

Alec

Post by **kennatt** » Sat May 30, 2009 7:57 am

just start it up put into gear let the clutch out and then look under and see if the prop shaft is turning. If yes then its the half shaft if no then its the clutch or gear box

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sat May 30, 2009 10:37 am

Just look at the speedo - if it's reading a speed - it's a half-shaft. No speed -it's the clutch centre which has ripped out of the plate.
99% sure it will be half shaft - although I have had both faults over the years!

Post by **Matt** » Sat May 30, 2009 4:06 pm

Good tip there Mr Ecosse

Post by **mike.perry** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 12:19 pm

If the engine has been changed from a side valve, has the rear axle been changed as well? The original rear axle has a square shaped diff case and the later axle has a circular diff case. The internals are completely different.
I'm for a broken half shaft.

Post by **eastona** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 7:24 pm

I've done two halfshafts (Land-Rover and Midget, only one of which made it home under it's own power afterwards!)

There was no grinding noise, just a lack of forward (or rearward) motion.

Good tip BMC. My money's on a halfshaft.

Andrew

Post by **bmcecosse** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 12:53 am

I broke a shaft on my rally Minor - luckily the broken part wedged in the diff and I was able to drive home. The Landy would drive home on the other axle !

Post by **cormorant** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 5:04 pm

Yes I had a halfshaft break on my van about 10 yrs ago and there were no nasty noises. I was lucky - it was a really neat break with no metal bits in the diff and no damage to the diff so just had to replace a shaft.

Seem to remember the speedo thing now bmc mentions it, and yes it was all very sudden! Good luck