Transmission

    I've yet to experience problems with the clutch or gearbox on my car.. "touch wood" .. so just asking what are the common problems that others have experienced and how difficult are they to fix? The manual I have isn't very clear. I dread having to replace the clutch plate and other bits, so must be prepared. On the odd occasion when I haven't run the car for a few weeks I cannot get out of reverse gear and/or engage in any gear until I switch the engine off and on again? After that it's fine. I'd like to recondition the differential at some point and get the prop shaft balanced. I can hear rattling at the back but it drives fine.

    Hi Midgee,

    your problem with your clutch is not clear for me, sorry for that.

    When you drive your car and activate your clutch it will split the torque from engine to gear box?

    Or do you test it when car is not moving?

    It was OK before you park your car for a few weeks?

    (speculate) sometimes the clutch plate sticks to the flywheel (by corrosion), this can be solved if car is moving by engine and you activate the clutch and nearly simultaneously press the brakes. Often than the clutch plate brakes loose.

    Otherwise are you sure the lever of the clutch moves enough way to split?


    Reconditioning of differential is not an easy thing because you need some special tools and parts: tool for the nut, torque-meter and a special ring when fixing and (as I read right) someexact mesurements for all of the gears, where you have to follow the maintenance instructions, what you need to have too.

    The german maintenace instructions you cn download - english version I do not know.

    Gruß
    Johannes

    Hi Johannes

    From what you've explained I think it might be a little corrosion. It only happens (on the odd occasion) when car is not moving. Clutch feels good. Very smooth gear changes .. I think I'm very lucky.

    Regarding the diff, I don't think it's been serviced in years. I'd imagine it's full of sludge and needs a good flush. I need to replace the rear shocks at some point too.

    Thanks :daumen1:

    To exchange oil in diff you can open cover plate at backside (be sure you have a new gasket (or is it named sealing in that function ;) ) and correct type of gear oil in place) but befor open any further work open the fill in screw to be sure can fill in oil later!

    On the other hand: what sludge will go inside the diff? But changing oil is never a bad idea.

    Gruß
    Johannes

    Sludge ... degradation of old oil and metal wear over years in a hot African climate. When I got the car I flushed the motor and changed the oil twice before I was satisfied it was clean. The sludge was horrendous with tiny bits of metal in the mess 😔 I'm surprised it hadn't seized .. it was like treacle.