The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

The Number One Club for owners of Triumph's range of small saloons from the 1960s and 1970s.
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 11:30 pm

All times are UTC




Post new topic  Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 
Author Message
PostPosted: Fri Dec 15, 2017 9:56 am 
Offline
TDC Member
User avatar

Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2013 3:35 pm
Posts: 1735
Location: St Annes on Sea, Lancs.
Anybody got any ideas what this is. I've had the problem for a while, but it's intermittent and I forget to ask.

Yesterday I went down to Salford in the Sprint to use it as a tank transporter - fish tank that is. Motorway nearly all the way, and no gear changes at all for about 60 miles of reasonably fast driving. Anyway, when I got to the south end of the M61, where everything stops, it had developed this terrible judder setting off from stopped. After a couple of dozen of those - lots of revs and let the clutch out very, very gently -, it passed, and the clutch went back to be really nice and easy to use.

Comming home, same length of drive on the motoway with no gear changes, but no problems with the clutch at the west end of the M55. Obviously, there wasn't the same stop go work at the Blackpool end - not this time of year -, but there's a couple of roundabouts and traffic lights to get through. So I would have noticed, and it's clearly not happening the same every time.

As it's an intermittent, it's hard to be precise about when it happens, but I think yesterday's example is classic - it's definitiely mostly after a long run with no gear changes, and it goes away with use, not after letting the car cool down or anything. I used to have this problem with a TR7 Sprint a while back, and never did find out what it was then.

I'm wondering if its oil contamination from a leak from the rear crank seal that builds up with sustained running and cleans itself with some use.

Graham

_________________
The 16v Slant 4 engine is more fun than the 3.5 V8, because you mostly drive it on the upslope of the torque curve.

Factory 1977 TR7 Sprint FHC VVC 697S (Now all of, but still needs putting together)
B&Y 73 Dolomite Sprint UVB 274M (kids!)
1970 Maroon 13/60 Herald Convertable (wife's fun car).


Top
   
PostPosted: Fri Dec 15, 2017 11:48 am 
Offline
TDC Member
User avatar

Joined: Tue Oct 03, 2006 4:29 pm
Posts: 2403
Location: Bromley, Kent
Graham

I had exactly this problem with a VW Polo some years ago. After having the gearbox out four times, changing every single clutch component (twice) and then trying another known (excellent) gearbox, all to no avail; I changed the flywheel in desperation.

End of problem.

I have no idea if this will help you, but it certainly ended months of frustration for me.

_________________
Martin.

2021 Land Rover Discovery Sport HSE PHEV
2021 Dacia Duster 1.3 TCe
1963 Austin A40 Rally Car
2021 Honda Cross Tourer Highlander


Top
   
PostPosted: Fri Dec 15, 2017 12:49 pm 
Offline
TDC Member
User avatar

Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2013 3:35 pm
Posts: 1735
Location: St Annes on Sea, Lancs.
Did you change the rear oil seal in all that and, if so, with or before the flywheel?

Graham

_________________
The 16v Slant 4 engine is more fun than the 3.5 V8, because you mostly drive it on the upslope of the torque curve.

Factory 1977 TR7 Sprint FHC VVC 697S (Now all of, but still needs putting together)
B&Y 73 Dolomite Sprint UVB 274M (kids!)
1970 Maroon 13/60 Herald Convertable (wife's fun car).


Top
   
PostPosted: Fri Dec 15, 2017 1:15 pm 
Offline
Future Club member hopefully!
Future Club member hopefully!
User avatar

Joined: Wed Oct 04, 2006 7:45 pm
Posts: 1282
Location: East Lothian, Scotland
I can't help, I am afraid, but I would be interested to know the answer, as my Toledo occasionally has the same problem once it has warmed up. Perfect clutch when cold, but just occasionally it judders after a long trip.
Interestingly, my modern(ish) Honda has the opposite problem. A dreadful judder when setting off on a damp, cold morning, that disappears once it has warmed up!

_________________
1959 TR3A, 1970 Triumph 1300, 1974 Toledo
Image Thanks Photobucket :(


Top
   
PostPosted: Fri Dec 15, 2017 2:13 pm 
Offline
TDC Member
User avatar

Joined: Mon Nov 07, 2011 9:57 am
Posts: 713
Location: Dorset
My Morris Oxford did that. About a month or so later the friction plate exploded...


Top
   
PostPosted: Fri Dec 15, 2017 2:41 pm 
Offline
TDC Member
User avatar

Joined: Tue Oct 03, 2006 4:29 pm
Posts: 2403
Location: Bromley, Kent
Graham

When we had the clutch off there was no sign at all of oil contamination on it or the flywheel surface. So we didn't change it.

When we removed the flywheel and changed it for another, we changed the rear oil seal for good measure as it was exposed. It did not appear to be leaking.

I believe that the phenomenon is caused by overheating of the flywheel leading to distortion. Interestingly, when we removed the flywheel the clutch facing side was immaculate and showed no signs of distress. The engine facing side did exhibit such signs once removed and inspected and also had some small cracks around the centre. These were invisible from the gearbox side.

HTH

_________________
Martin.

2021 Land Rover Discovery Sport HSE PHEV
2021 Dacia Duster 1.3 TCe
1963 Austin A40 Rally Car
2021 Honda Cross Tourer Highlander


Top
   
PostPosted: Fri Dec 15, 2017 6:17 pm 
Offline
TDC Member
User avatar

Joined: Mon Aug 10, 2015 8:20 pm
Posts: 1293
Location: Shetland / here & there
Granny and sucking eggs here, but a similar feel to clutch judder can happen with a soggy gearbox mount that softens as it gets warm...

_________________
Current fleet: '75 Sprint, '73 1850, Daihatsu Fourtrak, Honda CG125, Yamaha Fazer 600, Shetland 570 (yes it's a boat!)

Past fleet: Triumph 2000, Lancia Beta Coupe, BL Mini Clubman, Austin Metro, Vauxhall Cavalier MK1 & MK2, Renault 18 D, Rover 216 GSI, Honda Accord (most expensive car purchase, hated, made out of magnetic metal as only car I've ever been crashed into...4 times), BMW 318, Golf GTi MK3 16v x 3


Top
   
PostPosted: Sat Dec 16, 2017 10:17 am 
Offline
Future Club member hopefully!
Future Club member hopefully!

Joined: Wed Dec 17, 2014 10:08 am
Posts: 62
Location: southampton
I had the same problem earlier in the year with a juddery clutch and found it was the needle roller bearings in the u/j's in the prop shaft had worn, just a thought


Top
   
PostPosted: Sat Dec 16, 2017 12:17 pm 
Offline
TDC Member
User avatar

Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2013 3:35 pm
Posts: 1735
Location: St Annes on Sea, Lancs.
Thanks for the suggestions. I'm certain this, and what I had with the TR7 Sprint, is closely connected to the clutch. That's mostly because, by careful operation of clutch and throttle, I can control it quite abit, if not actually emininate it. Also it seems mostly caused by driving for a while without changing gear or using the clutch, and I can't see what that affects around or after the gearbox.

I think it's definaitely that the clutch is catching the flywheel as it goes round, then letting go. In which case the flywheel distortion sounds a posibility. That's if it's not contamination, and slippy/sticky bits aligning and unaligning - that was the first suggestion from Steve at S&S.

Anybody have an idea how much the flywheel would have to distort to give that effect, and is that reasonable given the dimentions and temperature differences?

Graham

_________________
The 16v Slant 4 engine is more fun than the 3.5 V8, because you mostly drive it on the upslope of the torque curve.

Factory 1977 TR7 Sprint FHC VVC 697S (Now all of, but still needs putting together)
B&Y 73 Dolomite Sprint UVB 274M (kids!)
1970 Maroon 13/60 Herald Convertable (wife's fun car).


Top
   
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic  Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 

All times are UTC


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google and 29 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Limited