The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

i have a 1973 1500 fwd that i am very slowly restoring. i haven't started it since last october. i got it going the other day but it would barely move - i had to really rev it just to get it to inch forward. i've jacked it up at the back and suspected the drum brakes might be stuck, but you can spin the 4 central bolts round easily and even with the drum in situ it all spins ok. only checked one side so far - any clues please appreciated

When you are revving it and it is just inching forward, where is the clutch pedal? If it is fully released then you have a slipping clutch. If you are having to slip the clutch with the pedal half down then the brakes are probably locked on and you will burn out the clutch pretty soon. You need to check that all four wheels are free to rotate when jacked up. Being front wheel drive, the front wheels will have some resistance to spinning as they are connected to the gearbox, but you should still be able to rotate them by grabbing the tyre and turning it with the wheel in the air.

I don't really understand when you say that "you can spin the 4 central bolts round easily"

the spindles that you attach the wheel nuts too. the whole drum will spin round with no resistance. the clutch was only partially out when it was moving

HELP!!

are the front brakes stuck?

not tried that yet. what do i need to do

Jack up the front wheels and try turning them by hand. As I said before, they won't spin freely like the back wheels, but you should be able to rotate them without much effort using your hand on the tyre. If you can't move one or both, there is your problem. The pads could be stuck to the disc (less likely) or the caliper pistons could be seized in the caliper (much more likely).

Have you checked both rear wheels? One could be free and the other stuck.

Also check the other rear brake as it is known for just one brake to stick, and are all the tyres inflated?