The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

i had an issue recently where having not moved my 1500 for 9 months. when i eventually got it started it wouldn't move forward without
massively revving it. oddly it was ok in reverse. i freed off three of the brakes but the rear drum offside is stuck.
1. how do i get the drum cover off if the brakes are stuck onto it - can i just wack it
2. whilst for part of the time yesterday whilst driving it forward it was ok, for the other part of the time it would hardly move forward in first although again selecting reverse was ok. it cant be to do with the stuck rear brake as you can physically push the car . after a bit of driving back and forth i noticed smoke coming from the clutch/gearbox area? what would that be and how can i resolve it. any help appreciated. thanks

Tapping around the circumference of the drum, with the handbrake off, will eventually see it yield. You can 'tap' quite aggressively without harm. You may also benefit from pushing the handbrake actuating lever on the back of the hub outwards to further release the shoes.

The smoke from the clutch is caused by it slipping. The engine is turning the clutch, but because of the binding brakes it is experiencing slippage at the clutch as there is nowhere for the full engine motion to be transmitted to. Cure the brakes and it will stop doing it.

thanks got the drum off and freed the brake. hopefully when i put the wheel back on it'll be ok. cant figure out though why it would reverse without resistance but not go forward??

I believe reverse gear ratio has more oomph

Design of the rear brakes....they work better forwards than in reverse...

Also driving in reverse will counter the binding caused by going forwards. Free of the sliding cylinder and be prepared to change the rear axle
flexible hose which can perish internally and act as a one way valve.

Jonners