Gear box question

[usariemen]

I have found in my '53 the following.
Since a time it was so that, with the engine running, if I let go the clutch, I have a slight "grinding" noise.
OK, main shaft rotates. It´s ancient. Makes just a little noise.
Well, the the car now was not in operation for a while.
I actually had it converted back to stock one carburetor from a two carb set and got huge problems to a quiet idle down. It always dies when it gets warm and I remove the choke.
After checking the carburetor, intake manifold and ignition, I now have the transmission suspected. Yes, I know, sounds weird.
But the fact is that if I have the engine running (shift lever in no gear) and I let the clutch go, I feel that the engine has to work against quite a resistance and the car trends slightly going to roll.
It starts not really to roll, but you feel a little pull comes to the axles and it tackles minimal moving.
This of course slows the engine down and it will probably make that it dies at low turns in idle.
Now the question. How can that be? When the shift lever is in neutral, how comes it to a force that I feel down to the wheels?
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Master of my domain!

[mandraks]

i know exactly what you are talking about. My 59 beetle was the same way, minus the idle issue. I think this is just the nature of the beast. the shafts in the transmission are moving at engine speed, even at idle. Only when you step on the clutch is the engine not connected to the transmission.

When the transmission is cold this is more noticeable.

So, even when you are in neutral, you still need to put your foot on the clutch otherwise the starter is turning over the motor and the transmission.

Once the car is running, you take the foot off the clutch which will allow the transmission shafts to turn and warm up the transmission some. This will ultimately help with shifting.

how low do you run your idle rpm? I used to run my idle real low, like 500 rpm, which a good motor does just fine. However, the generator does not charge, and the recommendation is to run it a little higher than that.

At 800 or so your motor should never die, no matter what you do.
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regards

Uli

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'53 3-Fold Oval, L35 Metallic Blue

[Blue Baron]

Did you check the needle bearings in the flywheel gland nut?

[usariemen]

The temperature was pretty low while I tried around with it.
So the oil indeed was quite thick I guess.
I am just still surprised how much power reaches the wheels without a gear is on.
And I wondered if there could be an other reason beside thick oil.
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Master of my domain!