Clutch snatch

[jgkmmoore]

We are about to buy a '65 SII 88" hardtop that has a terrible case of clutch snatch. Virtually impossible to engage smoothly.
Generally speaking, something has leaked onto some part of the clutch. I'm interested to know:
1. What is the likely culprit? 90w, eng oil, or brake fluid? Is it a common occurence? The current owner claims to have driven it this way for some time(easy for him to say). I find it repulsive, and I'm amazed the drivetrain has stood for it for even a day.
2. When DIY replacing the clutch, is it easier to move engine fwd, or remove trans/tx case out the back? This one does have OD.

I'm picking up a SII 109 5 door (64) today that actually has the original starting crank.
Question...Does the crank get puked out of the crankshaft when the beast starts? I'll keep my thumbs up for sure. I'd like to sometimes 'crank for show' just for kids reactions, and when the engine is near op temp.

[TerryS]

It is much easier to pull the engine forward. The chances are that bothe the flywheel, and pressureplate are glazed, if not crawling with micro cracking. Buy a whole The disc is junk by now, and so cheap it's a no-brainer, pitch it.
Buy a whole clutch pack, but figure on pulling the flywheel and having it skimmed.
Nothing unusual about finding a crank with a Series truck. The always start better when cold, not hot. You put your thumb where ever you want, but I always 'cup' the crank in my folded palm, with thumb underneath. This has been debated countless times, and I'm not going to play that game anymore. Yes, the cranks pops back out as the engage slot is a helix, not just a slot, but it doesn't come "flying" out, it just dissengages.

[antichrist]

Originally Posted by jgkmmoore

I'm picking up a SII 109 5 door (64) today that actually has the original starting crank.
Question...Does the crank get puked out of the crankshaft when the beast starts? I'll keep my thumbs up for sure. I'd like to sometimes 'crank for show' just for kids reactions, and when the engine is near op temp.

Yes. If you look at the starting dog you'll see it's beveled so when the engine over runs the hand crank it's pushed out.
It's not just for show. I started one of my 109's for about a month one winter in VT when the starter solenoid died and I was too poor to get another one.

[jgkmmoore]

Thanks gentlemen. Your responses covered all my questions. I was thinking about skimming the flywheel, and you reinforced that. Thinking also that it could be the rear mainseal chucking oil onto the clutch, so the flywheel would have to come off anyway. Because of my advanced age, a bunch of my vocabulary has 'left town', and I couldn't think of the 'helix' word to save me. Thanks again. We haven't collected either the 88 or the 109 (later this week), so we're just trying to advance plan to see how much preventative maintenance has to happen right out of the box. This whole 'Series' thing is new to me, tho I've owned 3 RRCs (still have my 94). I do hope that parts remain at reasonable costs so we may continue to care properly for the Landys. Currently they are much more reasonable than RR stuff.
Seems that just driving these rigs around generates a lot of goodwill from bystanders and other drivers. Everyone smiles and waves. Got the 'thumbs up' from an entire Ladder Fire Truck Crew at the same time when we were out in the 109. While we were driving a 109 pickup with the top off, we got stopped by a whole 'Birthday Party' of adults who insisted we had some of their pink cupcakes! Whatta HOOT!