Manual clutch judder

[SaintGeorge]

Hi all, my 1976 manual stag is juddering quite bad when pulling away in 1st gear .
seems worse when hot, but doesn't happen if I pull away in 2nd.
Also while on the subject how do I refill the gearbox oil ? Where is the fill hole?

[FrenchStag]

I have first gear judder sometimes. Not enough to be worrying, but curious to know if it’s serious Doctor.

The fill hole is on top of the gearbox, it is a square plug not so easy to get at. Mine seems very tight, cant shift it with a spanner, have bought a square socket (10mm although its probably imperial) but not got round to trying it.

To fill box you will need a pump and tube of some sort to get the oil in. Plastic pump from motor spares shop ought to do it.

[SaintGeorge]

Ok thats great,thank you.

[Lingen]

George. Not actually on the top. The filler is on the left hand side of the gearbox, about half way up. It is a square-headed plug with a tapered thread, positioned at the level the oil should be at in the box, so fill it through there till the oil just starts to run out.
Use EP 80/90 oil.
Mike.

[NeilR]

It's here.

Gearbox 2.jpg

[Lingen]

Neil. I wish I could do answers like that!
Mike.

[Stagintow]

Also you can put a over size blot in at the bottom of the box (from LD parts) to perfectly line up the clutch ,you can find all about it if you go to magazine 413 page 18 "Clutch Judder"
Ask me how a know if it works ?

[jbuckl]

Usually judder is caused by misalignment. Eccentricity instead of concentricity.

Usually misalignment is caused by fitters throwing out dowels.

can also be low quality parts.

worth checking concentricity of parts and fit if possible….. but requires delicate measurement checks…. On fairly heavy items …. So can be tricky….. but worthwhile.

[marshman]

Clutch judder on any car when hot (or to a lesser extent when cold) can sometimes be caused by worn / soft engine and / or gearbox mounts. Worth checking to see if they have "gone soft". The gear box mount can be susceptible to being soaked in escaped gearbox oil form the box itself or from the overdrive. I suspect heat from the exhausts and gearbox itself further softens an already weakened/damaged oil soaked mount. This was certainly the case with my Dolly Sprint. Massive, almost uncontrollable judder when hot - especially when really hot after a high speed motorway run for example - totally cured by a new gearbox mount.

[richardthestag]

Hi all, my 1976 manual stag is juddering quite bad when pulling away in 1st gear .
seems worse when hot, but doesn't happen if I pull away in 2nd.
Also while on the subject how do I refill the gearbox oil ? Where is the fill hole?

is this something that has suddenly started happening - or been going on for years - would be my first question

Next up would be when was the gearbox last off? the old project management "what did you last change before it started going wrong?" thang

juddery clutch can be down to a lot of stuff.

If the box has been fitted up for years and suddenly or recently started to judder then I might be heading down the oil contamination on the clutch friction plate. possible wear in the cross shaft / bushes and / or bearing carrier.

Shame stag bellhousing doesnt have an access hole to allow you to spray a little lube onto the gearbox input shaft bearing carrier extension.

[Goldstar]

Shame stag bellhousing doesnt have an access hole to allow you to spray a little lube onto the gearbox input shaft bearing carrier extension.

Mine does

[richardthestag]

Mine does

yeah the Engine is supposed to go in that hole Paul

[Lingen]

And mine, plus a grease nipple on the carrier accessible through the hole. I have only needed to use it once since fitting it.

[SaintGeorge]

Thanks for all your replies, my gearbox does have an inspection hole on the driver's side where I can see the clutch plate.
I've only just started driving on longer trips .
The gearbox has not been out while I've owned it.
It goes along nicely through all the gears .
There seems to be some oil laying in the bottom of the bellhousing if I stick my fingers down to the bottom.

[SaintGeorge]

I will check the mountings, could be old and soft.