step the clutch and the engine dies...

Julia-Sprint · #1 (**permalink**) 02-03-2005, 09:27 PM

Just converted my '61 sprint over to dual webers with correct intake veloce manifold..however still couldn't find air filter canister or the connecting hose into the intake cover (anyone with a spare?)... the car is running well.. the problem is that when the clutch is stepped on to disengage the gear, the engine stalls out if you keep the clutch disengaged for too long. If you quickly take your foot off the clutch pedal, engine doesn't stall out... It is becoming very difficult to modulate the quick clutch in/out manuever... any idea why this is happening... thanks JS

AlfistiSA · #2 (**permalink**) 02-04-2005, 12:52 AM

That's a confusing one, if all you did was change the inlet manifold & carb over to the Veloce ones, then, in theory, nothing at clutch level should have changed, it's not like you have just rebuilt the motor & left the thrust bearings out .

Does the motor cut out quickly - like an electrical fault, or does it cough & splutter & stumble like fuel starvation ?

The only thing with the Webers is the throttle linkage, if you step on the clutch, you force the motor forwards, on my '57 Abnormale with twin Webers I have a problem where the revs climb as the motor moves forward - it's a broken engine mounting or a tired gearbox mounting, I'm building a new workshop, so will get under the car in a month or two to sort it out.

Have an assistent operate the clutch & see if the motor moves, if so, you are altering the length of the throttle rod & maybe you could be closing the butterflies & starving the carbs ??? I know it's the opposite of my problem by it may be the answer.

Brighter folks than me, step in HERE please.......Jim, etc

Ciao
Greig
Sunny South Africa

You haven't by any chance got a spare Veloce manifold for my '61 Sprint have you ?

Chris M · #3 (**permalink**) 02-04-2005, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlfistiSA

Have an assistent operate the clutch & see if the motor moves, if so, you are altering the length of the throttle rod & maybe you could be closing the butterflies & starving the carbs ??? I know it's the opposite of my problem by it may be the answer.

AlfistiSA · #4 (**permalink**) 02-04-2005, 05:38 AM

Hi Chris

Should do, I'm also puzzled, seeing on my '57 the movement opens the butterflies, but without seeing the car.....Could be that the clutch linkages now catch the fuel line if it was re-routed to suit the Webers ???

Julia-Sprint will need to let us know if it feels like electrical or fuel, or if any other work has been done to the car, maybe we are looking in the wrong place ???

Cheers
Greig
some 750's
some 101's
some 105's
some others

Julia-Sprint · #5 (**permalink**) 02-06-2005, 06:09 PM

Hello... thanks for sharing your expert thoughts in the matter... the car was recently acquired... it is abnormale with real veloce engine... it had been sitting for a long time, and the carbs had to be rebuilt to get it to run well again... altough I believe the clutch and the transmission had been rebuilt in the past (at least a few years ago and then not used at all), the thrust bearing is most likely the culprit... the engine cuts off pretty much instantly without stumbling... the engine mounts are pretty much new... will report back once the cltuch is looked at, which won't be right away since it is miserably cold and the sprint looks very content in the garage hibernating for the winter... many thanks JS

AlfistiSA · #6 (**permalink**) 02-07-2005, 01:06 AM

OK, instant cut-out rules out the idea of fuel starvation.....

Another thing to check, is the wiring around the motor - if for some strange reason there is a wrongly routed wire, you could be grounding the distributor every time you depress the clutch. Maybe there is just enough movement to do something 'clever' to the wiring.

Good luck
Greig

GTD · #7 (**permalink**) 02-10-2005, 02:30 PM

JS
Greig touched on it - Check the ground strap to the engine. It could be your getting your engine ground thru your clutch linkage and your losing this circuit when you depress the clutch pedal.

AlfistiSA · #8 (**permalink**) 02-10-2005, 11:02 PM

Hi Guys

GTD, you are brilliant, that is a very probable cause, often when the earth strap is missing or damaged, the engine grounds via the clutch or the throttle linkage, neither of which are particularly reliable earth's.

Got to thinking about the idea of missing thrust washers...nah, the weight of the flywheel would overcome any friction...of course the innards would get chewed up, but I'd put money on an electrical hiccup, seeing as the motor cuts instantly when you depress the clutch.

Depressing isn't it..........

Cheers
Greig

magista · #9 (**permalink**) 02-11-2005, 02:04 AM

Check to see that you have the idle stop set correctly (Chris M stated previously). I just did my TI's carb and while I had adjusted it very closely it was stalling/cutting out when I pushed the clutch in while coming to a stop. After making the final adjustments the issue was resolved.

Just a guess.

Julia-Sprint · #10 (**permalink**) 04-04-2006, 11:27 AM

Just a courtesy update for all those who contributed to this thread... sorry for being so tardy... indeed it was the idle stop; the spring was no longer holding tension and letting the engine die out at idle.... thanks to a simple but brilliant modification by my Alfa specialist, the engine is now holding perfect idle... thanks again to everyone who guided me towards the right direction... JS