VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 32 killing motor when applying brake in neutral

I just drove my 32 yesterday for the first time and it is killing the motor when I apply the brakes in neutral. I don't have the free wheeling hooked up can that be the problem?
suggestions?

No. With the free wheeling cable disconnected or the free wheeling unit locked in the out position it shouldn't make any difference.

why would that make a difference? It is set and idles like it should and only happens in neutral.

I checked the float and the idle and tried it and still the same problem. Now what should I try?

What you are experiencing doesn't make sense. There is no connection between the brakes and engine except when the transmission is in gear. Then the engine drives the wheels which are stopped by the brakes. So stopping the wheels would stop the engine. But in neutral, no way. That is if it really is in neutral?

Are you 100% sure that when the transmission is shifted into neutral position that the input shaft on the transmission is free to rotate without other gears moving?

I even thought that the brake mechanism was shorting out the power to the engine but, the gear shift lever position would not make any difference in that case.

There has to be an answer but the gremlins are on top of their game on this one.

Have you messed with the stop light switch? Is there a chance that when the switch is activated it is shorting out the ignition?
Take the two wires off the stop light switch and see what happens.

This isn't an electrical problem, there is no other wiring in the car at this time. I had this problem on a model a and the clutch wasn't completely disengaged at the time I adjusted it and and the problem went away. It is weird it is only when I push the clutch in and shift. I know it doesn't make sense but that is what it is doing.

I don't quite understand the free wheeling on the transmission It is not hooked up right now and the lever on it moves as I put it into reverse, [I don't have the floor board in right now} what is the lockdown position of it?

Now we are getting a little different story. Does the engine die when the transmission is in neutral and the brake is applied or when attempting to shift from neutral to a gear?

If the freewheeling unit lever is moving when the transmission is shifted then the lever is not pulled down fully. To disengage the freewheeling the lever must be pulled down and locked in place. Whether locked out or engaged the freewheeling unit should not affect the running of the engine unless the unit bearings/shaft are locked. But if that is the case then the vehicle will not move as the freewheeling unit is connected to the U-joint and drive shaft.

It happens when in nuetral and costing. How do you lock it down?

Most people loop a wire around the bolt that holds the clamp for the cable and then through the hole in the swivel on the arm. Pull down as far as you can (nearly to the bolt) and then secure the wire with the swivel screw.

Still having a tough time understanding why it quits. What happens when you disconnect the brake switch? Mack came up with the only possible electrical connection.

If you brake when in gear does the engine die?

I have a 30, not a 32 so I don't know the gas pedal set up on your car, but as a long shot, could the brake linkage be hitting the gas pedal linkage (or shorting an ignition wire)?

Thank you about locking down the trans i will try that. The only wires on the car are to the coil, the brake switch is not even on the car at the moment. so it definitely is not an electrical problem. I am going to try a couple of things over the next few days and get back to you guys.

Are the brake pedal and clutch pedal binding on each other so that when you push or release one of them, the other one tries to go with it?


All the Best, Chip

No they are newly rebuilt and fine. The weather here has been terrible so I haven't been able to test it but I may have it.

Todd,

Don't know where you live here in Ia, but weather where I am at has also been horrible. Have had 8.1 ins of rain last two days and raining here again with more moving in tomorrow, than again Mon thru Wed next week. Wow - what a mess. Flooding around here now.

Take care.

Jim.

I'm in Cedar Rapids, I know Norwalk well it has the Soapbox derby down the hill as a qualifier for Akron. My youngest used to run that hill but at 6"1" can't fit in a car now, plus he prefers a motor now, he isn't very interested in my 32 but does love my 31 a roadster. Have you ever done MoIoway?

I am sick of the flooding on Sunday will be the third anniversary of the flood here. I had eight feet of water in my business and lost just about everything I had, even my 76 tr6 that I was just about done with. Even as the water was coming in we thought we would only get 10", really feel for the people in SW Iowa.

Todd,

Sorry to hear of your loss!! Weather just seems to get more odd ball year by year. Was working in your city in 93 during the floods than. Another nightmare just trying to get there and back here for weekends.

I really to ask, but it makes me shudder to think that you lost your equipment, along with a TR6. Wow. Was working for an import dealer back in late 60's and those TR6's were awsome cars for the day. Did you salvage any of that car??

Didn't do any racing with my kids. It would have been fun and really no excuses for not doing it!

Take care and try to stay dry if you can. Am thinking of you.

Jim.

Thanks for the thought no I didn't save the triumph, the insurance company bought it and took it to des moines. With trying to get my company running again and salvaging equipment and repairing them I just didn't have the heart and more importantly the time to completely go back through it. Oh well I bought the 32 last year to give me something to play with. It runs really well and am pleased with it. I prefer to play with prewar cars but have owned allot of ford mustangs and gm muscle cars. Saw a really neat 69 firebird in galena IL tonight I think i will have to check it out next time I'm up there. I would be interested in a 32 frame rails if you know of any.

Don't know of any 32 frame rails off hand, but will keep you in mind if I hear of any.

Might advertise for them in parts wanted also Todd.

Talk to ya later. Thanks for responses.

Jim.