VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 1932 free wheeling broken cable

I've discovered the outer sleeve section of the cable is broken. By vise griping the sleeve together the cable works fine of course. My question is can this be repair with some sort of clamp? I'm not sure how you would just replace just the cable as it appears to be crimped onto the free wheeling handle.

might check your state laws regarding free wheeling. western mountain states usually have a law that no one remembers that says you must permanently wire it off and cut the cable to prevent its use.

I agree , Ive put a bracket on my trany so that the free wheeling cant be engaged. Dosnt answer your question though.Sorry

Yes you can clamp it with a teensy clamp, the wider the better. Wrapping with a layer or two of rubber can help keep the clamp or cable housing from shifting. Don't even think of using the freewheeling. It is more dangerous that beneficial.

Question I have not heard of Free wheeling in Chevrolet’s. Can someone explain a little more or information on where to look and read up. ???

Thanks Everett

The information regarding the Free Wheeling for 1932 is in the owner's manual, the shop manual and in many pieces of 1932 Chevrolet literature. For a good explanation on how the Free Wheeling works check in the 1932 Owner's Manual.

1932 and 1933(Master_) chevrolets have an overunning clutch fitted to the rear of the gearbox, which lets the driver disconnect the driveshaft from the engine and gearbox, and allows the car coast without the drag and slowing force of the engine. It was a selling point for 1932-1933 , but was discontinued due to loosing control of the vehicle with no engine braking force.( with deadly results). This is why it is disconnected , and bolted in the normal engaged , driving braking position. My 1932 gearbox has a steel strap bolted in to perform this task.

Wow thanks for all the info and yes I do know the dangers of the free wheeling feature or death trap as it appears. I really had no intention of using it I was just putting things back together. It seemed unusual the outer shield was cut or broke where it was, just past the last frame clamp. The inner cable moves freely. Thanks again.

We've heard over and over about the dangers of the '32-'33 free wheeling unit. I'll admit that if I ever find a flat/straight place, I might try mine out, just to see. I haven't found such a place yet. What I really want to know is, for all its drawbacks, did the unit do what it was supposed to do? Make shifting easier, increase fuel economy? Does anyone around today even know?

Yes.

I've ridden in a 32 that had an operating free wheeling unit and it worked fine. I,m sure the problem arises when the car is allowed to reach speeds it was not intended to go and then trying to re-engage the freewheeling unit.

Actually the most common problem is broken springs in the freewheeling unit. It sometimes makes it not function properly. Trying to engage when driving is one way to break the spring. You must be accelerating or at least under equal engine/transmission speed to engage while running.