Variomatic 340 - do you think my clutch has gone?

[trabitom99]

Thanks for all that, Pete!

I say this also because if you're being over cautious you may be pushing the pedal very slowly and in the area of the rev range where it engages it may fluctuate just enough to engage and then disengage once or twice, before the revs rise enough to keep it engaged then produce drive. This however should be more of a loud clicking which may result in a little motion jerk.

"Overcautious" is definitely the word to describe how I was test driving that car. I was driving with the son of the cars' owner who said "yes, that noise always happens to me too, but never to my dad". That might mean there's a "knack" to it. However it only occurs after the initial movement of the selector lever, never if you're just waiting at the lights, leaving it in D, and setting off again.

It's one of those that unless you actually see, hear and play around with it, it's quite hard to be sure,

You're right, it's difficult, and I've only got the brief experience of a 10 min. test drive to describe it. I'll see if I can get a video of the problem, I'm sure I'll know more Saturday.

Wish me luck

Tom

EDIT:

Just to let you know that the new clutch and bits have arrived

Any good advice on where to get vario parts from, like belts, clutches, clutch shims etc.? Do Volvo still stock them?

T.

[Bjorn Belter]

Tom, I've sent you a PM with details of where I got the parts from.

[trabitom99]

Thanks for that ... PM replied to

Cheers

Tom

[trabitom99]

So the other day, I went to see them and asked whether he would be able/prepared to work on a 340 Vario. (There were lots of much newer Volvos there!) His reply was absolutely and he explained that he's had 27 years ex-dealer experience.

I mentioned the failed clutch symptons, and deliberately referred to the "clutch engagement valve". With no hesitation, he said it's a disengagement valve!

This gives me some hope, so he has got my custom.

I'll keep you posted.

I may have got lucky with a decent garage today, I happened to be in Düsseldorf for work, and stumbled across an ex-Volvo dealer with a whole load of classic Volvos in the forecourt. "Of course we know what Variomatics are, used to service them all the time! Would that be a Daf 44 or a 66? Oh, a 343, great! If you can help with the parts we can service it, no trouble. What, you've just bought it? Whatever you do, don't rev it in P."

They will have my custom too, even if they're 100kms away

Cheers

Tom

[Bjorn Belter]

Update.
The garage have fitted the new clutch and drive belts, changed engine oil/filter and done an overall check over, including fitting a new exhaust front pipe..

They phoned me to let me know it's ready. I'm really pushed for time this week, and I'm coming down with man flu, but I popped over to pick it up this afternoon.

Bear in mind this is the first time I've driven it since rescuing it! It started, moved off, sounds just like a DAF with its whistling Variomatic(!) and stops.

The journey home was mainly stop start in city rush hour - not ideal. The steering wheel is slightly out of angle, but it will soon need new tyres, so maybe I can get the tracking and wheel checked then.

Most of the journey was slow stop start, but on the couple of open stretches of road, it pootled along. I may a bit paranoid, but at 60mph, I thought the engine was revving a bit high, as if the transmission wasn't in "top" or "overdrive". But as I say, this was not a long test, and its not been driven for at least 3 months. I also think the tickover is a bit high, though the clutch engages and disengages OK.

So there we are. I must try and fight off this cold, then find some time to give it a wash and polish, and some more trips out.

Will keep you posted.

[foggyjames]

Welcome Richard Great to have you here. Sorry I've been a bit slow on the up-take with this thread! Do keep us posted.

cheers

James

[trabitom99]

A quick update:

However, the CVT system has difficulty in engaging. It is easy enough to move the gear selector around (unfortunately, the previous owner had warmed the engine up before I arrived so I can't say whether the same is true at higher revs). However, when you've placed it in D or R, and you slowly put your foot on the accelerator, there is a loud "klack, klack, klack noise", the selector lever vibrates wildly, and there is no movement.

However there is more going on - driving in neutral - as P R N D is a purely mechanical selection by dog clutch on the primary pulley shaft drive in N can only mean a failure or maladjustment on the input side of the primary unit (that is the only area that 'makes or breaks' the drive from the propshaft to the primary pulleys)

If I had to make a guess I would say that the first thing I would look at is the selector link that is fitted to the selector shaft where it emerges from the top of the primary unit - IF heavy vibration has loosened the cotter/clamping bolt then a sloppy gear linkage, less than full movement of the dog clutch, and drive in N and D could result. If this is what is happening you will find that drive forward is available in N having moved from D to N but that reverse is available in N if you have moved from R (probably).

That indeed was the problem, and it appears to have been fixed. In addition, there appears to be a problem with the clutch disengagement valve, the garage thinks it may be the microswitch in the gear selector lever which is at fault.

See my post in the demand section
http://www.volvo300mania.com/forum-uk/v ... f=9&t=7489

Once again, many thanks for everyones help!

Tom