Clutch "rubber banding" on me

[tdskip]

Hi guys - from a stop I've having trouble getting a clean engagement on the clutch. Not sure how to describe what happens other than the clutch feels like it is rubber banding, or being springy, where the car pulls and then judders then pulls. It doesn't feel like the clutch is actually slipping.

Clutch springs too weak? Other ideas?

[So Cal Mark]

put it in 3rd gear at a fairly low speed and accelerate, then see if it slips

[majicwrench]

What year car?

[tdskip]

What year car?

1974, under 60k original miles. Believe the clutch is original still.

[tdskip]

put it in 3rd gear at a fairly low speed and accelerate, then see if it slips

Hi Mark - doesn't slip in higher gears if you roll on the throttle.

BTW - engine is running great - thanks!

[azruss]

I have had past issues where you get a little shudder after the clutch is engaged in 1st gear. It turn out to be a driveline issue and not the clutch. bad pillow block or u-joint or donut.....or all 3

[majicwrench]

IF it has the old linkage throttle, those will make the cars kinda interesting at lows speed sometime. The mounts need to be in good shape, or every time the engine pitches it moves the throttle linkage.
Keith

[MrWampus]

Does the car feel a bit like it has a giant rubber band attached to the rear bumper when you start out in first gear? The car starts to move forward then it feels like it's being held back? Then when you feather the clutch a little and move forward more gently it goes fine? Does it seem worse in warm weather or when the car is fully warmed up? If so, check your rubber flex disk ("Giubo") at the front end of the drive shaft. It may have a split in it. If so, replace it immediately, you don't want that to fail completely when you're moving.

(I had that problem, flex disk was split. A new one solved it.)

[hayesbd]

Wow! Someone spelled "giubo" correctly! Keep in mind that if you want to search this forum for any posts about replacing this flex coupling, you will want to also search for "guibo". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giubo

I had the difficult first gear engagement before on my '73 124 Special that I now realize was probably this flex coupling (never replaced it but did note that it was cracked).

Brian

[tdskip]

Does the car feel a bit like it has a giant rubber band attached to the rear bumper when you start out in first gear? The car starts to move forward then it feels like it's being held back? Then when you feather the clutch a little and move forward more gently it goes fine?

Exactly!

Thanks guys - really appreciate the help.