Hello everyone, it is my first time posting here and I hope someone might have advice for me.

A few nights ago as I pulled up to a stoplight in my 72 240, the resistance in the clutch gave way and the pedal went right to the floor. Oddly, I heard a slight ticking comng from exactly where I saw the fliud run out the bottom of the car. It is a metallic tick, like to pieces of metal not quite missing eachother.

The next day I got the car into the nearest shop that was open for the holiday, and they fixed cylinder- I don't remember the name at the moment. It is a small pump attached to the side of the transmission. Anyway, with the clutch working again I set out, but immediately heard this metallic ticking sound again, only louder as I accelerated in 1st and 2nd.

I took it back to the shop and the guy put it up in the air. We both got underneath and it sounded like it was coming directly from the trans, -he basically said 'not our problem" and sent me on my way.

The bottom line is that it makes the sound faintly at idle, louder with the choke on, and louder still in 1 and 2nd gear. You don't hear it on the freeway, and when you put the car in neutral while in motion and gun the engine, the ticking sound seems to disppear (not engine related, I assume). What the hell could it be? The only suggestions have been needs new trans (replaced 15k ago) or that the clutch cylinder needs adjustment. Any suggestions?

At least you know it's not a bomb :classic:

Couple of questions...

1 - Is the car driven hard?

2 - Are the shift smooth or are they slammed?

3 - Is the gear lube level up?

4 - Does the gear lube smell burnt or is it discolored?

5 - Can you hear the tick in third and fourth - or just first and second - or can you not hear it because of engine/road noise?

Things to check...

First check the gear lube level and condition.

While driving in frist and second, lightly move the gear shift lever fore and aft (without chaging gears). Does the ticking change tone or get louder/softer? If so, it may be bent shift forks.

It doesn't sound like bearings. It could be bugered up gears or synchronizers. About the only way to check is to tear it apart.

Now, it also may be something with the clutch. Make sure the slave cylinder shaft is properly adjusted for free-play. It could be something on the clutch that is lose - maybe a spring or pad rivet. Hard to believe but you never know.

I would guess that the most likely cause is the throw out bearing. It is possible it's the clutch slave cylinder adjustment, but that will directly involve the throw out bearing. You will have to pull the trans. to replace it though.

If the sound seems to be coming from the front of the transmission in the area of the bellhousing, this all points to the throw out bearing.

You are too darn good 2Many!

I forgot about the throw-out bearing :stupid:

Maybe my probelm is related: i have had a clicking or tapping sound going on for awhile, i checked the exhaust gasket, and the muffler nuts, but everything was ok, so i started looking for other things to fix, then, a few days ago whilst driving around, my engine began losing power at around 2,500 RPM, while the RPM's go higher. it feels like someone steps on the clutch at 2500. i haven't driven it since, and haven't had time to check things out yet, but i'd really like to see if our problems are related, and if they can be fixed easily and cheaply.

MRMoonshineMan, the first thing you need to do is verify the clutch slave cylinder is operating correctly. Have someone step on the clutch and check to see if you are getting enough travel on the rod. Check your fluid level in the master cylinder too. You could try to bleed the system, however, if this does not help you may need to figure out if the problem is hydraulic or if the clutch itself is shot.

If the clutch is fairly new, I would try to replace the slave cylinder first, then the master cylinder. The slave cylinder and master cylinder for the clutch are fairly inexpensive compared to a new clutch.

Thank you for the quick responses everyone! To answer a few questions that came up in responses:

-the throwout bearing is new.

-fluid levels land lube status has not been checked.

-Noise seems loudest in 1st and 2nd. Slight ticking in 3rd but fourth and fifth are impossible to determine because of road noise.

I appreciate any and all input you might be able to provide, and thank you to those who have answered so far.

-R

So much for those ideas.

Sounds like the only other things would be either a main shaft bearing (probably input) or a bad synchronizer. I'd suspect the input shaft bearing first. If there is any play in the input shaft up and down or side to side this would indicate a bearing gone south. It's also possible it could be one of the center bearings. Being that it is not as loud in the higher gears, it could be the input shaft bearing as the input shafts rpms would drop as you get into the higher gears.

Is there any vibration through the shifter while driving? If there is, it will more than likely be an internal problem. If not, then it could be just the input shaft bearing. Still not good, but it does require less work to replace as you won't have to dissasemble the entire trans to get to it.

The clutch is slipping at ~2500 RPM right? Well then it sounds like the clutch was damaged when the slave cylinder failed. My guess is some of the clutch material has come off the clutch and that is causing the ticking and with material missing it would slip when you got into higher gears. I have had clutches slip when in 4 or 5 gear but not in 2nd or 3rd unless going up a hill or under hard acceleration.

I another check is to drive down the road at a constant speed with the ticking noise, place in neutral then rev the engine, does the ticking sound change? If so the problem is not in the transmission but forward. If the ticking slows down as the car slows down (out of gear) then the problem is from the transmission back.

Does all this make sense?