78 HD Model D Can't Push?

smitty1

Have a 1978 Model D gasser that I fully restored a few years back. Have it at the campground and it runs like a champ. Last year I noticed that I cant push it . It acts like the rear end is locked up. I was always able to push it under the front of the fifth wheel. Any ideas? Thanks.

BGW

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73eldo

So for a couple years after the restoration you were able to push it but suddenly you couldn't? Interesting. My first thought is a clutch issue is not letting the belt slack down enough to sort of freewheel on the bearing in the drive clutch. Maybe the bearings stuck? Or the clutch is just not able to spring fully open so the belt never reaches the bearing? The clutch is operated by 3 big ball bearings that slide on brass slides. Wear or cracks in those slides could be causing the balls to jam up.

Do you know what was done to the clutch during the restoration? Has it got oil in it?

tew45

Does it run and act as usual under normal running conditions?

Lochlin

You may want to take the drive belt off and see if you can push it. If so then you know the issue is with the engine or clutches. If not then you know it's something else.

smitty1

It was a complete rebuild. Engine bottom and top end, clutch, carb mostly all new electrical. I can see the belt is free on the clutch when I try to push it. This is really got me stumped. It runs great. Just took it out of the barn and gave it a tuneup.

tew45

Carts with new belts are hard to push. The more a belt wears the better it will push.

73eldo

That is kinda what I was first thinking but the way his post reads to me it looks like he was saying after the 'restoration' he was still able to push it but then all the sudden (presumably the next season) he could not.

smitty1

Cart was rebuilt in 2010. Runs great. It was just last year that all of a sudden I could not push it.

Lochlin

I would still take the belt off and try to push it to make sure there isn't any friction there holding things back. It takes 20 seconds to get the belt off. Still, if you an confident that the engine is spinning ok inside the loose belt then you ruled out an engine problem. Check to make sure your brake isn't hanging up. If that's not it jack the rear of the cart up and see if you can spin each wheel ok. May as well check the front wheel too. We

backyard

I can't push my cart with an old belt. After removing the belt, mine is real easy to push.

Mine is a different clutch than yours I believe. Yours probably has a bearing in the center which allows for some belt movement, mine don't. Maybe your bearing froze up.

Lochlin makes a good point. Take the belt off and try.