symptoms of a bad clutch MCI 8

[Adarian]

1978 MCI 8 with 8v71 and 4 speed, seller says it needs a clutch, but said the bus will move in 1st gear.

What are the symptoms of a bad clutch versus a bad transmission?

I would think that you wouldn't get it in first gear with a bad clutch

[bevans6]

Depending on what is broken or bad, it will either slip, or not engage, or not disengage.  If he says it will move in first gear, maybe he means he can get it to idle in first gear, but it slips if power is put to it.  something like that.  Changing the clutch is not a job for the innocent, you may have room to pull the gearbox on the MC8 with the engine in, but you may have to pull the whole schmear.

I'd knock $5K off the value of what ever it might otherwise be worth, just as a sight-unseen guess.  Then again, it might just need the mechanism lubricated.

Brian

[Adarian]

they only want 2500 or offer for it.
They also have a 73 with air leaks, but it has an auto and 8v71 they they want 2500 or offer for also.
They said they have been sitting for 2 years but they do start up.
Location in California.

[bevans6]

Then my math would be they pay you $2500 to take it!   

My advice is to buy a bus that is running, being used at least semi-regularly, everything works, and passes a complete DOT inspection for mechanical fitness.  I honestly think that is the cheapest way to get a vehicle on the road. 

Brian

[zubzub]

some people really don't understand clutches....If it moves in 1st, will go in and out of gear with the engine running, and when power is applied does not slip....might be just the linkage will jam.  Prices are really falling if a 78 MCI 8 is going for 2500.  Pretty sure if the engine isn't smoking you can pull it and get 2500 for it.

[DaveG]

Hey, these sound like the ones near Tracy or somewhere near there...I saw those on C/L the other day...I thought those were some cheap prices.

[dickegler]

I've always found a clutch will start to slip in high gear, motoring down the road.  If you apply power at say 50 mph and the engine picks up rpm, but speed stays constant, clutch is slipping.  In lower gears, the mechanical advantage will mask the problem.

[niles500]

Right on Dick!

[zubzub]

I agree but only 1st?  A slipping clutch in 1st makes dropping the clutch really soft, I would be surprised if 1st worked and 2nd had nothing, it should be a more a diminishing returns situation.

[belfert]

In most cases you're going to be better off getting a bus that has no major mechanical problems unless you are a machanic or have one who works for free.  Even if the labor is free the parts are not free.

[DaveG]

Since a clutch is a consumable kind of thing, they are all gonna need one sooner or later.  I admit, that is a tough way to get to know your bus, starting out with a clutch job!

[Lin]

I knew my clutch was about gone when the transmission could no longer shift cleanly without matching the rpm to the perspective gear.  We started out with just replacing it, but decided that it would be better to use the $2000- $2500 not spent on the clutch as a credit toward an automatic.  The idea worked in theory anyway.  If you can do the job yourself, the parts should be around $1000.  You will probably find other things that should be changed as you go along, but those will mostly be preventative issues like changing air hoses, fixing leaks, etc.

If you think that you really want a manual transmission, then buy one.  If you think that you will be happier with an automatic over the years, buy one that already has it.  In either case, it should be running and thoroughly inspected by a knowledgeable bus mechanic.  Problem solving can add up to many thousands really fast.

[gus]

It will work in first because much less engine power is required to move the bus.

As the gears go up (Ratios down) the load on the engine is increased, more torque on the clutch, clutch slips.