MT RT4WD Wheels spinning in neutral.

woodiwoodi Wagonist
in Engine & Drivetrain
So I just finished rebuilding my engine and got it in the engine bay and started it up for first time last night. Low and behold it actually started (Wooohooo) but anyways there was a slight problem. When I let out the clutch with the gear selector in neutral the left front axle was spinning. Luckily I had the car in 2WD and the front end off the ground so we didn't have a disaster.

I think I might know what is causing it but I want some ideas before I dig around too much. When I pulled the shift cables off the transmission to remove the engine the cotter pin broke off in the upper (larger) shifter arm. I was able to grind the pin off enough to get the cable off then I removed the arm and drilled out the pin before reassembling. Moving quickly I didn't think to make a mark to index the arm before taking it off so it was a bit of a guess putting it back on. If that arm was off a tooth could it be causing this problem? Is there a way to line it up other than trial and error. With the way the bolt goes across the back I was thinking I couldn't get it wrong but maybe if I was off only one tooth either way it would still go through. I did move those shifter arms around during this process as well, could that have screwed it up?

Comments

  • JayTeeJayTee Wagonist
    Try to apply the brakes while it is moving in neutral, if it kills the engine then you know its off.

    Its normal to have the axles/spindles moving while the car is running in neutral suspended in the air.
  • danzdanz Wagonist
    yes its very normal for the wheels to spin if they are in the air, especially when the car is COLD because the oil in the transmission will be thicker than when warm.
  • woodiwoodi Wagonist
    Okay cool.... Guess Ive just never done that before and always assume the worst when I know I messed around with something. I'll hit the brakes once they are back on the car and hopefully all will be well. :oops:
  • ProOnThaSnowProOnThaSnow Wagonist
    I'm sure all will be - my EK does that when I start it while the front is in the air to bleed the cooling system (since my head sits higher on the K24 than the radiator sits, tucked under the core support).
  • HaydzHaydz Moderator
    Yes, an RT4WD will spin its wheels when in neutral and off the ground.
  • woodiwoodi Wagonist
    Yup...This was answered a couple weeks ago... They do spin...and quite fast when it's cold. Slower then warm. Selector being off a tooth won't cause the wheels to spin but it will cause the transmission to not shift into 2,4,R or I guess 1,3,5 if you were off a tooth the other way.
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