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  • March 28, 2024, 02:35:08 PM

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Author Topic: Viscous coupling failure?  (Read 5237 times)

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Offline Jward408.jw2

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Viscous coupling failure?
« on: January 31, 2021, 08:51:02 PM »
Hello, I just bought a museum kept 1981 limited wagon from a gentleman in Atkins Virginia who claimed to have hauled the car down from Ohio on a tow dolly. Is this a likely reason the car is slipping in 2 wheel drive? If there’s a post covering this I apologize but I’ve been reading for a few hours now and haven’t found anything relevant. Should the cars with viscous coupling be hauled on a flatbed?

Offline Taylor

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Re: Viscous coupling failure?
« Reply #1 on: January 31, 2021, 09:10:54 PM »
Flatbed, definitely. They only way to use a tow dolly is to remove the driveshafts.
2010 Toyota Rav4 pack mule
1985 AMC Eagle Limited Wagon 🖖🏼🦅
2020 Honda Africa Twin the long haul trucker

Offline Jward408.jw2

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Re: Viscous coupling failure?
« Reply #2 on: January 31, 2021, 09:43:31 PM »
So this would explain why it’s slipping now in 2wd and working as it should in 4wd?

Offline Jward408.jw2

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Re: Viscous coupling failure?
« Reply #3 on: January 31, 2021, 09:47:53 PM »
And if so, what needs to be done to correct the problem?

Offline rmick

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Re: Viscous coupling failure?
« Reply #4 on: January 31, 2021, 10:38:14 PM »
When you say slipping in it tries to move or doesn't move at all. Could be the actuator is not moving completely and is in false neutral on the transfer case. You can manually move the lever from under the car from one position to the other to insure it is not sticking in mid position.
72 Javelin AMX
72 Javelin SST
72 Gremlin with 4.0
81 SX 4

Offline rmick

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Re: Viscous coupling failure?
« Reply #5 on: January 31, 2021, 10:43:19 PM »
Here is a guy sounds like he had similar problem http://forums.amceaglesden.com/index.php?topic=46228.msg357923#msg357923
72 Javelin AMX
72 Javelin SST
72 Gremlin with 4.0
81 SX 4

Offline Jward408.jw2

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Re: Viscous coupling failure?
« Reply #6 on: February 01, 2021, 12:30:05 PM »
It goes but there’s obvious slipping. When I try to pull a hill I hear it Erving but I have to put it in 4wd to get up the hill.

Offline Jward408.jw2

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Re: Viscous coupling failure?
« Reply #7 on: February 01, 2021, 12:46:50 PM »
Reving*

Offline 4x4jollyr

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Re: Viscous coupling failure?
« Reply #8 on: February 01, 2021, 01:28:10 PM »
I thought 1981 eagle was 4WD all the time, no shifter??

Offline Jward408.jw2

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Re: Viscous coupling failure?
« Reply #9 on: February 01, 2021, 01:30:34 PM »
Mine is 1981 and has select shift on the dash.

Offline AMC of Houston

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Re: Viscous coupling failure?
« Reply #10 on: February 01, 2021, 05:28:37 PM »
Hear any noise from the rear right side??   Could be the dreaded busted right axle (axle spinning in the hub).
George G.
'81 Eagle Sundancer
'85 Eagle Waggie
1960 1902 Rambler Replica
'64 American
'70 AMX (Big Bad Blue), '70 AMX (White)
'77 Gremlin
'78 Pacer Coupe, '78 Pacer Wagon
'79 Pacer Wagon
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Offline Jward408.jw2

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Re: Viscous coupling failure?
« Reply #11 on: February 01, 2021, 05:50:41 PM »
Yes there was a noise coming from the rear sounded like a bearing going out. So a roaring type noise.

Online Still Pat

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Re: Viscous coupling failure?
« Reply #12 on: February 01, 2021, 06:00:21 PM »
I thought 1981 eagle was 4WD all the time, no shifter??

My first Eagle was an '81. It was full time, no switch. I bought it NEW off the dealer's lot, so I know it was factory!
'83 AMC Eagle wagon 258/auto.
'84 AMC Eagle sedan (4 door) 258/auto.
PREVIOUS AMCs:
'72 Gremlin X 304/3 speed
'81 Eagle Kammback 258/4 speed (Purchased new)
'82 Eagle wagon 258/5 speed (Ordered new, traded Kammback)
'86 (I THINK) Eagle wagon - BlackBird 258/auto. (Got hit/totaled)
'83 Eagle wagon - White Eagle 258-auto. (Front subframe was rotted out - sold for parts)

Online vangremlin

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Re: Viscous coupling failure?
« Reply #13 on: February 01, 2021, 07:41:18 PM »
I thought 1981 eagle was 4WD all the time, no shifter??

They changed to "switch-able" 4WD part ways through the 1981 model year.
1981 Kammback 258 - "Pepe"
1980 Coupe 258 - "Ginger
1972 Gremlin X 304
1978 Gremlin 4 cyl 121 - sold
1964 TBird 390 - sold

Offline Jward408.jw2

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Re: Viscous coupling failure?
« Reply #14 on: February 01, 2021, 09:03:12 PM »
I’ll check the axle out and keep everyone posted. Thanks for the info.

 

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