Kangarooing

Hi all,

My 1996 300Tdi Disco (200,000 miles has developed a tendency to slightly
"kangaroo" - lurch mildly - when in things like traffic jams and running
slowly, particularly at low revs in second gear. I couldn't swear that it's
a new thing, but I've never had a problem bimbling around off-road in first
or second, so I think it is new.

Does it sound as if my clutch on the way out, or could it be something else?

K

"Kieran Turner" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi all,
>
> My 1996 300Tdi Disco (200,000 miles has developed a tendency to
slightly
> "kangaroo" - lurch mildly - when in things like traffic jams and running
> slowly, particularly at low revs in second gear. I couldn't swear that
it's
> a new thing, but I've never had a problem bimbling around off-road in
first
> or second, so I think it is new.
>
> Does it sound as if my clutch on the way out, or could it be something
else?


Clutch adjustment would seem the order of the day, however it's a hydraulic
clutch so I dont think you can adjust (unless you are loosing fluid or
something). When using the clutch try and plant the heel of your left foot
firmly on the carpet/map and pivot your foot around it this helps make heavy
clutches less likely to kangaroo. If that doesn't help it may be something
else that's wrong :-(

--
Matthew

"Kieran Turner" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>Hi all,
>
> My 1996 300Tdi Disco (200,000 miles has developed a tendency to
> slightly "kangaroo" - lurch mildly - when in things like traffic
> jams and running slowly, particularly at low revs in second gear.
>
> I couldn't swear that it's a new thing, but I've never had a
> problem bimbling around off-road in first or second, so I think it is
> new.
>
> Does it sound as if my clutch on the way out, or could it be something
> else?

Sounds like play in the driveline or wear in the suspension. Unless you
are actually using the clutch it won't impart and "kangaroo". I'd be
checking suspension bushes, engine & gearbox mounts, driveshafts, UJ's,
and also play within the transmission itself


--
EMB
change two to number to reply

> "kangaroo" - lurch mildly - when in things like traffic jams and running
> slowly, particularly at low revs in second gear.

My 110 with 185k miles on it does that sometimes too, usually when
descending a slight hill in 2nd high at idle. I put it down to
transmission slack. When it starts, a small squeeze on the throttle
calms it. It doesn't do it in low range.

Mine only does it on overrun so I don't notice it that often. Not that
there's much I can do about the general slack in the drivetrain
anyway.

You could try to determing how much/where the slack is by jacking up
various wheels and seeing how much movement there is at each wheel
with various combinations if difflock and handbrake on or off.
At 200k though, it's probably everywhere!

HTH
Gromit

Thanks to all for the various thoughts.

"Gromit" <[email protected]> wrote...
> My 110 with 185k miles on it does that sometimes too, usually when
> descending a slight hill in 2nd high at idle. I put it down to
> transmission slack. When it starts, a small squeeze on the throttle
> calms it. It doesn't do it in low range.

Yeah, it's really easy to calm, or to avoid with very careful clutch
control.

I'm reassured to know it's not unheard of - just wanted to be sure I was
checking everything I should be. However, I'm back to suspecting that in
addition to general slack, there is also a replacement due somewhere in the
clutch system (see below)

> You could try to determing how much/where the slack is by jacking up
> various wheels and seeing how much movement there is at each wheel
> with various combinations if difflock and handbrake on or off.
> At 200k though, it's probably everywhere!

"LOL" as they say (though I swore I never would!) - there is indeed slack
just about everywhere, but not much. I do pamper the beast, changing just
about every fluid in the last year and doing 3000 mile splash & dash main
oil changes. Hoping for a fair bit more life yet.

I just noticed though, that there is a slight drop in clutch fluid level...
hmm... now I'm going to have to get everything really clean so I can try to
see where it's coming out. Urgh.

K

On or around Mon, 9 Aug 2004 19:00:27 +0100, "Kieran Turner"
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>Hi all,
>
>My 1996 300Tdi Disco (200,000 miles has developed a tendency to slightly
>"kangaroo" - lurch mildly - when in things like traffic jams and running
>slowly, particularly at low revs in second gear. I couldn't swear that it's
>a new thing, but I've never had a problem bimbling around off-road in first
>or second, so I think it is new.

with the clutch engaged or on taking up drive?

it's not unknown for the pump governor to "hunt" slightly at idle[1], and if
you pootle along at or near idle in gear, it'll make it kangaroo slightly.

must have a look at the pump timing sometime on ours - having rebuilt it and
put a new timing belt on, and having reset the timing of the pump in the
process, it now feels rather "flat" (and indeed always has). considering
the way it's done when changing the belt (viz. pin into the pump gear/body,
lock the pump spindle, then tweak the crankshaft 'till the crank pin will go
into the flywheel), I reckon I can do the pump locking procedure, loosen the
pump pulley-to-hub bolts, then back the crank a degree or so and retighten
the pump drive, unlock the pump, and it'll have advanced the pump timing. I
*think*.

if it doesn't work, I can re-acquire the original positions easy enough by
the normal setting procedure.

This engine has always felt "flat" off-idle. When we first had it it was
relatively easy to stall unless you gave it a noticeable amount of boot
pulling off. tweaking the fuelling on the pump made it better, but not
much, it behaves very like a spark ignition engine with a late spark...



[1] ours does. anyone know why?

--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.fsnet.co.uk my opinions are just that
"I am tired and sick of war. Its glory is all moonshine... War is hell"
Gen. Sherman (1820-1891) Attr. words in Address at Michigan Military
Academy, 19 June 1879.

"Kieran Turner" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi all,
>
> My 1996 300Tdi Disco (200,000 miles has developed a tendency to
slightly
> "kangaroo" - lurch mildly - when in things like traffic jams and running
> slowly, particularly at low revs in second gear. I couldn't swear that
it's
> a new thing, but I've never had a problem bimbling around off-road in
first
> or second, so I think it is new.
>
> Does it sound as if my clutch on the way out, or could it be something
else?


Clutch adjustment would seem the order of the day, however it's a hydraulic
clutch so I dont think you can adjust (unless you are loosing fluid or
something). When using the clutch try and plant the heel of your left foot
firmly on the carpet/map and pivot your foot around it this helps make heavy
clutches less likely to kangaroo. If that doesn't help it may be something
else that's wrong :-(

--
Matthew

On or around Mon, 9 Aug 2004 19:00:27 +0100, "Kieran Turner"
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>Hi all,
>
>My 1996 300Tdi Disco (200,000 miles has developed a tendency to slightly
>"kangaroo" - lurch mildly - when in things like traffic jams and running
>slowly, particularly at low revs in second gear. I couldn't swear that it's
>a new thing, but I've never had a problem bimbling around off-road in first
>or second, so I think it is new.

with the clutch engaged or on taking up drive?

it's not unknown for the pump governor to "hunt" slightly at idle[1], and if
you pootle along at or near idle in gear, it'll make it kangaroo slightly.

must have a look at the pump timing sometime on ours - having rebuilt it and
put a new timing belt on, and having reset the timing of the pump in the
process, it now feels rather "flat" (and indeed always has). considering
the way it's done when changing the belt (viz. pin into the pump gear/body,
lock the pump spindle, then tweak the crankshaft 'till the crank pin will go
into the flywheel), I reckon I can do the pump locking procedure, loosen the
pump pulley-to-hub bolts, then back the crank a degree or so and retighten
the pump drive, unlock the pump, and it'll have advanced the pump timing. I
*think*.

if it doesn't work, I can re-acquire the original positions easy enough by
the normal setting procedure.

This engine has always felt "flat" off-idle. When we first had it it was
relatively easy to stall unless you gave it a noticeable amount of boot
pulling off. tweaking the fuelling on the pump made it better, but not
much, it behaves very like a spark ignition engine with a late spark...



[1] ours does. anyone know why?

--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.fsnet.co.uk my opinions are just that
"I am tired and sick of war. Its glory is all moonshine... War is hell"
Gen. Sherman (1820-1891) Attr. words in Address at Michigan Military
Academy, 19 June 1879.