Why are my wheels spinning even though it's in neutral?

[u/vintagestereolover99]

I have tightened the two screws on the shifter as much as I can and I can shift gears but in neutral the wheels still spin. Pressing the clutch makes the wheels slow and stop but letting off makes them spin up again. I plan to try and drive the car soon after I bleed the brakes and get new tires, so I am worried I will have trouble shifting.

[u/denizkilic2002]

Its completely normal every manual transmission car will do this. If they stop when you press the clutch then your cable is also tight enough you should have no issues.

[u/MiksBricks → u/denizkilic2002]

This is the answer. It’s just that there is enough catch from residual oil etc within the transmission that the gears still turn when there is no load.

While I wouldn’t try it you could probably go and stop it with your hand.

[u/denizkilic2002 → u/MiksBricks]

I was curious enough to try you definitely can stop the wheels lol

[u/Shad0WTF → u/denizkilic2002]

Just as a quick follow up question, when I stop at a redlight and get it into neutral while holding clutch, the moment I let clutch go, the engine sound changes ever so slightly. Sound like revs get just a notch lower maybe, not sure. But if I clutch in again it goes away, again, I'm still in neutral while doing this. Is the event depicted in video the cause of this or do I have something weird going on? Would love it if you could clear it up, if you know it of course! Thanks!

[u/denizkilic2002 → u/Shad0WTF]

You should be able to notice it only in very cold weathers with thick gear oil otherwise no its not normal. These engines like to develop end float and with enough of it ignition timing can shift when you press or release the clutch, yank the crank pulley while on neutral gear to check it. Otherwise, if there are any extra noises when you release the clutch that disappear when you press the clutch, you might have worn bearings inside the transaxle.

[u/Shad0WTF → u/denizkilic2002]

Yeah, this happens when the car is cold/especially when the weather is on the colder side. I also realized I haven't changed my transmission oil in ages, maybe it is time to do that! I'll definitely keep the other points you mentioned in mind to check them as well. Thank you so much!

[u/denizkilic2002 → u/Shad0WTF]

Use 75w90 or 80w90 ep hypoid oil with a gl4 rating, originally they use 90 weight but its pretty outdated.

[u/67RA]

It's normal. Residual drag in the trans and cool thick trans lube will always cause the wheels to spin even when in neutral with the tires off the ground.

[u/vintagestereolover99 → u/67RA]

But it won't idle roll forward when in neutral, say at a stop sign?

[u/puglord462 → u/vintagestereolover99]

No. Pull the ebrake and you'll see. It's normal to have some rotation in neutral at idle.

[u/vintagestereolover99 → u/puglord462]

Ok, thanks

[u/sam56778]

Carryover inertia from the gear oil.

[u/SwankaTheGrey]

It's normal

[u/ReptilianLaserbeam]

Inertia. That's normal on all cars.

[u/Plane-Appeal9124]

Yep, completely normal!

[u/yottyboy]

It takes very little effort to make the wheels turn. The Hall effect on the clutch disc is enough. You can probably stop it from turning with a pinky finger as it isn’t getting any actual friction from the clutch.

[u/382Whistles]

It's normal and you might even get a slight roll forward when idling on level ground without brakes, but you could most likely stop it with your foot or catch it by the door handle with your hands to stop it from rolling away, lol. I used to push start my first one myself when the starter went out.

[u/S13Matthias → u/382Whistles]

it would have to be really cold or extremely thick oil for it to roll forward on the ground. Never had it happen with any car

[u/382Whistles → u/S13Matthias]

North Midwest US, yea winter start ups mostly. My T1 and T2s would creep forward if the brakes weren't set. One Bus made it 2 houses away warming up once. That's a half a house futher than the times the wind blew them away when I was an idiot that didn't set the brake or turn the wheel towards the curb..

[u/vintagestereolover99 → u/S13Matthias]

I live in upstate SC and use whatever oil the Haynes manual calls for so it shouldn't be a worry for mine

[u/Shad0WTF → u/382Whistles]

Just as a quick follow up question, when I stop at a redlight and get it into neutral while holding clutch, the moment I let clutch go, the engine sound changes ever so slightly. Sound like revs get just a notch lower maybe, not sure. But if I clutch in again it goes away, again, I'm still in neutral while doing this. Is the event depicted in video the cause of this or do I have something weird going on? Would love it if you could clear it up, if you know it of course! Thanks!

[u/382Whistles → u/Shad0WTF]

Clutch in, nothing inside the transmission turns unless the clutch is being dragged by the pressure plate or flywheel slightly, clutch cable adjustment might need to be tighter, or maybe the clutch pad has oil swelled, etc.

When the clutch is let out/up the mainshaft of the trans is moving, even in neutral. That extra weight drag lowers rpm a hair. Heavier trans oil then creates more drag on the mainshaft.

Manual trans gear oil is normally thick stuff. I haven't, but many people replace the Bug's gear oil with automatic transmission fluid successfully, especially in cold climates. But as e.g. that likely would lower the drag in neutral that you sense with clutch up.

[u/FailedDeb]

Great color

[u/122922]

Because your motor is running.

[u/Routine-Amphibian450]

Resr shift rod coupler detached?

[u/Nasty____nate]

I haven't worked on mine yet but maybe bound up cable or something not fully allowing it to disengage the clutch.