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Rear Wheels engage when in Neutral

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MichaelJones

Freshman Member
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I had the rear passenger side of my 76 Midget jacked up to replace a hose clamp on the electronic fuel pump (just in front of the gas tank). I started the car to make sure no gas leaked and noticed the right rear wheel was spinning, despite the car being in neutral.

Does this mean my clutch is going?
 
This is normal, all of the stuff in the tranny is turning with the motor turning so with out any force to stop wheels the energy passes to the tail shaft of transmission to the wheel of less resistance.
 
No. Clutch has no bearing on it.
However, how hard was it turning?
Slowly, and could you stop it with a block of wood held against the tread?

Cold, thick gear oil can cause wheels to turn, if very free wheeling.

If it was a problem, you could not let the car idle on the ground in neutral.
 
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