Engine stops running after I let out the clutch when the transmission in neutral?

Tiny
HELDMAN JR DON
  • MEMBER
  • 1983 FORD TRUCK
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 150,000 MILES
I have a 1983 Ford 7000 truck with a 3208 Caterpillar diesel motor when I turn the key seems like it has a dead battery but when I put the clutch in it will start when I take my foot off the clutch the engine stops running it will stay running as long as I keep my foot on the clutch but as soon as I let off the clutch the engine the engine bogs down and stops running I used to be able to start it without pushing in the clutch when it was in neutral now I can't even do that I have to put the clutch in they know it started but when I let the clutch out it bogs down and shuts off like something's dragging it's got a PTO unit on the side of the transmission this is like a semi-truck not a small truck like a Ford F-150 or anything this is a Ford 7000 heavy medium to heavy duty truck.
Wednesday, February 5th, 2025 AT 11:29 PM

10 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 15,233 POSTS
Okay, so transmission is in neutral, but the engine doesn't turn over unless you push in the clutch and it stalls if you let the clutch out in neutral. What transmission does it have the 5 speed Ford or something else. I'm more familiar with fire engines and garbage trucks in that size chassis. On those the PTO gets engaged then you shift into gear to run the PTO and the driveline is disconnected. What does it do if you shift it into a gear and let the clutch out? Will it move? The description sounds like it is stuck in two gears. I've seen that on transmissions like the Eaton transmissions with high low splits. They can get stuck in two gears at the same time if they have low air when they shift. If the truck doesn't move and just bogs down when you try to run it in other gears, it will depend on the actual transmission as to what you do. In most of them there are ways to release them, but you need the transmission ID, it will be either on the build tag or on a tag about the transmission. Usually that is riveted somewhere around the driver's door area.
Find that ID and post it and we can try to assist.
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Thursday, February 6th, 2025 AT 1:08 AM
Tiny
HELDMAN JR DON
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
When I put it in gear it does the same thing shuts off dogs down and shuts down and I can't find the ID number for the transmission right now would have to wait until daybreak it's 2:00 now because I have to get the truck out of the woods before to snow get too deep. Is there a way that I could get this transmission to pop in the neutral so I can at least tow it out of the woods because it doesn't want to move even if it's pointing down here I thought was taking off the driveline but that deletes my brakes for me because it don't have brakes just has the e-brake and the brakes are hydraulic not air brakes.
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Thursday, February 6th, 2025 AT 2:05 AM
Tiny
HELDMAN JR DON
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
If it is stuck in two gears how can I get it unstuck whatever model it is how can I do that it's connected to a 3208 Caterpillar motor V8 Diesel it's a Ford 7000 it was a truck that held the spools of line for the power lines the whole two of them that's what it was used for was a hold of cables for the power lines.
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Thursday, February 6th, 2025 AT 2:08 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 15,233 POSTS
No real way to get it unstuck without opening the transmission up to get to the gears and see what the problem is. About the only way to tow it would be to pull the driveshaft and tow it that way. Being it doesn't have operational brakes you might need an actual wrecker to retrieve it. Most transmissions in heavy trucks have access plates that would let you get inside to see what is wrong. Some are on top; some are on the side. Have you checked the PTO engagement to be sure it didn't get partly activated? Does it have a 2-speed rear? Those trucks can have different units depending on how they were originally ordered. Eaton, Spicer and Ford transmissions were offered, many have the Eaton unit. Those have an inspection cover on them. You will need to drain the oil then remove the cover. Then see if you can determine what the issue is. They are generally not fun to work on though.
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Thursday, February 6th, 2025 AT 4:06 AM
Tiny
HELDMAN JR DON
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Well, I got the truck out of the wood and I poled it backwards and I got it to move or so that I could move it but as so as I try to put it in gear it locks back up until I pull it backwards again then it unlocks even when it is able to roll it still stalls out release the clutch here is a picture of the truck I been asking about. I also need help with the series polarity switch there is one wire that I don't know where it goes it's a white wire and I don't even know if I have the right switch for the truck so far the one I bought is working. Could you send me a picture of the right part that I need to get?
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Friday, February 7th, 2025 AT 2:50 PM
Tiny
HELDMAN JR DON
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
So far you guys have been pretty helpful, and I do appreciate the advice that you have given me. Hope you are ready for this because there are a lot of things that are missing and that needs to be done to this truck.
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Friday, February 7th, 2025 AT 3:20 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 15,233 POSTS
If pulling it backwards let it move, I would suspect you will need to pull the transmission out to get the top off to get to the shafts. Once you have a chance you can get the ID info off the tags, there are places you can buy the factory service info but if it was built like most trucks you will end up needing a few manuals, a Ford chassis and electrical manual, then a book on the engine and one for the transmission. I'm working off memory on them myself.

This is one source, but you need to ID the components for your build to be sure you get the correct info.
https://ford-manuals.com/product-category/ford/l-series-truck/1983-l-series-truck/
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Friday, February 7th, 2025 AT 4:37 PM
Tiny
HELDMAN JR DON
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Okay, thanks for the info I appreciate it really.
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Friday, February 7th, 2025 AT 5:28 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
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Those trucks are generally pretty rugged, what usually happens is that different places buy them new, then they go on the market and the next owner adds things, then the next one adds other things but doesn't bother to remove the other places items. If you plan on keeping it the books are very handy. Most items will be off the shelf heavy duty gear.
You might want to look for a replacement transmission, it could be far cheaper than rebuilding yours if it turns out the internals are damaged. The parts in them can get very expensive.
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Friday, February 7th, 2025 AT 5:48 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 15,233 POSTS
https://www.2carpros.com/questions/engine-stops-running-after-i-let-out-the-clutch-when-i-am
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Sunday, February 9th, 2025 AT 12:13 PM (Merged)

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