Propshaft clattering at higher speeds

[RupertW]

I hadn't realised that the life expectancy was so short so will certainly look into the conversion mentioned - I'm assuming it wouldn't cause any issues with VSCC eligibility?

In the meantime I've ordered a new flexible coupling to get me back on the road. I think I had a bit of a battle last time I replaced it so a couple of questions:

Should it be doable without uncoupling the propshaft at the rear?
Is there a correct procedure for doing up the bolts to the correct tightness? Presumably the coupling will start to compress if done up too much, so is it simply a case of doing up until the split-pin holes line up with the castellated nut?

Thanks for all the good advice so far

[David Stepney]

When I relived. The clutch on my car at about 98000 miles, I replaced the fabric coupling at the same time. I can’t remember. Who the coupling came from. It was eitherSeven Workshops or David Cochran’s. 6000 miles later and it’s still all right.

[Ivor Hawkins]

“Proper” fabric couplings should be very durable and last well, it’s sourcing the right one and there was a thread recently covering this subject in detail, I’ll see if I can track it down for you and post a link.

Here you go! https://www.austinsevenfriends.co.uk/for...t#pid54747

[Dave Mann]

I replaced one during the coffee stop on one of Malcolm Parker's runs, if done on a slight slope let the handbrake off to allow the shaft to turn to access the next nut, all done sitting in the passenger seat.

[David Cochrane]

... I replaced the fabric coupling at the same time. I can’t remember. Who the coupling came from. It was eitherSeven Workshops or David Cochran’s. 6000 miles later and it’s still all right.

David - you got one from me.

I can supply a propshaft which bolts straight in without needing to have any flanges changed. See here: https://www.a7spares.co.uk/spares.php#propshaft

[Bob Culver]

Unrelated to the problem complained of, but as the title will crop up in Search, for completeness a vibration can occur on fast slight downgrades when the car is between drive and overrun. The inherent unbalance of the drivesaft vibrates any clearance in the torque tube ball joint.

[Russlin]

I can vouch for David Cochrane's H/S prop-shaft. I simply unbolted the original shaft from my 1928 and installed the new one.

As this is my first Austin Seven I did not appreciate the improvement it made until my passengers commented how smoothly the car rode compared to their fabric uni models.

Russell.