44 Special is alive after 30 years!

Well, I purchased a 44 Special with the 277 engine, wide front, and it does not have the hand clutch deal that most have.

ANyway, today had an hour, so I thought I would try getting it to fire as it has been in my shed since December 2012 after I bought it and it has traveled almost 600 miles to get here.

Pulled the spark plugs, spread some lube in, checked fluids, and than check spark. Had a hot great spark, but no fuild. Pulled the bowl assebly off and cleaned it, he tank had some dirt holding up fuel, but once back together, it took a couple cranks but it fired right up. I need to clean the carb, and replace fuel lines before running it hard as they leak.

The issues, are the steering. It has power steering tied into the Hydraulic lines, but I have nothing! It doesnt move at all. ALso, the tranny hardly shifts at all. IT is very stiff. It will shift but way tighter than I am use too.

ANy ideas how to fix these two? I was going to pull lines off to see if steering pump is getting any oil. Hoping once it dries out to put it on a plow and work it a little before dropping all fluids and cleaning her up.

THanks for the help!

Those are pretty stiff on shifting, and get worse if low lube. Reverse and first are the worst. I would not worry if it is stiff but smooth.

I would drain grease, put in a couple gallons of diesel, drive around yard for 15 min, then drain and fill with fresh 85W-140.

By chance did you check the oil in the hydraulic reservoir in front of the radiator? You could be low on fluid causing the issue. If it has the three point lift does it work or not?

I got the steering work, cunk of dirt at the bottom of the tank holdin the oil up. I am putting new gages in tomorrow, and new fuild in the rearend, hoping to get it on a pull once it dries out.

Tomorrow I need to put a new fuel strainer and fuel line on, and some fuild changing and plowing time!

Matt

Draining the rear end, dumping 5 gallons of diesel then sloshing it around in 4th gear for a few minutes will do wonders flushing residual sludge before filling with new lube, like previously suggested.

Well it runs good, needs a few things but tires where all brand new 30 years ago, and it sat in the shed for that long. Low hour machine, but needs new gauges, Fuel Strainer, Fuel bowl, Fuel line, and than but the 3 pt back on it.

How many 44specials were made without the hand clutch thing?

Matt