Stutter And Lag In 2nd Gear

Hi-1975 CJ 5 with a 232 and a T 14. Starts pretty well and first gear runs fine and when I get to 3rd gear it is fine but in 2nd year the engine sort of stutters and sputters and seems to hesitate. Not terrible but noticeable. Thoughts?

 

Under load? Acceleration? At certain rpm? What is different about second gear?

Just possibly an intake/vacuum (air) leak. Check hoses and gaskets.

 

I had a problem with my 2nd gear and in fact there was some water in the gearbox, as it happens for various reasons, and it had rusted staying not used. So... repair of the gearbox. $$

 

Mine will do this under load when the air filter gets dirty.

 

Dirty carter yf carb. Mine used to kinda plug the idle jet

 

New Fuel filter & carb rebuild is most likely in order . Particularly when one does not know if it was ever done ?

 

Any new-old Jeep not previously owned by an enthusiast that understands carburetors, is due for a rebuild. I would routinely clean it and rebuild it. The YF is a simple machine, and not difficult to rebuild. Also, what's the history of the Jeep? New to you? Long time owner with a new problem?

Do you have all the original emissions devices? If not, what has been removed or bypassed? Have you read the '75 TSM?

 

Thanks for all the ideas. Had jeep for a year. Carb checked out a year ago when a vacuum leak was spotted and fixed. Maybe 350 miles since then. Haven't looked at the air filter in a while. Might have a squirrel in there. Everything is original on the emissions. New fuel filter, good gas. Seems to be new issue and its not major, just noticeable. Maybe I missed it when dealing with other stuff now resolved. Not present in 1st or third gear. Guessing 1500 to 2000 rpm. Haven't popped open the gear box but swapped fluid a few weeks ago and it was old but not gooey or milky.

 

350 miles in a year would suggest that you have a varnish problem in the carburetor from fuel evaporating while it sat. I used to have to pull the carbs on my motorcycles every spring to clean out the gunk from the previous year and I would put way more then 350 miles on them during the summers.

Mike