Hey everyone,
I'm not sure what the problem is here but sometimes when I am at a stop and I shift into first gear there is a slight grind. This only happens some of the time but is making me nervous that the clutch needs to be replaced. I was reading some posts and it seemed like adjusting the clutch cable might help. Is this possible? It would be a lot easier than replacing the clutch.
Also would bleeding the clutch fluid help? When it rains I seem to lose brake fluid from the reservoir. My understanding is that the clutch and brake reservoir are the same and I was thinking its possible that air could have got into the clutch lines and causing a rough shift and therefore needs bleeding. Is this possible? Would it help? Any help or explanation would be appreciated. Thanks in advance

You should have a cable clutch not a hydraulic clutch. I believe that no 240 ever came with a hydraulic clutch, only the 260's did. Do you get the grind sound when you try to shift into reverse? When going into reverse if you go to first then to reverse does that help the grind noise go away? It sounds like a bad piolt bearing. When the pilot bearing goes / binds it cause the input shaft to spin at a higher speed thus when you re-enter first/reverse you have a grinding sound because the syncro-gears can cannot spin fast enough to engage the gears smoothly. I had same problem with my 79 264GL and once I replaced the pilot bearing the grinding noise went away. Good Luck!

Sincerely,
--
Julio Meza

1979 264GL B27F 125K --> BW55->M46, CLS, IPD Sway, 81+ Dash, Gauges, Flat Hood

1979 262C B27F 160K --> Restore Project w/Possible B280F

1984 245DL 214K -->Wifemobile

It does sometimes grind going into reverse but not nearly as bad. It seems to grind when I shift into first when I am going 5 mph or so.
Your diagnosis makes sense to me. It does sound like something is spinning and something else is making contact with it. How involved is it to change the pilot bearing? Is this something that would be in the Haynes manual? Thanks for your help.

"I shift into first gear there is a slight grind. "
Where is the grinding coming from? (You may have bad bushings or mounts.)

"adjusting the clutch cable might help."
"would bleeding the clutch fluid help?"
I'm not familiar with Volvo's hydraulic clutches, so they may have adjustable cables. But my feeling is you probably have a mechanical clutch (with cable).

"When it rains I seem to lose brake fluid from the reservoir."
If you have a leak in your brakes it should happen all the time, not only when it rains. No ideas on this one.
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1980 245 Canadian B21A with SU carb and M46 trans

You know, I can't really tell where the sound is coming from except to say its under the hood, in front of the gas pedal.
I can't explain the brake fluid either, but the resevoir is lower after it rains. Its easier to just fill up the fluid anyway.
Thanks for your help.