On the Citroen SM with 3.0 Liter Maserati engine and 3 speed automatic transmission, it is very important to remember this. If you remove the torque converter for repair, it’s possible when reattaching it to the engine to attach the torque converter to the crankshaft pulley in any one of four positions, only one of which will be correct.

Mounting the torque converter up in the wrong position will cause the timing hole in the bell housing to not line up with the timing mark on the converter housing.

To prevent this from happening, it is very important to set the position of piston No.1 of the motor at TDC . After you do this, position the converter so that the timing mark lines up with the peephole in the bellhousing.

Always remember to check twice and do once.

Take care of those Citroën SM engines they don’t make them anymore!

Later, Denis

No related posts.

Question

This question came in recently, pertaining to the placement of jack stands and garage jacks under the car…

I just read your tip about getting under the car to check transmission worries, and you said to be sure to use jack stands.

1- where do I use my garage jack to lift the car?
2- where do I set the jack stands?

My problem is changing the starter on a Citroën SM.

Citroen Tech Tip

To answer I thought I would put this short video together:

Because the person asked this question about an article I wrote about checking the Citroen SM clutch I will answer it for that car in particular. I will answer it with a non running car in mind.

Hope that helps.

Denis

No related posts.

Question

I recently purchased a 1972 Citroen Maserati that starts and runs. Problem is the clutch seems inoperative. The person selling the car for the owner claimed that the last time the car was driven, the clutch stopped working. The pedal seems to operate correctly and the slave cylinder moves in and out.

I noticed that the system was low on hydraulic fluid, so I purchased new LHM and topped it off according to the instructions in the owner’s manual. I then bled the slave cylinder. I also adjusted the slave cylinder according to the instructions in the workshop manual. Neither procedure made a difference. The gearbox operates freely. When I put the car in gear and slowly raise the clutch pedal, absolutely nothing happens. When the pedal is a full height, the gearbox can still be operated.

Being brand new to SM ownership, I’m uncertain what to try next. Any suggestions or information will be greatly appreciated.

Citroen Tech Tip

From what you have explained there is a good chance that the clutch disc or the pressure plate has broken. When this happens there will not be any connection between the engine and the transmission. The other possibility is that there has been some type of transmission failure such as the input shaft being broken or it’s splines being stripped.

So with the engine running and the gear selector being moved without any type of gears clashing then there is no connection between the engine and the transmission. Looks like things are going to have to come apart to really see what is the problem.

One quick test that you might want to do first is to safely and securely jack up the car or put it on a lift. If you jack it up be sure to use jack stands and DO NOT rely on the Citroën hydraulic system to elevate the car.

Once it is securely up get under it and remove the sheet metal cover on the bottom of the bell housing. Once you have done this you will be able to see a portion of the clutch from the point where you removed the shield.

Now if everything was working properly you should be able to put the Citroën SM into 5th gear and turn one of the wheels and see the clutch and flywheel turn also, but in your case this is probably not going to happen.

Hope this Citroen Tech Tip helps,

Denis

No related posts.

This is just a short reminder to all you Citroën SM lovers out there.

It is extremely important to get in the habit of checking and correcting, if necessary, the tightness of the bolts fastening the differential shaft extension housing to the Citroen SM gear box .

This should be checked after any repair involving removal of the motor, the gear box, the drive shafts or the front suspension units.

The tightening torque is 10.5 to 13.5 m.kg. (76 to 98 ft. lbs.)

Stay safe!

Denis

No related posts.

Boy, this is how everyone should get the oil in their Citroëns changed. I think my SM is due. :0)

No related posts.

Would you like to know how to do that on your Citroën SM ? Tensioning the secondary chains with the valve covers remaining on the cylinder heads isn’t hard if you know the steps.

It is imperative to bear in mind the grave risk of misaligning the camshafts , causing possible damage to the valves or engine.

When the chain tension is slackened, it is possible for the valve springs to overcome the pressure of the cam lobes , forcing the camshafts out of alignment.

To prevent this:

On the right side…

1. Bring the piston No.1 to TDC of the exhaust stroke.
2. Attach a 6 or 8 mm. socket type Allen wrench to a standard torque wrench . Insert it into the head of the tensioner adjustment bolt and retain a torque of 15 ft.lbs.
3. Loosen the two nuts locking the chain tensioner while retaining the torque.
4. After these nuts are loosened, re-adjust the chain tension torque to 15 ft.lbs. Then tighten the nuts to 15 ft.lbs.

On the left side…

1. Bring the piston No.6 to TDC of the exhaust stroke.
2. Follow the same procedure outlined above.

Hope this Citroen Tech Tip helped and please leave a comment to let me know what other Citroen questions you’d like answered.

Later,

Denis

No related posts.

On many Citroën SM’s, the front cover of the air filter assembly can be found distorted sufficiently to permit a partial volume of air to enter the carburetors directly, by-passing the air filter cartridge.

It is possible to correct this by using a strip of foam rubber. To do this:

• Obtain a strip of foam rubber, 1/4 x 1/2 x 15 inches approximately.
• Remove the original seal embedded in the front cover.
• Compress the strip of foam rubber into the seat of the original seal.
• Replace the original seal on top of the foam rubber insert.
• Replace the cover. It will require a little extra effort to replace the clamps, but the original seal being hollow, will have the characteristic of taking up the variation of distortion around the perimeter of the cover.

Note: At the 600 mile inspection, or at each periodic maintenance check, it is ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE that this be checked and corrected.

This will keep your Citroën SM from leaking dirty and unfiltered air into the air induction system thus preventing premature wear of your three 42 mm. downdraft Weber Carborators and it’s Maserati engine.

Keep your Citroën SM in prestine condition, they don’t make ‘em any more.

No related posts.