clutch and gear problems

K

Kaptain Karl

Member
I have just recently aquired a 1929 fordor that has been sitting for 40 years in a garage. I got it to start this past weekend and when I went to shift, the car would not go into gear. The clutch would go in with some tension like it should, but when I tried to put the car in any gear the shifter would just grind and not even slow down the gears. The Fluid was low so I added some. The car will shift into gear when it is off. If I try to start the car with it in gear AND the clutch in, the car rolls forward while trying to start. Could the gears be rusted together, and if so, can I jar them apart. Any help would be great. Thanks, Kaptain
 
Kaptain,
The clutch disc is stuck to either the pressure plate or the flywheel. Should come apart to fix it correctly but I have had some luck with starting the vehicle(in a clear area) in gear. Hold the clutch pedal in while you are moving and apply the brakes a few times. May be able to knock it loose.

Pete
 
"Probably" metal fibers in disc lining rusted to smooth flywheel surface, quite common!
Take out the floorboards & remove bell housing inspection cover. With a long skinny brass drift & a hammer, tap on the clutch disc center hub where it slides on the trans input shaft. Hold down on the clutch pedal while hittin' it. Bill W.
(Try Pete's way first, it'll be easier if it works)
 
Thanks for the rapid responses. I'll be trying those things on Christmas morning since I have to work on Mon. I'll be praying for that Christmas miracle.
 
Wish I could come and help on Christmas morning. I have to go to the in-laws for the 967th time for Christmas day. Would rather work on an A.

My in-laws are great, I just don't like sitting in the house all day.

Pete
 
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Another way similar to Pete's would be to put it in high gear, hook on to it with a tow vehicle, push in the clutch and try to pull it. Do not hook on to the front axle in the middle of it-will bend the axle. Put it around the frame. Good luck and hope Santa gives you A Christmas present.
 
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My Driveway is a hill, so I was going to tow it up the hill and coast down in first or second with the clutch pedal in and tap the brakes and see what happens
 
Kaptain Karl said:
My Driveway is a hill, so I was going to tow it up the hill and coast down in first or second with the clutch pedal in and tap the brakes and see what happens
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Karl,
Remember, you gotta' be driving with the motor in locked up LOW, then hit the brakes hard a few times. Don't take the wife with you, they don't understand Krazy stuff like that!! (SCREAM!!) Bill W.
 
I am from Eastern North Dakota where hills are foreign to us. Just make sure you can stop the car.

Applying the brakes while coasting down a hill will reduce the force applied to make the clutch release. If I was certain the brakes could stop the car I would drive it up the hill with the clutch pedal depressed and intermittently apply the brakes to jar it loose.

Pete
 
Hopefully she'll still be sleeping and the kids will be in a present coma and coming down from their sugar high. I'll be needing fresh air away from the family.
 
I think you've got a multidisc clutch...take a look in the inspection plate.... Bob F in cold Ontario!!
 
Kaptain Karl said:
Whats a multi disc clutch?
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They were used in early 28, and were discontinued because the dust material from clutch wear was clogging up the discs and making the clutch inoperable. Maybe someone here can post a picture that will explain how you can tell looking through the inspection hole. If the inspection plate has no louvers in it, you very likely have a multiple disc clutch. The date on your firewall might also give you a clue. The multiple disc clutch was dropped in about November of 1928.
 
bobf said:
I think you've got a multidisc clutch...take a look in the inspection plate.... Bob F in cold Ontario!!
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c81deb6d.jpg


The single plate was introduced in November 1928, so this 29 should be a single plate clutch and flywheel.

The multiplate inspection cover is WIDER than it is tall, and the single plate cover (as shown on the right two covers) is TALLER than it is wide.

The AA clutch housing cover is the same width and height.
 
We went through the stuck clutch issue about six months ago. Similarly the car had been parked for 40+ years.

What we did was jack the rear end up and placed it on a pair of stable jack stands. We started the engine with the trans in first so it would be tougher to kill the engine. I brought the engine speed up above a fast idle and applied the brakes until the engine would drag down and released the brakes. I repeated this several times being a little more abrupt with the brake pedal until I got a "bang" as the clutch popped free. I then partially engaged the clutch while still holding the brakes on to slip the clutch a bit.

We put the car back down to do a test drive and it was stuck again! So back up on the stands it went for a repeat which of course was much easier this time, and I slipped the clutch a little more. This time we shut it down for a minute and then retested while still on the stands and all was fine so we put it down and drove it around a bit.
 
Thank you for everyones input. Iwill be trying these method soon and hopefully I can free up the gears. I really liked the idea of the car on jack stands. Sounds a little more safe and in control:)
 
Kaptain Karl said:
Thank you for everyones input. Iwill be trying these method soon and hopefully I can free up the gears. I really liked the idea of the car on jack stands. Sounds a little more safe and in control:)
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Dog:cool: here,
Please let us know, we're waiting with "BAITED BREATH"! (I stole that line from someone here! I don't know how to spel playgerize:eek:) Buster T.:cool:
 
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