Clutch Issue - Need Help Please

Nasukau

Nasukau

Senior Member
Hi All,
I parked my 31 pickup 8 months ago in the shop and everything was working just great. It has not been started since until today. The pickup fired right up. But now I am unable to put the car in gear when I press the clutch in. I could not get the video uploaded here. Please see the YouTube link below.

https://youtube.com/shorts/hQf33giANEg?feature=share

Thanks,
Denny
 
Clutch disc may be "stuck" to the flywheel. Try a couple of abrupt starts from a dead stop while holding the clutch pedal to the floor. Might brake it free. Also try lugging on a hill in high gear while holding the pedal to the floor. If not, you might have to pull the clutch. Good luck.
 
Yup - probably stuck.
If you can "safely" do this. With ignition OFF, apply emergency brake and apply service brakes. Put 3rd gear and depress clutch. Use the starter to bump engine over. If you're lucky, the clutch will break free.
 
As stated above, the clutch disc is probably stuck to the flywheel which sometimes happens when the car has been sitting for a period of time. After you warm up the engine while the transmission is in neutral, turn off the engine. Put it in low gear and hold the clutch pedal to the floor and start it again. Just be sure you have a lot of room in front of you and be ready to turn the ignition off if the clutch does not unstick. The engine should start and usually the clutch disc will free up on the first try. If it does not, try again.

Usually the clutch will unstick on the first try. Just be sure you have the clutch pedal all the way to the floor and there is plenty of room in front of you.

I have had it happen to me more than once.

Chris W.
 
I suggested 3rd gear, not a low gear.
In 3rd gear, there is minimal stress on the transmission shafts / bearings, and the lowest torque in case the clutch doesn't break free. Doing this with the ignition OFF and bumping the starter is much safer
 
All good suggestions. A first step might be to pull the inspection cover on the clutch housing and take a look. Problem may be obvious.
 
Put it in third gear and with the clutch pedal to the floor, have your buddies give it a good push. Forward or backward. Good safe way to try first. Good luck and drive that car.
 
Good Morning...If you are not going to drive your A for a few weeks or months, disconnect the battery, and cut a 2x4 or some such, much like a brake adjusting board, that will go from the clutch pedal to the front seat to hold the clutch pedal on the floor...it can't stick in that position...Ernie in Arizona
 
Hi All,
Update - I warmed the engine and transmission up in neutral. Then turned the power off, clutch pressed to the floor and in 3rd gear, then bump the starter a few times. Also tried this in 1st gear. Still having the same issue.
I also tried this with the power on and the pickup starts up and i have to shut the ignition off quickly. I also checked my clutch pedal and there is a little more than 1 1/4” free play.
Any other suggestions before The last resort of pulling out the transmission to see what’s going on?

Denny
 
Did you take the cover off the clutch housing and peek inside?

The responses here are all the standard methods of freeing up a frozen clutch. Third gear is easier on the transmission and rear end. Try it again with the ignition on and a good runway and then apply the brakes with the throttle open. and clutch depressed But first peek inside. There may be something wrong with the throwout bearing or clutch pressure plate.

Did you try rocking the car forward and backward in third, clutch depressed, ignition off? Invite the local high school football team over for snacks.
 
@nkaminar - please see my video in the initial post. I opened the plate to show what is going on inside. I have not tried rocked the car back and forth yet.

Denny
 
I have had this problem and had to remove the transmission to free the clutch disc which was stuck to the flywheel . I was surprised to find I could easily ping the disc off just with my fingernails . I got to thinking a good jolt would have freed it so when it happened again I removed the inspection plate and with a flashlight I could see the disc centre . I got a long screwdriver and engaged on the disc and gave it a good bop and freed straight away worth a try .

John in Suffolk County England .
 
Sorry, just looked at the video and see that you have the cover off.

I like John's idea of prying the clutch disk back with a long screwdriver. I assume he did this with the clutch disengaged. The right length board could be used to hold the clutch pedal down.
 
Jack up the rear wheels and place rear axle on jack stands. Make sure the path in front of the car is clear. Start the engine with the car in high gear and speed engine up to fast idle. Hold the clutch pedal to the floor and jab the brake pedal hard a couple times.

I’ve used this method three different times, and it worked for me. Make sure you can do this safely.

W.Michael
 
I wonder if his actuation lever has partially failed. Did the travel of that throw out brg look right to you guys?
 
Yes I did do an edit to say I held the clutch pedal fully down with a piece of wood against the seat riser but it did not post although it did at first . You do not "pry" the disc you cant get to the edges only the centre section with the springs in . With the long screwdriver end hard up on the disc centre give it a good bop . This has worked for me several times but these were old style discs with no springs . I dont like the spring centres as they tend to get out of alignment and cause the clutch to jam and that is definately a trans out job !!!

John in Suffolk County England .
 
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