stuck clutch

H

hotrodjimg

Junior Member
I have a 59-AB flathead with a 39 transmission bolted to it in a 32 chassis ready to go but the clutch is stuck. I've tried rocking it in gear with the clutch disengaged. Still stuck! Any ideas to free it up before I go ahead and pull the motor and disassemble. Jim G
 
Have you removed the inspection plate and watched what is going on when you depress the clutch? You can remove the top of the transmission and see if a gear set has locked up for some reason. Hope this helps and good luck.
 
Gear set is all good, With inspection plate off the throwout bearing and pressure plate are functioning properly the disc is stuck to the flywheel. Is there anything out there I can spray in there to free it up without ruining the disc.
 
You just need to get it running...push start it, get it going, put in the pedal and stop with your foot still on the gas...use the throttle button on that if you don't have 3 feet! It will pop loose.
 
I would try what Bruce and fourtydlx said-the only other thing is clutch disc is in backwards-sounds like the pp releases the disc-so for some reason it is stuck to the flywheel.
 
If the engine is running and the brakes work, jack up the rear and start the engine, rev it up a little and step on the brake. This start and stop with a jolt should break the clutch loose from the flywheel.
 
When this happens to one of my cars or trucks, I put the rear end on jack stands tires 4" above the concrete, start the vehicle, bring the revs up slightly like stated above and depress BOTH the brake and clutch at the same time and it will break free. Important to do both pedals at the same time.
 
With all these solutions to this problem-especially the putting strain on the disc by starting the car and straining the cluth's grab of the flywheel. Any ideas on why this happens? Must have been going on for a long time.
 
It seems to be a common problem with cars that sit for several months. Usually more common in the spring after a cold winter and then a warm up causing condensation. I had it happen to me several years ago but was able to remove the inspection plate from the bottom of the bellhousing on my 50 and, with the clutch depressed, pry the disc loose from the flywheel. I think I uses a putty knife with a two to three inch blade.
 
The flywheel friction surface is highly polished bare steel, perfect for rust. Once the thing has stuck, in my experience, it will rust and stick more quickly in the future.
It will break loose rather easily under engine/brake power, and long term cure is to just start and move the car every few weeks rather than letting it sit for a long time. This will be good for multiple things other than clutch!
 
I had the same problem after storing my car over winter a few years back. Now when I put her to bed for the winter I depress the clutch and prop a piece of wood against the seat and clutch peddle to keep the pressure off the disk. No problem since I started doing this.
 
Does anyone else use WD40?

(WD40? Is he out of his mind?)

There'll be a lot of screaming about this, but WD40 is actually a very poor lubricant ... about 15% very light mineral oil. It IS very good at protecting against corrosion. Corrosion ... rust ... is what's causing the clutch to stick to the flywheel.

Those with "high mechanical intuition" (never-been-there, never done that) will say it should never be done.

First hand knowledge says it works great.

If you are a little shy about using WD40, save it for those really frustrating stuck clutches. Spray it liberally on the disc while turning the engine by hand. Let it sit.
 
Hoop said:
Does anyone else use WD40?

(WD40? Is he out of his mind?)

There'll be a lot of screaming about this, but WD40 is actually a very poor lubricant ... about 15% very light mineral oil. It IS very good at protecting against corrosion. Corrosion ... rust ... is what's causing the clutch to stick to the flywheel.

Those with "high mechanical intuition" (never-been-there, never done that) will say it should never be done.

First hand knowledge says it works great.

If you are a little shy about using WD40, save it for those really frustrating stuck clutches. Spray it liberally on the disc while turning the engine by hand. Let it sit.
Click to expand...


I seem to remember seeing MMO used this way.
It worked. I do not remember if it was a tractor, or a truck.

Bruce

Works good
Lasts long time
 
it has been suggested in the past to use WD-40 for a stuck disc, as it evaporates away...or most of it does, so it doesn't make the disc oily......any news on the stuck clutch?...Mike
 
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