after sitting 3mo's, clutch will not disengage... any ideas

[zentoad]

I am hoping someone can miraculously save me from dropping the engine on my '73 RS, here's the situation...

We had the engine out for some cosmetics and a fuel pump rebuild, got everything back together successfully and the car was running and operating fine once we tuned the pump. We even put it on a local dyno to check the fuel pump set up and got very respectable numbers.

Drove the car a few times with no complaints. Then the car sat for about 3 months.

When I recently tried to drive it he was unable to get the transmission into gear, grinding noises. I had a quick look under the car today. The clutch cable moves, the actuating arm(?) moves. With the engine not running the trans can be put in gear. With the engine not running and the car in first gear, when I manually turn the wheels I saw no movement of the flywheel... but I don't think that is even possible? I was just looking at what I presume is the flywheel through a tiny hole at the bottom of the mating surfaces between the engine and trans.

The car can be started in gear, if it is, the wheels will turn whether ther clutch is engaged or disengaged. Also, with the car running, in gear, with the clutch DISengaged (clutch pedal to the floor) applying the brakes will slow the engine rpm.

So, any ideas? I am fully capable of putting things together incorrectly, but the fact that the car ran without complaint for a while kind of points away from that. I am thinking possibly that the driven plate is frozen to the flywheel/input shaft splines? If so, I know it is not from rust... or really sitting for an extended period... any way to break it free and avoid dropping the engine and/or trans? Otherwise I am thinking release bearing circlip/throwout shaft splines.... back the lack of any previous indication of a problem is not pointing in that direction, to me anyway.

Any help/info/insight you can offer will be greatly appreciated.

[Flyin Brian]

The clutch is likely rusted to the flywheel surface... happens in my race car. Here is a simple fix.

1) With the car off, place it in 2nd gear
2) Attached the car with a tow-strap to a 4-wheeler or SUV
3) Get in the car
4) Depress the clutch, leaving the car in 2nd
5) Have a buddy tow you SLOWLY
6) "Bump" the clutch in and out, not the full length of the travel, until you feel it release
7) The clutch should break free.

Let us know if this works, there is another solution, but it is harder to acheive and risker to your engine.

[evill]

you could also try putting the car in 5th gear, press in the clutch and try to start it. I have done this before, the torque of the starter and engine can break the clutch disc free of the flywheel.

Ed

[jkh2cpu]

On the floorboard is that pesky clutch stop. That did not move on you, did it? If it slipped a very little, it could keep the clutch from disengaging.

HTH

[aj88cab]

And yet one more option...put the rear up on jack stands, press clutch, start the car, if that alone doesn't break it loose, hit the brakes (with clutch still pressed).

[zentoad]

thanks for all the input guys... I will try your suggestions tomorrow...

[charlesbahn]

I had that happen, just let the car sit a run for a while, pushed the pedal a few times. Just the heat and vibration set it free. Was sitting in the car when it let go, kind of a whooomp and shudder and then all was well. A Porsche orgasm.

Charles

[ClickClickBoom]

Originally Posted by charlesbahn

I had that happen, just let the car sit a run for a while, pushed the pedal a few times. Just the heat and vibration set it free. Was sitting in the car when it let go, kind of a whooomp and shudder and then all was well. A Porsche orgasm.

Charles

Wouldn't that be a Porschasm?
eric

[ruf-porsche]

Originally Posted by charlesbahn

I had that happen, just let the car sit a run for a while, pushed the pedal a few times. Just the heat and vibration set it free. Was sitting in the car when it let go, kind of a whooomp and shudder and then all was well. A Porsche orgasm.

Charles

You must have felt relief when the clutch let go. LOL

[zentoad]

update... got the clutch to disengage this morning.

started it in first on jackstands, high idle , stabbed the brake pedal a few times... no luck
tried again in fifth... no apparent luck
shut the car down... and in preparation for the third attempt... aaahhh, sweet relief

I guess the build up was just too much, she let go before we even had a chance to start her up the third time.

now I need a smoke and a nap

thanks guys