Frozen Clutch

[ron69912t]

FYI

A friend of mine has a 60 356 coupe that has been in storage for 6 months. He recently discovered his clutch plate was frozen to the flywheel and he cannot get it free. The clutch cable is OK.

He will have to drop the engine to get it at it and free it up.

If you are storing your car please depress the clutch pedal now and then to keep this from happening to your car.

Thanks,
Ron D

[tronman]

I would imagine so, depending on how badly they are bonded together may need a new clutch disc and some surface work on the flywheel too...

[Evans, Marv]

Ron:
I have had my '67 pretty much in storage over the past several years. Had to free up the clutch twice. I did it two ways. The first time I started it in neutral & warmed up the engine. Then I started it rolling & slipped it in gear (2nd) & put on the brakes. Heard a big TWANG & the clutch was free. The second time I put the car on stands. Started it up in gear & applied the brakes. That worked well too. I don't think you will have to drop the engine. You may have to be prepared to apply a little power to the motor to break it loose. Play it by ear.

[bemumford]

Never had this happen with a Porsche, but the second method described in Marv Evans' post (get the rear wheels off the ground, start the car in gear, and depress both the clutch and the brakes) is more-or-less standard practice with little British cars. It should work just as well with German ones.

Ed Mumford
67 912 Targa and a couple of MG's

[Nige-912E]

Any of Marv's suggestion will work, I had to do this on various vehicles in the past from Porsches to Land Rovers. Not just British cars I might add. May take a couple of attempts but its easy than dropping the engine.

[terry@bigbadtoy]

Ditto on the using the jack stands - my 65 had the same problem a few years ago - unstuck the first try. I got that advice from the tech editor at "Excellence". good luck.