Section : Clutch

Clutching at straws!

Posted By : John Tabor, 02-May-2003, 08:59am

Finally the whole of my MKIII is back together but the clutch is not working. I've bled the system (twice) and I can see the operating lever moving by about 2 inches. The pedal feel is about right too. I replaced the gearbox with a re-con (canley) one which slotted in easily. As the engine and clutch were undisturbed for 3 months while I did the body I assume the clutch plates have stuck together. I've tried starting the car in gear, and starting in neutral and pumping the clutch. If anyone has any advise on curing this I'd be really grateful. Also is 2 inches enough travel at the release lever, or should I suspect a cylinder fault?

Followups :

Clutching at straws!

Posted By : Nigel Gibbins, 02-May-2003, 12:43pm

Sounds to me like the friction plate has stuck to the flywheel.

I've heard many 'stories' about how to free them - including putting the rear off the ground on a jack, starting the engine (wheels spin), then getting to second gear and putting the clutch full in then getting a friend to drop the rear down and bang - it frees up! Not sure how safe or reliable this is though?

NiG
http://www.niginthecar.net
- Clutching at straws!
  
  Posted By : John Davies, 02-May-2003, 06:14pm
  
  John,
  Like Nigel, I wouldn;t use Nigel's method either!
  
  Safer is to find some space - Sunday carpark? - or a quiet road. Push start and drive about with the clutch pedal down. A bit of welly on the one to the far right and engine torque, rather than car mass, should eventually break it free.
  
  Good luck!
  John
  - Clutching at straws!
    
    Posted By : John Tabor, 06-May-2003, 02:02pm
    
    Thanks for the advice gents,
    after several attempts to free it my thrust washers gave up so once I've popped in some new ones I'll try the safer 2 techniques and fingers crossed!
    
    Cheers, John
Clutching at straws!

Posted By : William Davies, 04-May-2003, 00:03am

My own "never failed yet" method as follows:
Run the engine for some time until you're happy that everything is nice and warm - don't just run it until the temperature gauge reads normal as you really need the clutch itself to be up to temperature. Now stop the engine, jack up the back of car and place it securely on axle stands, chock the front wheels as you really don't want this car to be going anywhere. DO NOT remove the rear wheels as their rotating mass is essential. Put the car into 4th gear and start the engine again. The rear wheels will now be turning so be extremely careful. After a minute or so of running like this (everything must remain nice and warm), try operating the clutch. With any luck you will hear and feel a bang as the clutch releases. If not try again a few times. If this still doesn't work, hit the clutch and brake pedal simultaneously. If the engine stalls, start it up again and repeat.
Cheers,
Bill.