Clutch needs freeing off - all suggestions please :)

[griffster]

been in storage for long time and first the clutch rusted on and then the Master cylinder gave out - have managed to free in the past by driving with clutch depressed and coming on a nd off throttle and braking with throttle open, however she wasnt keen to oblige last time

so, welcome all suggestions

[Loubaruch]

Support the rear of the car on axle stands and let your engine warm up, generally the heat from the engine will free it alone, but a few dabs of the throttle can help.

This has worked for me several times and does not jolt the transmission.

[O mage]

Get a big hammer and a drift and give the flywheel a clout from underneath.

[blitzracing]

As stated, put the car on rear axle stands, start it and run it up to about 2000 rpm and and let the rear wheels spin in 4th or 5th gear . Then depress the clutch, and apply a load to the rear wheels with the handbrake. Apply more power as needed to stop the engine stalling until it snaps free. Brutal but effective. Just don't have wobbly car stands, Im not paying for a new nose and garage wall if you drop it off the stands!

[spitfire4v8]

And let the engine get up to full temp and then some .. you want the engine heat to transfer into the flywheel and clutch as much as possible which also helps.
Don't be tempted to hit anything with a hammer and drift

[Zener]

spitfire4v8 said:

And let the engine get up to full temp and then some .. you want the engine heat to transfer into the flywheel and clutch as much as possible which also helps.
Don't be tempted to hit anything with a hammer and drift

This ^ Not this.... Get a big hammer and a drift Bloody Hell ..... really? , dont go hitting a cast iron FW with anything

[O mage]

Zener said:

This ^ Not this.... Get a big hammer and a drift Bloody Hell ..... really? , dont go hitting a cast iron FW with anything

What do you think will happen the flywheel shatter into a million pieces ? lol. its a 30lb lump What has happened here is the is the spinner plate has rusted to the spigot shaft splines a few good taps on the flywheel will send the shock down the shaft which the spinner is rusted to thus braking the rust free hopefully. Talking of cast iron have you never used a hammer on a stuck brake drum ?. I mean really come on.

[spitfire4v8]

"spinner plate" ? ...

Rusted to the spigot shaft ? ... hammering the flywheel will send a shock down the spigot shaft and free the rust ?

Are you in cloud cuckoo land ?

[O mage]

Ok Whatever. If its that stuck on that bad what you need to do is yes jack the back up but with a hydraulic jack put it in 5th clutch down give it some and then get your mate to drop the jack.! It will come free whatever on the first drop that's if its rusted on like WW2 relics. And yes you will need some space but not as much as you think if you can drive that is.

[O mage]

spitfire4v8 said:

"spinner plate" ? ...

Rusted to the spigot shaft ? ... hammering the flywheel will send a shock down the spigot shaft and free the rust ?

Are you in cloud cuckoo land ?

"Friction plate " "primary shaft" "splines" "rust" hammer" "shock" "free" " The spinner plate must be able to slide on the splines in order to disengage and it has been clamped in that position on the splines of the "shaft" since WW2 but dont mention the war, i did earlier but i think i got away with it . Come on.

[Zener]

O mage said:

What do you think will happen the flywheel shatter into a million pieces ? lol. its a 30lb lump What has happened here is the is the spinner plate has rusted to the spigot shaft splines a few good taps on the flywheel will send the shock down the shaft which the spinner is rusted to thus braking the rust free hopefully. Talking of cast iron have you never used a hammer on a stuck brake drum ?. I mean really come on.

So explain how striking with an heavy metal object is going to free a stuck driven plate , its not a brake drum rusted on a hub is it ? the FW is a solid lump bolted to another solid lump the crankshaft I dont think your going to set up much vibration to free a stuck driven plate clumping with an hammer do you ? never ever have I heard or resorting to this method to free a stuck driven plate ...... Ever

[Boosted LS1]

I've had this before. Iirc I started it up in gear and then hit the brakes before crashing into a wall. It needed a shock and gave me one to :-)

[O mage]

Zener said:

O mage said:

What do you think will happen the flywheel shatter into a million pieces ? lol. its a 30lb lump What has happened here is the is the spinner plate has rusted to the spigot shaft splines a few good taps on the flywheel will send the shock down the shaft which the spinner is rusted to thus braking the rust free hopefully. Talking of cast iron have you never used a hammer on a stuck brake drum ?. I mean really come on.

So explain how striking with an heavy metal object is going to free a stuck driven plate , its not a brake drum rusted on a hub is it ? the FW is a solid lump bolted to another solid lump the crankshaft I dont think your going to set up much vibration to free a stuck driven plate clumping with an hammer do you ? never ever have I heard or resorting to this method to free a stuck driven plate ...... Ever

If its stuck on the splines then strike the flywheel and it will ring like a bell you might not be able to hear it but it will concentrate in the centre where it mates the crank which is where the spigot bush/bearing is which takes the spigot shaft which is the same as the primary shaft whose splines the friction plate moves on thus sending an even amplified "shockwave" on through the shaft at the centre of the flywheel and hopefully freeing the bond the rust has on the splines. As for trying it neither have i, this is what they do in the trenches before they drop start it.

[RobXjcoupe]

griffster said:

been in storage for long time and first the clutch rusted on and then the Master cylinder gave out - have managed to free in the past by driving with clutch depressed and coming on a nd off throttle and braking with throttle open, however she wasnt keen to oblige last time

so, welcome all suggestions

I think if you have had this issue before, it’s time to do the job properly and take it apart. Hitting things, jarring things, driving on or off axle stands lol. Sometimes it’s just deep breathe take your time and don’t cut corners. Yes it’s frustrating but hey it’s been sat around for a while and if the clutch is stuck then the brakes will probably need looking at too. Just my opinion though

[Zener]

O mage said:

Zener said:

O mage said:

What do you think will happen the flywheel shatter into a million pieces ? lol. its a 30lb lump What has happened here is the is the spinner plate has rusted to the spigot shaft splines a few good taps on the flywheel will send the shock down the shaft which the spinner is rusted to thus braking the rust free hopefully. Talking of cast iron have you never used a hammer on a stuck brake drum ?. I mean really come on.

So explain how striking with an heavy metal object is going to free a stuck driven plate , its not a brake drum rusted on a hub is it ? the FW is a solid lump bolted to another solid lump the crankshaft I dont think your going to set up much vibration to free a stuck driven plate clumping with an hammer do you ? never ever have I heard or resorting to this method to free a stuck driven plate ...... Ever

If its stuck on the splines then strike the flywheel and it will ring like a bell you might not be able to hear it but it will concentrate in the centre where it mates the crank which is where the spigot bush/bearing is which takes the spigot shaft which is the same as the primary shaft whose splines the friction plate moves on thus sending an even amplified "shockwave" on through the shaft at the centre of the flywheel and hopefully freeing the bond the rust has on the splines. As for trying it neither have i, this is what they do in the trenches before they drop start it.

The clutch disc driven plate friction material would have bonded itself to the FW or clutch cover due to moisture (rust) the friction disc is sintered and contains ferrous material nothing to do with the input shaft splines snagging in the driven plate

[O mage]

Zener said:

O mage said:

Zener said:

O mage said:

What do you think will happen the flywheel shatter into a million pieces ? lol. its a 30lb lump What has happened here is the is the spinner plate has rusted to the spigot shaft splines a few good taps on the flywheel will send the shock down the shaft which the spinner is rusted to thus braking the rust free hopefully. Talking of cast iron have you never used a hammer on a stuck brake drum ?. I mean really come on.

So explain how striking with an heavy metal object is going to free a stuck driven plate , its not a brake drum rusted on a hub is it ? the FW is a solid lump bolted to another solid lump the crankshaft I dont think your going to set up much vibration to free a stuck driven plate clumping with an hammer do you ? never ever have I heard or resorting to this method to free a stuck driven plate ...... Ever

If its stuck on the splines then strike the flywheel and it will ring like a bell you might not be able to hear it but it will concentrate in the centre where it mates the crank which is where the spigot bush/bearing is which takes the spigot shaft which is the same as the primary shaft whose splines the friction plate moves on thus sending an even amplified "shockwave" on through the shaft at the centre of the flywheel and hopefully freeing the bond the rust has on the splines. As for trying it neither have i, this is what they do in the trenches before they drop start it.

The clutch disc driven plate friction material would have bonded itself to the FW or clutch cover due to moisture (rust) the friction disc is sintered and contains ferrous material nothing to do with the input shaft splines snagging in the driven plate

Oh ok then when a brake drum is stuck on what do yo go for a hammer? industry standard is hammer this not only breaks the rust bond but realigns the shoes and the drum will come free shoes bonded or not. Magic is it.? simply applying copper slip to the moving parts should end this.

[spitfire4v8]

Only after you had exhausted other options would you reach for a hammer to free off a brake drum .. the risk of damage is there and it's a safety critical item of course .. so a mallet is a much safer option. To suggest reaching for a hammer first for either brakes or a flywheel/clutch is ludicrous and anyone giving such advice should be treated with caution as it shows a fundamental lack of care and consideration for the job in hand, and an inability to consider less belligerent solutions.

[Zener]

spitfire4v8 said:

Only after you had exhausted other options would you reach for a hammer to free off a brake drum .. the risk of damage is there and it's a safety critical item of course .. so a mallet is a much safer option. To suggest reaching for a hammer first for either brakes or a flywheel/clutch is ludicrous and anyone giving such advice should be treated with caution as it shows a fundamental lack of care and consideration for the job in hand, and an inability to consider less belligerent solutions.

I give up fella I do honestly just trying to save the OP'er grief

[phazed]

That was an interesting read that cheered me up on an otherwise dull day.

[fieryfred]

Dont bite my head off but.
Using Clarkson's voice as per an M & S advert.
This is no ordinary toffee hammer, nor a claw hammer or even a lump hammer.
This ia a Clarkson the only tool you will need.
The only tool used by Clarkson.
Formally know as a sledge hammer.
Ok it made me laugh, the thought of that big ape being let loose on a fibre glass car.
Time for my pills me thinks.