Frozen Clutch

[Patrick B.]

[Chris D.]

Re: Frozen Clutch

I used a similar method of starting it in gear but instead of pushing the clutch in I would keep the throttle on slightly to maintain engine RPM then hit the brakes hard. Sometimes it would take a couple attempts.

[Larry M.]

Re: Frozen Clutch

Pat:

There are probably 3 ways to get it unstuck. You already mentioned two: disassembly of clutch and PP, and starting car in first on a lonely road and using engine torque and brakes to get it free.

The way that I have done it over the years, is a bit different. But has always worked for me and many others. It is

1. Push car into driveway with about 25 feet free space in front of car
2. Parking brake on, put in 4th gear.
3. DO NOT set the choke, as you really don't want engine to start. You could remove a coil wire if you really wanted to, but I have not done this.
4. Put foot on main brake, push clutch pedal to the floor, and then use the starter force to break the clutch-flywheel bond. It normally takes a few 2-3 seceond tries with the starter to do this. The car will try to lurch forward, but the main brake and parking brake will generally hold it stationary.

Make sure clutch is depressed to the floor. Typically I will hear a "*****" sound when clutch disc breaks free.

The I check to be sure all my gears are free and start the car and drive off.

Larry

EDIT: Apparently the built in word censor doesn't like my sound. It is simply "C-H-I-N-K". Nothing profane......although there have been times when I did use a few of those words as well.

[Jimmy G.]

Re: Frozen Clutch

Happened on a 58 I once owned quite often. What I did was warm the engine up in neutral. Turn it off Go to 1 st gear. Start the car and then depress the clutch after the car was going a few feet. Crude but worked. Hard on the starter also

[Edward J.]

Re: Frozen Clutch

Happened on a 58 I once owned quite often. What I did was warm the engine up in neutral. Turn it off Go to 1 st gear. Start the car and then depress the clutch after the car was going a few feet. Crude but worked. Hard on the starter also

I to have done this. Jimmy's procedure does work if you have a low or no traffic street push the car to end of driveway and start engine in first gear and once moving shift into each gear(1-4) and once moving push the clutch in and slow down to lug the engine once you slow down into stall or lug it will generally breaks free. NOTE : while shifting it into the next gear it's more of a timing thing to shift into the next gear, no need to race the engine up through the gears. good luck.

[Patrick B.]

[Patrick B.]

[Larry M.]

Re: Frozen Clutch

Pat:

All my attempts from above (Post 3) were done in 4th gear, as it puts more stress on the stuck clutch disc to flywheel/PP joint. The only other way is driving down the lonely road and using engine torque.

Larry

[Patrick B.]

Re: Frozen Clutch

Yes Larry, I also used 4th gear with wheel chocks when I tried to break it loose with the starter. This is very frustrating, and I will probably have to resort to having it towed to a lonely road. The Corona virus complicates all this.

[Dick W.]

Re: Frozen Clutch

Sounds like a very good way to twist a driveshaft or axle or maybe break a u-joint Pat

[Patrick B.]

Re: Frozen Clutch

Sounds like a very good way to twist a driveshaft or axle or maybe break a u-joint Pat

[Edward J.]

Re: Frozen Clutch

Pat try lugging the engine by applying the brake, from 35Mph to almost a stall condition. I myself have not had a situation this did not work. Try this as many times as you want and at different speeds.i. Did have a C5 that a cust. Let sit for a few years that gave me a hard time , but did release after a few hard rolling starts in first and second gear then slowing to a almost stall condition while clutch pedal is in release position

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Frozen Clutch

Pat:

There are probably 3 ways to get it unstuck. You already mentioned two: disassembly of clutch and PP, and starting car in first on a lonely road and using engine torque and brakes to get it free.

The way that I have done it over the years, is a bit different. But has always worked for me and many others. It is

1. Push car into driveway with about 25 feet free space in front of car
2. Parking brake on, put in 4th gear.
3. DO NOT set the choke, as you really don't want engine to start. You could remove a coil wire if you really wanted to, but I have not done this.
4. Put foot on main brake, push clutch pedal to the floor, and then use the starter force to break the clutch-flywheel bond. It normally takes a few 2-3 seceond tries with the starter to do this. The car will try to lurch forward, but the main brake and parking brake will generally hold it stationary.

Make sure clutch is depressed to the floor. Typically I will hear a "*****" sound when clutch disc breaks free.

The I check to be sure all my gears are free and start the car and drive off.

Larry

EDIT: Apparently the built in word censor doesn't like my sound. It is simply "C-H-I-N-K". Nothing profane......although there have been times when I did use a few of those words as well.

This always worked for me.

[Patrick B.]

[Edward J.]

Re: Frozen Clutch

The corvettes weight I think aid with the release. Also drive it with the the engaged and try goosing the engine a few times at about 3500 RPM