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Spitfire 62 spitfire won"t shift

Francis

Freshman Member
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I'm new here,and glad to find this forum. My problem is, this little car needs help in shifting. It is in A1+ cond. but was sitting for 8yrs. befor I got it. After getting the motor running, redoing the brakes,and cleaning out the empty master cyl. for the cluch, it will ONLY shift if the car is off. Is there a problem with the slave cyl. or is it not blead enough? Any imput is greatly App. Thanks, Francis
 
Welcome. There are several of us here from NJ.

You probably have a clutch hydraulic problem.

Have an assistant press the clutch pedal up and down to the floor while you observe the slave cylinder. The slave cylinder should move in and out around 3/4" or more (it should be pushing the clutch thow-out arm more than you could move it by hand....not just "taking out the slack").

If this is not happening, you need to bleed the clutch. If that does not improve things, you likely have a problem with your slave cylinder, clutch master cylinder or the connecting line.

If you use the "search" function here at BCF, you can find lots of info on this subject.
 
In addition to the above, it is fairly common for the friction disc to become "one" with the flywheel through rust. If that proves to be the case, there are a number of potentially scary yet effective methods of freeing the clutch. One is to thoroughly warm the engine, then shut it off. Now, with a good bit of open driveway or parking lot in front of you, start the engine with the gearbox in first gear. Accelerate with your foot firmly on the clutch pedal, then alternate between hard braking and acceleration. As often as not, that will free the clutch.
 
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