Clutch was stuck, now free.

[Joe_Pinehill]

I was away for work for most of the summer, hardly drove the Spitfire at all. Friday, I had time to start and drive it, and the clutch was stuck in the engaged position. I didnt want to jam it into gear with the engine running, so I started the car while in reverse by rev'ing as the engine fired. Backed out of the garage, kept the clutch depressed, and after a few seconds it freed. I drove afterward with no problems, and Saturday no problem. Is this common for a car that sits?

 

[DougF]

As damp as it's been this summer, I'm not surprised. Dragging the car around with a tow strap is how I've freed mine in the past.

 

[mallard]

My car sat for two years back in Ohio on stands. The car was at another location so I did nothing to it. I know bad bad bad. When I did go to bring it home I had the same problem. I tried all kinds of things to get it to break free, no luck. I had to pull the trans.

 

[Geo Hahn]

Not uncommon. Once I had to park the TR3 for a year in a church basement. Clutch was really frozen when I went to drive it -- in the end I had to jack up the rear, put it is 1st, rev the engine... then the wife released the jack.

Yowsa. Of course I had some open road in front of me -- also checked 3 times to be sure the car was in a *forward* gear.

 

[mallard]

I did not think of that Geo.

 

[Geo Hahn]

Me neither. I called Moss (my pre-internet days) and that was what they suggested.

That was in Indiana -- like Ohio, not a kind climate for inactive cars.

 

[angelfj1]

Once I had to park the TR3 for a year in a church basement.

A church basement? Now, that must be an interesting story.

 

[Joe_Pinehill]

Geo, I don't think I would want to try that one at home. I like my approach better.