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Hi there. Have a 74 midget that is stuck in neutral. Clutch pedal is firm and depresses fully. I've bled the system twice and now can't get into gear. Need to get the car into storage before the snow flies. Any suggestions. Its getting cold real quick here in the Northeast.
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stuck in neutral
- Thread starter jhorutz
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sparkydave
Jedi Knight
Offline
Does it go into gear if the engine isn't running?
Hello JH,
has the car been standing for some time?, in which case the clutch centre plate may have stuck to the flywheel. To free it, given room, warm the engine up, stop it then select first. With the clutch pedal held down, start the engine and accelerate. You may need to accelerate and brake with your right foot as you keep the clutch down. This normally frees it.
Otherwise, it is a choice of repair, transport or, if traffic conditions allow, drive it without using the clutch.
Alec
has the car been standing for some time?, in which case the clutch centre plate may have stuck to the flywheel. To free it, given room, warm the engine up, stop it then select first. With the clutch pedal held down, start the engine and accelerate. You may need to accelerate and brake with your right foot as you keep the clutch down. This normally frees it.
Otherwise, it is a choice of repair, transport or, if traffic conditions allow, drive it without using the clutch.
Alec
martx-5
Yoda
Offline
[ QUOTE ]
It grinds horribly when you try to put into gear and it does shift when the engine is not running.
[/ QUOTE ]
This is the classic symptom of the clutch not disengaging. Either the hydraulics (slave or master) are the problem, or the clutch disc is stuck as Piman suggests.
To see if the hydraulics are working properly, have someone work the clutch while you look underneath to see if the slave and arm are moving. I'm not familar with the Spridget set-up, but most hydraulic systems are similar. I know that in the TR's they have a problem with the tapered pin on the clutch cross shaft shearing off, giving no clutch movement even though the slave is working fine. Are there any know problems like that in the Spridgets??
It grinds horribly when you try to put into gear and it does shift when the engine is not running.
[/ QUOTE ]
This is the classic symptom of the clutch not disengaging. Either the hydraulics (slave or master) are the problem, or the clutch disc is stuck as Piman suggests.
To see if the hydraulics are working properly, have someone work the clutch while you look underneath to see if the slave and arm are moving. I'm not familar with the Spridget set-up, but most hydraulic systems are similar. I know that in the TR's they have a problem with the tapered pin on the clutch cross shaft shearing off, giving no clutch movement even though the slave is working fine. Are there any know problems like that in the Spridgets??
Offline
Sounds from the description Alec has it right: driven plate stuck to the flywheel. I've broken more than a few loose with the method he's outlined. It's kinda violent on the driveline but usually needs no more than a few quick pedal stabs and it lets go. With a "BANG!" I might add. *shudder*
startech47
Jedi Knight
Offline
Does it go into gear with the engine off? Phil
I don't know why I bother trying ot fix stuff before I come here and ask. 1 minute after I started the car, we were driving around the block. Thanks for the help and easy fix Alec. It did the trick and wasn't too terribly violent. Thanks again, I got to enjoy the 60 degree and sunny weather not too common on Thanksgiving.
