Re: Freeing stuck clutchs

[Jay Mackro <jmackro@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 01:49 PM 12/3/98 -0500, Bill Harkell wrote:

>Hi all
>I know ther is an easy method to unstick a clutch in a Spider.
>Can anyone share it? 
>86 Spider, It's been sitting in a carport for long enough to make the
>clutch plate bond on to the flywheel. (reason for busted pivot pin)
>I remember something about starting it in gear? Please refresh my short
>memory or put me in the right direction.

Yea, if cars sit for awhile - particularly in a damp place - the
disk can bond to the flywheel or pressure plate.  They don't always
bond all that tightly - sometimes its just enough to prevent you 
from putting the transmission into neutral with the engine running 
(though, it seems that Bill's clutch must have bonded tightly to 
BOTH the flywheel AND the pressure plate, if everything was so 
stuck together that the pivot pin sheared!  Consequently, this 
procedure might not work on Bill's car). 

(Second note: Don't attempt this unless the clutch release mechanism 
is functioning; ie, any sheared pins should be fixed, and you have to 
be able to depress the clutch pedal.)

(Third note: This procedure is a bit dangerous.  Do it in a wide 
open space, quiet streets, etc.)

Ok with all those disclaimers, what you need to do is:

 - Put the car in neutral
 - Start the engine, and let it warm up a bit
 - Shut off the engine
 - Put the car in first gear
 - Mentally prepare for driving a car that can't easily
be stopped, except by shutting off the engine OR stomping 
on the brakes hard enough to stall it.
 - Depress the clutch, and keep it depressed throughout
the rest of this procedure
 - Turn the key to "start" - the car will jerk forward a
bit, until the engine catches.  If you're lucky, just the
rotation of the starter will break loose the disk-to-clutch
bond.  If not, the engine will catch, and you're moving!
 - Drive the car in a "jerky" manner, going it up a hill
if possible, and alternating between idling, and "gunning" 
it.  This should put enough torque on the clutch to break free 
the bond. Or, you can try stabbing the brakes while the car is
mooving, which again puts torque on the clutch.  As you can 
gather, this procedure is not gentle to the driveline!

Good Luck

Jay Mackro

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