Stuck Clutch?

[maurice wade]

I have a buddy that owns a 48 Desoto. The clutch is stuck. Doe's anyone have any good ideas on how to unstick his clutch? The car has a fluid drive trany. Maurice

[Troganin]

What is stuck on it? Mine was sitting for a while and the clutch disk stuck to the flywheel. All that was needed to be removed was the bell housing pan. I rigged the clutch pedal down and gently worked it free with a plastic puddy knife. Using the starter to rotate the flywheel as I worked it free.

[greg g]

Lets see If I remember from way back, put the car in the drive way, jack up the rear end with the trans in neutral. Start the car then with t driver in the seat, and a person on the jack, drop the car. Hopefully this will free the clutch from the flywheel. and the car won't go very far. Just be ready to stomp the brakes and kill the ign. Not sure it this will work with fluid drive if so equipped but it may work.

Assuming the disc is just rusted up. a drip of the inspection cover off the bottom of the bellhousing will verify whats going on in there.

[Don Coatney]

Lets see If I remember from way back, put the car in the drive way, jack up the rear end with the trans in neutral. Start the car then with t driver in the seat, and a person on the jack, drop the car. Hopefully this will free the clutch from the flywheel. and the car won't go very far. Just be ready to stomp the brakes and kill the ign. Not sure it this will work with fluid drive if so equipped but it may work.

Assuming the disc is just rusted up. a drip of the inspection cover off the bottom of the bellhousing will verify whats going on in there.

Greg;

Did you mean the transmission in neutral or in gear? I am not sure how this would work with the transmission in neutral?

Put the car in gear' date=' then tap the starter button (without your foot on the clutch) to make the car jump. That will free up the clutch. Be ready to hit the brake right away too.[/quote']

Norm;

Did you mean WITH your foot on the clutch? If your foot is not on the clutch then the clutch springs will still hold the clutch to the flywheel.

My uncle had a 1948 Buick. One day in the late 50's after the car had been sitting in the corn crib for a year or so is kids wanted to drive it in the field. Used a old truck to push start the Buick and it came to life but the clutch was stuck. Made about 3 laps around the barn in first gear with the clutch pedal all the way to the floor. Kept goosing the engine and letting come back to close to idle. This eventially broke the clutch free.

[greg g]

high gear spelled n-e-u-t-r-a-l

[kevinanderson]

i've always did the same as Don said.

[Don Coatney]

No Don' date=' I meant do not hold your foot on the clutch. You want the car to lurch when you bump start it to break the bond of the rust. Had to do this to mine after it sat for almost a year while repairing the floors and installing the interior. Just put it in gear, hit the starter to make it jump. That broke it loose. Learned that little trick from my mechanic friend who helped with the rebuild of the engine.

Now, once the clutch was broken free, I then worked the clutch to clean the rust off the flywheel. You do have to depress the clutch to do that once you break it free.[/quote']

Once again a good laugh. Glad it worked for you even though it is incorrect.

[maurice wade]

I will email my buddy, give him all the good advice which includes everything except turning the car on it's top. Ha, Thanks Maurice