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I'm looking at a C3 that has not been driven much and has been stored for about 6 months. It appears the clutch pressure plate is rusted? stuck? to the flywheel. When the car was last driven, everthing was fine and at this time all linkage appears to look OK. It is a mechanical clutch linkage and moves as it should. Any ideas on how to break free with out dropping the transmission and replacing the clutch? Thanks
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Re: How to free a rusted clutch ?
Drive it. Just be sure it is pointed to an open garage door, and nothing is in your way. Be sure you are in the right gear when you start it. It will break free. Just drive along and depress the pedal every so often, or drive with the pedal depressed.
You will probably have to give it some gas while pressing the brakes lightly to load it slightly. Don't go overboard on gas or brakes or you could tear the clutch material off the disc.
Don't try this in city traffic or where you have a lot of stop lights. You have to figure you may not be able to stop for several miles, although I've never had one go more than a few blocks. -
Re: How to free a rusted clutch ?
mike: the diabolical dipstick of lyle once told me how to unstick a disc/flywheel/press plate. Jack the car off ground, install the widest, stickiest tires ya got, start engine with tranny in gear, have bubba release the jack and then aim the sucker to the lower 40. Dennis guarantees his u-joints. mike PS John; i'm just kidding--don't try dipsticks approach.Comment
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Risky business
I've only had to drive one Corvette to break free a rusted disc. That was a '68 small block. I drove it onto a nearby empty street and floored it with the clutch pedal depressed. That sucker held on under full acceleration until 4,000 rpm in first gear.
Usually I can get them free by putting the car on jack stands. I then start the car in fourth gear. With the carb fast idle keeping the engine at about 2,000 rpm, I jab at the brake pedal while keeping the clutch pedal depressed.
I'm not sure which method is more dangerous. They're both potential killers. Probably the driving is worse because you might take a stranger to hell with you. If you do jack up the car, it's best to then remove the rear wheels. Also, remember to place GOOD stands under the rear shocks. If you put them under the frame, the rear wheels can droop so much that the u-joints bind.Comment
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Re: Risky business
I had the same problem with my 65. I had room to drive the car for a short distance (100 yards) on a clear road, I started the car and kept hitting the gas pedal hard and then the brake pedal while depressing the clutch pedal, after the third or fourth time the clutch plate broke lose from the flywheel. The car jerked like heck but it worked.Comment
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Re: Risky business
Jerry, I've used this approach on a solid axle, but on a C2 or C3 it would be pretty scarry. Like you say, GOOD jackstands..........Comment
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Re: How to free a rusted clutch ?
A safe way if it is not too badly stuck that I have used twice on my 67 after it had sat for some time is as follows:
Disconnect the coil wire to the dist so that engine won't start.
Make sure the car is free so that it can roll a bit.
Push in the clutch all the way and hold it there, and place the tranny in 1st gear.
Quickly engage the starter, then release, then engage, etc. etc. several times to let the started torque the clutch back and forth. For me, that was enough to break it free.Comment
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Re: How to free a rusted clutch ?
I think you were lucky in that the clutch wasn't rusted that tight. I have had some so tight, you could leave two trails of black stuff on the road with the clutch pedal depressed.
And the best results are really slow driving, in first gear, and especially if you get on the gas, get off the gas, and get on it in rapid bursts.
Driving isn't all that risky, really, as long as you aren't on a crowded street or busy city. You can always shut the key off or pull it back into neutral.
In fact, if you shut the key off, the engine braking will put as much torque on the clutch disc as driving it will, and in the opposite direction. Of course, I don't recommend that if you have aluminum rods.Comment
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Re: How to free a rusted clutch ?
This has happened only twice on my 68 from not driving it. I did what Mike says is the best way with low speeds in first. The last time this happened it came loose with a "bang" when accelerating. It did not break anything, that was about 15-16 years ago and the same clutch-pressure plate are still in operation. Good luck, be patient.Comment
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Re: How to free a rusted clutch ?
Start the car in neutral and let it get good and warm. I would let it sit running for an hour or so. The heat will work itself back there and sometimes that alone will allow it to come free. If that does not work, (while it is still very warmed up) try some of the other approaches mentioned. Personally, I get it going a short distance and slam on the brakes with the clutch in. Make sure there are no obsticles though (people, cars, buildings, houses, signs, etc., etc.) Regardless, the heat will help it come loose.Comment
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Re: How to free a rusted clutch ?
You can take the bottom cover off and pop it off with a big screw driver. Not as exciting as driving it, but worked on my 59.Comment
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If you wanted it completely safe, you'd
buy a Honda Civic hybrid and drive at 30 mph everywhere you wanted to go.
Or not drive at all.
I never heard anyone say they bought a Corvette becasue it was safe and they were sane. Usually because it was wild, scared the daylights out of them, and they were nuts over it.Comment
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