Morris Minor Owners Club

Sorry guys and gals... another question!!!

I was so hoping to finally "drive" my moggy out of the garage for the first time in 20 odd years... I was going to post a piccy on here with it on the drive today thanking everyone for their help.

Alas it turns out my clutch is now stuck on... I was really deflated.. I still am So how do I release it?

I read on here somewhere to let the engine heat soak through and that might release it.. are there any other ways to get it released????

Thanks in anticipation..

Dean

At your own risk....
Jack up rear wheels, place stands under axle. Put car in gear. Start engine. Rev hard. Hit footbrake......
Did this on a Rover SD1, and it worked.

If you have a clear run out of the front of the garage you can try to shock it off by bumping it out but of course you will ned to know the brakes are working OK.... Otherwise its an engine out job and a replacement clutch....

You might try turning the engine over on the starting handle with brakes on , clutch down & in gear . Yes you will need an assistant . Alternatively if you are brave enough & have enough room , try to start it in gear but with clutch depressed . Be ready to switch off quickly . After this length of time you may need to strip it down either with engine out or gearbox off . Good luck .

Regards Andy

Try the heat soak first - it's least destructive. Let the engine run right up to full temp - and let it soak through for a good half hour. Then try to start it in gear with clutch down. If that fails - try tow starting it - in gear with foot on clutch. As above - brakes need to be ok!!

hello i have found on two cars that jacking up the rear put car into gear and start leave running for a while its worked for me,,grandad

I usually start the car in first and drive it around with the clutch depressed and using very jerky throttle openings. Obviously not on the public highway! Allowing it to to warm up first is much more effective, for the heat soak as everyone else has pointed out.

Thanks for the replies everyone, plenty there for me to attempt. Probably be next weekend now... watch this space.

oh can I just say when I mean the clutch is stuck on.. it means I can't engage any gear they just ggggrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiinnndddd... so it's stuck in the normal driving position.

Dean , you should be able to engage gears with the engine not running with or without the clutch disengaged . Then try the various above suggestions .

Regards Andy

And DON'T grind the gears or it will be needing a new gearbox!

bmcecosse wrote:And DON'T grind the gears or it will be needing a new gearbox!

Yes, made me jump when I tried... so didn't have another go.

I'm going to pick my dad up next saturday and bring him over, we'll both try the examples above together. It'll be good getting it out in the fresh air when it goes.... the poor thing must be feeling a bit garage bound.

Yes, that's what I meant when I said to bump it in gear. Start the car in first and hang on and prey like mad

like all the others said try heat heat soak we just freed a 4 wheel drive warm engine till norm stop it put in 1st gear start with hand brake off keep clutch fully depressed while driving along with a bit off speed keep hitting brakes it will free we had to do it on public highway as we had nowhere else to do it if you you have any probs you just turn ignition to off if you hit the brakes with no throttle it will still stop /stall just choose a time when the roads are quiete. If I lived nearer Iwould come around to do it. Like all said be sure you have good brakes

It's free!!!! YESSSSSSSSS!!!

Thanks everyone...

hello nice one feels good when you fix and doesnt cost,,,grandad

It's free!!!! YESSSSSSSSS!!!

well done

Well done - for benefit of all - what did you do ?

I did exactly what everyone suggested, started her up and let the engine get warm. My dad used this opportunity once it was warm to set the carb up better than it was. Then I tried to start her in 1st, the car travelled up the drive on the starter but clutch still stuck on. I let the car roll back down the drive and repeated the process just sending the car back up the drive again.

By this time engine was flooded and battery flat, so put battery on charge and made a cup of tea.

After drinking tea, started car in neutral and had to rev until unburnt fuel had cleared. Stopped engine and put in first again to start... at this point after pumping the clutch a few times the car just started to roll back down the drive... clutch had just released itself. Great feeling.. celebrated with another cup of tea..

It took approximately three hours in total, but time well spent.

Indeed -it would have taken much longer to remove the gearbox!
Obviously - the tea did it!