sprint stuck clutch

[whydidistartthis]

ok, so the clutch has decided to well and truly stick together.
tried all the usual tricks, rocking on starter etc...
was thinking of wedging the clutch peddle down for a couple of days, would this do any harm?
Could try driving it, but it this fails to free it, could prove very tricky to get it back into my lockup!

Any help....

[tonybsa]

Run car up until the temprature gauge reads normal,switch off and wedge pedal down overnite.Come back next day warm the engine upto temp,and see if the clutch has freed off.Sometimes the heat in the engine which radiates into the flywheel will unstick the clutch.

[whydidistartthis]

Thanks

Yes, that is what i was wondering.
will give it a go, see how i get on..

[tony g]

What I do is start and warm the engine in nuetral. Dont hold the clutch down the thrust bearing may not be happy with minimal oil. Then switch off engine, stick it in first and start the car whilst holding the clutch down. The car will lurch forward a bit and be driving with clutch down. Then if space permits go on and off the throttle to jerk it free (clutch depressed all the time now) When it frees the revs will rise and youre done. Probably done this 50 times in my life and its never failed. Typically it will free in about 30 feet so as long as you have a runway that long youll be fine

Tony

[Jon Tilson]

What tony g says but last time on mine I had to drive it round for 20 minutes....

30 feet is a man who is borne lucky...

I would also start it top gear, not 1st. On a Sprint the reverse pinion is reasonably strong so you can do it forward and back
if you are short of space.

Jonners

[tony g]

20 minutes! did you take sandwiches with you ?

Tony

[Jon Tilson]

No- but I lost count of the times I went round the triangular roundabout down my road....

Jonners

[NickMorgan]

A friend of mine told me a trick a few years ago, which has never failed. Jack up the rear and support if firmly on axle stands. Start the car in gear and run it up to temperature. Once it is hot just accelerate and hit the brakes a few times each time pressing the clutch down and after a while you will realise that the clutch is working again.
He also told me that in most cases just running the car up to temperature is enough to free the clutch and that has certainly worked for me the last couple of times.

[tony g]

No- but I lost count of the times I went round the triangular roundabout down my road....

Jonners

Tony

[whydidistartthis]

Thanks everyone

Am liking the sound of the axle stand method. Have tried running up to temperature, then starting in gear, to no avail.
plenty of space in front of my lock-up, just worried if driving it fails, getting it back into the garage could prove tricky!

Will let you know how I get on..

[Jon Tilson]

Realistically every time Ive done this and not just to Sprints I've found it needs a decent drive of at least 100 yds or so to free them off.

I suggest you co-opt some mates and tow it to somewhere suitable. Mates to push you up to tickover speed in bottom gear - walking pace, whereby you force it into gear and drive it up to 20 mph decelerating down to 10 mph in bottom gear until it frees. If you feel flash you can change gear on the roll by matching revs. The sprint box is quite tough but obviously be reasonable...
Can make for some interesting driving situations if you encounter traffic and have to stop...
I frightened a few school run mumsies last time, which was fun. A good aggressive scowl helps.
Best done on a quiet road...
You can also try starting it in gear and it should catch quite quickly when warm but this isnt that kind to the starter, but can be done in desperation - e.g. if you have no mates available.

Jonners

[sprint95m]

If I ever encounter a clutch that is so stuck as to require a hundred yards of driving to free it off, I will replace it.
This way seem over the top, but I have seen a (proper) Borg and Beck plate go in bits.........






Ian.

[whydidistartthis]

Just an update..

After a couple of goes at it today, clutch finally released on the starter.
only been stationary about 6 weeks, what reasons are there for the clutch sticking.
if it has stuck once is it likely to stick again?

thanks...

[GTS290N]

I've had my clutch stick 3 times, each time it was after the car (1850) hadn't been started for a few weeks.
Now the car is driven out of the garage any dry-ish day in the winter, run up and down the car park (no salt there) so that most things get exercised. The car park isn't long enough for overdrive. Then the car is left idling until the engine is as hot as it will get, then the car is driven back into the garage, the garage door left open until everything is cooled down. The car's never left for more than two weeks at a time. Like you, if the car can't be driven then it won't get in the garage.

[tony g]

Mine does it after about 2 weeks if not run at all. I think its condensation forming on the steel surfaces (flywheel, clutch cover or both) after being warm then cooling. Once its going the first clutch slip you can hear the flywheel "cleaning up" then all is quiet again.

Tony