The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

My own stupid fault. Haven't operated the clutch on my 1500fwd for over a month and the plate appears to be stuck to the flywheel. Have tried starting in gear with clutch pedal down and brakes on but no results yet. I know I did something drastic back in the 80's when the same thing happened on one of my Triumphs but the memory has failed me.

If you have a quiet road where the car is, start it in 1st gear, get some speed up then brake hard with the clutch down, normally releases with a bit of a bang, if not, repeat.

Thanks for replying, Tony. I have just freed it by jacking up a drive wheel, started in gear and jammed the brakes on. Worked second attempt. Like you say, quite a bang.

Tony Burd wrote: ↑Sun Nov 22, 2020 1:28 pm If you have a quiet road where the car is, start it in 1st gear, get some speed up then brake hard with the clutch down, normally releases with a bit of a bang, if not, repeat.

That is my technique as well, I use second and go hard on-off-on-off the accelerator with the clutch held down until it releases.
You go along a bit like a kangaroo but it has never failed me yet.

dursley92 wrote: ↑Sun Nov 22, 2020 5:17 pm

Tony Burd wrote: ↑Sun Nov 22, 2020 1:28 pm If you have a quiet road where the car is, start it in 1st gear, get some speed up then brake hard with the clutch down, normally releases with a bit of a bang, if not, repeat.

That is my technique as well, I use second and go hard on-off-on-off the accelerator with the clutch held down until it releases.
You go along a bit like a kangaroo but it has never failed me yet.

And mine, never fails Never ever happens now i have an auto

Tony.

Hi I have the same problem. I don't drive but I will get my wife or son to do what you have suggested. Just one question please. I can't get her into a gear while the engine is running. If I turn the car off and put it in gear, will she run in that gear when she is started?

Larry 1300 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 11, 2021 8:16 am Hi I have the same problem. I don't drive but I will get my wife or son to do what you have suggested. Just one question please. I can't get her into a gear while the engine is running. If I turn the car off and put it in gear, will she run in that gear when she is started?

You need to have a quiet stretch of road. Put the car in first or second gear and hold down the clutch. Turn the key. The car will lurch forwards like a kangaroo but if the engine has been all warmed up beforehand it should start and you will be motoring along. Then do what the others have said.

Hi thanks, I will give it a go.

You are very lucky that you didn't snap the input shaft by doing that.

My technique is to warm it up then start it in gear so you will kangaroo a bit up the road.
Then holding the clutch down drive it going hard on-off-on-off-on the accelerator and it will free off with a bang.
Never failed yet.

Oddly the 1500FWD is one of the few cars where it's quicker and better to do this properly rather than the violent method advised (and successful) above.

As Trust no1 said the input shaft on the 1500fwd is extremely weak, it'll snap if you look at it sideways (they are also near impossible to get these days)

Secondly, you can access the clutch easily by removing a tin plate under the bonnet. Do this then loosen the clutch bolts and slide a kitchen knife 'twixt plate and flywheel and prise gently, job done! Retighten bolts and replace tinware.

Don't get me wrong, i'm no sissy and have used extreme violence to free off stuck clutches more times than I can count. Just in this one case it's safer and simple to do it the more right way!

Steve

dursley92 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 11, 2021 11:09 pm My technique is to warm it up then start it in gear so you will kangaroo a bit up the road.
Then holding the clutch down drive it going hard on-off-on-off-on the accelerator and it will free off with a bang.
Never failed yet.

when its done to a FWD as the O/P owns the bang will more than likely be the input shaft snapping

Hi that's the clutch released. Thanks for all your help