The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Clutch Release

1951 chevy 1 ton truck
I am restoring the "Old Beast" as close to original as practical and possible. It has always shifted and clutched quite well. A week ago, I used a High Pressure washer to remove 54 years of grease, dirt and grime from the underside , engine and transmission areas. Since them, the clutch does not release properly when the pedal is pushed to the floor. When I try to shift into a gear with engine running, I get grinding of the gears. If I start it with tranmission in gear, It wants to roll forward or reverse. Any ideas on whats happening? Did I push some dirt and crud into the throw out bearing or clutch release fork? Anybody else ever have something like this happen? Any ideas on what went wrong would be appreciated. Thanks, Jerry

hey Jerry! sounds like you need to get under there w/ a grease gun and a wrench, and lube all the pedal/linkage points - the crud was apparently vital for operation, and lotsa grease will help it to build another layer!
the grinding and less-than-total disengagement is no doubt adjustment

Bill

Sounds like you blew some garbage in the clutch somewhere. Either way, you need to crawl under there and re-adjust the travel on your clutch pedal. Take a trouble light under there and look around the clutch area, who knows what you'll find. Cecil...........

Hey gang, Cluth release problem solved. Apparently when I pressure washed the beast, I forced the rubber clutch stop around the corner of the linkage and it was hitting the frame stopping my downward clutch travel short of releasing the clutch. Thanks for the input from whomever responded. I am glad its solved without going thru the replace clutch and bearing ordeal! Jerry