The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline My 1950 3600 has a Transmission Problem!

Or maybe the clutch? It hasn't moved for a couple months as I am not smart enough to put new wires in to have both tail and brake lights. Anyway, today was the day to resolve that so I wanted to move it closer to my shop but I could not get it to go into gear! It has been sitting in neutral but when depressed the clutch and attempted to put into 2nd gear, I got a bit of grinding so backed off quickly. Tried again but no grinding and no going into gear. Tried the other three and reverse and same thing - a hint of grinding, back off try again and no way is it going into gear. Shut the engine off and tried to get into gear with engine off but no joy. This thing sat for 20 some years without issue in the case of the transmission so I can't imagine that just sitting for a couple of months did something. I have seen clutches filled with mice nests before and wonder if that may be the issue but I think I should be able to get it in gear with engine off. What do you folks think? Thanks for any help or ideas!.

With the engine off, it should go into at least one of the gears if it's just the clutch. I can't imagine what inside the tranny other than it being a complete rust ball that would cause is not to go into any gear. You may have to roll the truck a bit to get the gears to line up. Shouldn't take much movement.

More likely the clutch disk is stuck to the flywheel. If you can get it into high gear, have someone step on the clutch and rock the truck back and forth, which may break the disk free. Or with it in high gear, apply the parking brake, block the wheels, and crank it with the starter (also with the clutch depressed).

Thanks for the reply. I was able to get it into 2nd by leaving the key off and, pushing in the clutch, pressing the starter and applying pressure to shifter. I then tried to start it in gear but no luck. Then it got dark so I gave up for the night. A mechanic friend believes the clutch discs are stuck together from the high humidity this summer. More tomorrow when it's light out.

Success today! I cut a board that I could depress the clutch pedal with and then jammed it under the steering wheel hub. Left it like that for a couple days and tried it again this afternoon. I had the parking brake on and the rear wheels chocked while in 4th gear. Just bumped it with the starter and it would lurch each time and then a loud bang! Runs and drives now. Shame on me for neglecting it for most of the summer. Thanks again for the tips!