The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Thoughts on Spring Start Up

This year, after reading about this on the site, I decided not to start my '47 during the winter (as I have in the past - a few times throughout)Today, I poured a bit of gas down the carb, the battery was charged up, and it started right away. I usually put the clutch in and shift through the gears. Today, it was as if I had no clutch. It would grind and I could not get it into gear. With the engine off I had difficulty getting it into gear but that improved. I tried starting it with the transmission in third (it's a 4 speed), clutch in, but it just shot forward then I couldn't get it out of third. Finally I got it out of gear then was able to shift through the gears (engine off) Tried another start up, clutch in, went into gear no problems, moved the truck a bit forward and back - no problems. What would have caused this behavior? Thanks.

It sounds like your clutch stuck to the flywheel. I have heard of this happening on older tractors that are stored for several months at a time. The most common solution is to start the machine in a high gear (in a safe area) then step on both the clutch and brake. That often will "pop" it loose. How to prevent it, I don't know.

Did ya park it where a mouse could build a nest in the there?
Rust on the machined surfaces can cause problems when it's
parked in a field for a looooong time but I doubt a few months
would cause that.
I think I'd drop the inspection pan and take a look see if there
isn't something inside there.
My '50 has been sitting unattended in the attached garage since
last July and I just went out and cranked her up a couple of
weeks ago. It was just as though I had shut her off the day
before, that is, after I cranked some fuel up to the carb,
which took about 20 seconds. Then we went for a nice 30 mile
drive round town.
Denny G

Hi, Rusty, You live on the WET coast of Canada just like I do. Over the winters that I have had my truck I have had the same problem at times, also DO NOT put your parking brake on during storage, also for spring start up have a point file and contact cleaner handy. Note to Denny, it rains here from Oct. to March. Rusty you should come out to 3Bs for the picnic, check BC Bolters site here.

I know I'm chiming in late on this one but mine did that once and we hooked to it with the 4 wheeler and pulled it just a little with the truck in gear and it popped loose. As Ed said above, the clutch had stuck to the flywheel.