Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Rootes75 · Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2018 8:14 pm Post subject:

Got my Commer lorry now starting everytime right on the button, the 6 cylinder petrol engine sounds lovely.
Major drawback though today, she will not select gears!?! The clutch linkage has been adjusted and looking into the bell housing you can see the clutch plate moving when the pedal is pushed. But obviously this isnt enough and she just continually grinds if you try to find gears.
We will be spliting the gearbox away to investigate, not work that we thought was needed and quite a big drawback.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

Ray the rocker · Joined: 01 Aug 2008 Posts: 187 Location: south wales

Hi rootes, you say you can see the clutch plate moving----is that the pressure plate? If so the centre plate is stuck to the flywheel in my opinion.happens a lot when the vehicle has been standing a while .It`s worth a try to get someone to depress the clutch pedal and try to release the plate via a slim sraper put between the flywheel and plate .Might save a lot of time you take to remove the gearbox .-----cheers ray the rocker

Ray the rocker · Joined: 01 Aug 2008 Posts: 187 Location: south wales

Hi rootes, you say you can see the clutch plate moving----is that the pressure plate? If so the centre plate is stuck to the flywheel in my opinion.happens a lot when the vehicle has been standing a while .It`s worth a try to get someone to depress the clutch pedal and try to release the plate via a slim sraper put between the flywheel and plate .Might save a lot of time you take to remove the gearbox .-----cheers ray the rocker

Penman · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4756 Location: Swindon, Wilts.

Hi
You might find that the splined spigot shaft has got rusty.
I had a brand new Viva with a rusty shaft oncee and it wore out one side of the centre plate in about 1200 miles.
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Rootes75 · Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2018 7:16 am Post subject:

Good advice Ray, we will have a look when we next go down the yard. I would prefer not stripping it all apart if I can help it.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

MVPeters · Joined: 28 Aug 2008 Posts: 822 Location: Northern MA, USA

If you have the room, try towing it in a high gear with your foot hard on the clutch.
Usually breaks 'em free.
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2002 MINI Cooper 'S'

Rootes75 · Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2018 8:45 am Post subject:

Spent an hour or so trying to free off the clutch on the Commer lorry. We are also trying to run her up for longer periods, this time she ran comfortably for 30 mins on tickover. We are hoping that warming the engine up like this will also help free off the clutch. We had a look into the bellhousing and could see the lever does move the bearing on the shaft nicely so we think it is the plate seized on.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

Ashley · Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 1426 Location: Near Stroud, Glos

It’s a bit brutal, but jack the vehicle’s back wheels up off the ground, put it in top with the engine running, accelerate up to a high speed and with the clutch pedal down, slam the brakes on hard. Nearly always does it after a few attempts.

Rootes75 · Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2018 9:55 am Post subject:

Its either that or we were thinking about towing it to bang it off.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

MVPeters · Joined: 28 Aug 2008 Posts: 822 Location: Northern MA, USA

Farmer John · Joined: 18 Feb 2010 Posts: 181 Location: Manawatu NZ

Use timber cut to length or any thing that will fit to hold the pedal in a depressed state while continuing with life.
I have removed a transmission to free a clutch when all our abusive methods failed and once at the plate and about to lever it away "you call that stuck"? it was hardly stuck at all!
The block of wood is now my goto.
John

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7118 Location: Edinburgh

On the pessimistic side I've dismantled a clutch and levering the centre plate off the flywheel the cork face broke up leaving about half stuck to the flywheel.

Peter Shocked

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1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7118 Location: Edinburgh

Actually at the weekend rather than today. Changed the engine oil and filter on the SS.

2½ gallons of Ford Formula F fully synthetic 5w30.

Peter
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http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

Rootes75 · Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2018 12:20 pm Post subject:

Absolutely brilliant morning. I cant get the Commer out of the shed so I had the idea of jacking the back end up and starting her in gear. I did this and left it running in gear for 5-10 mins then tried changing gear. It didnt work and would grind so I simply repeated letting her run then try and then on about the 5th attempt she changed gear! Bit clunky but ok, I continued to let her run and try again and after a few more attempts she finds every gear smoothly without grinding.

As you can imagine, I am over the moon!
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

badhuis · Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 1390 Location: Netherlands

Fantastic result! Looking forward to any new pics of the truck - love the old Commers.
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