belize1334
Well-known member
I'm having issues with clutch disengagement. I *think* I know the problem but I'm hoping someone will tell me that I'm crazy because I don't want to drop the transmission in the middle of winter. Let me know what you think.
It started happening as the weather got colder and then a few weeks ago my slave cylinder blew out. I replaced it, bled the system, and everything seemed fine. Pedal feel is great and the clutch fork shows good movement.
Unfortunately, I'm still getting clutch drag. I'm thinking the blown slave was a coincidence - brought on by extreme cold but not related to the current problem. It only happens when shifting from neutral into gear. If I start in gear (say put it in first and then start the car with the clutch in) I can shift between gears no problem. I can idle the car indefinitely with the clutch in and then when I ask for a gear it's effortless. Engagement is a few inches of the floor and nice and positive. No sign of clutch drag.
BUT, if I put it in neutral, let the clutch out, put it in again, and then go for a gear - nothing. Serious block out, clutch drag, car lurches forward as the shifter pushes agains the synchros - all the classic signs.
My diagnosis - the hydraulic system is fine, the pressure plate is moving nicely, but the disk is remaining in contact with the flywheel. Does that seem possible? Could gunk on the input shaft keep the disk from sliding on the splines, holding it agains the flywheel? Would this be consistent with the onset of cold weather - making the lube on the input shaft tacky and keeping the disk from sliding? Would starting it in gear break the disk away from the flywheel, allowing it to spin freely until the next time the clutch is loaded? It's the only thing I can think of.
I'm happy to rebleed the system but the intermittence of the issue makes me think it won't help... I'm thinking the transmission is gonna have to come out and I'm not looking forward to it.
It started happening as the weather got colder and then a few weeks ago my slave cylinder blew out. I replaced it, bled the system, and everything seemed fine. Pedal feel is great and the clutch fork shows good movement.
Unfortunately, I'm still getting clutch drag. I'm thinking the blown slave was a coincidence - brought on by extreme cold but not related to the current problem. It only happens when shifting from neutral into gear. If I start in gear (say put it in first and then start the car with the clutch in) I can shift between gears no problem. I can idle the car indefinitely with the clutch in and then when I ask for a gear it's effortless. Engagement is a few inches of the floor and nice and positive. No sign of clutch drag.
BUT, if I put it in neutral, let the clutch out, put it in again, and then go for a gear - nothing. Serious block out, clutch drag, car lurches forward as the shifter pushes agains the synchros - all the classic signs.
My diagnosis - the hydraulic system is fine, the pressure plate is moving nicely, but the disk is remaining in contact with the flywheel. Does that seem possible? Could gunk on the input shaft keep the disk from sliding on the splines, holding it agains the flywheel? Would this be consistent with the onset of cold weather - making the lube on the input shaft tacky and keeping the disk from sliding? Would starting it in gear break the disk away from the flywheel, allowing it to spin freely until the next time the clutch is loaded? It's the only thing I can think of.
I'm happy to rebleed the system but the intermittence of the issue makes me think it won't help... I'm thinking the transmission is gonna have to come out and I'm not looking forward to it.