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MG MGA - Frozen clutch

Hi All

I need to call on the best collected minds out there for all things Auto.
The MGA could not be working any better but
I parked my Austin Cambridge a month - five weeks ago and now the clutch plate is frozen to the flywheel.

Symtoms- clutch and shifter worked fine when parked. this is a soon to be started project car and I drove it around the yard in the fall last year shifted thru all gears just fine. Car sat inside all winter.
I moved it outside and parked it.

Now I cannot move the clutch pedel in at all, not even an inch. It feels like fluid resistance. I really stood on that puppy as I thought I really had nothing to lose, the car was headed in the shop for a complete stripdown anyway.

Stick shift moves freely but car stays in gear and will not roll when pushed.

Any Sugestions as to how to free this baby I want to get it in the shop and start the fun.

Ralph

Ralph H .

Ralph,
I assume that you have a hydraulic clutch? If so, most probably the clutch master is frozen. You may be able to disconnect it from the clutch pedal and move it mechanically. I think you might wish to put "Rebuild clutch master and slave cylinder." on your list of things to do. :)
mike parker

Are you sure you have the car in Neutral when you are trying to push?
dominic clancy

As Mike wrote...hydraulics rebuild is definitely in order. It is possible (not highly likely) the seal failed and the piston got cocked. You'll know more once you get into the clutch slave and then clutch master if need be.
No need to assume the clutch disc is frozen to the flywheel at this point, but you will definitely want to inspect the brakes and their hydraulics before sporting about the yard again, eh? Cheers
Jon Bachelor

Frozen is frozen. I had the same trouble with my TR6. Had to pull out the tranny and knock it off with a hammer and chisel. Car had been sitting for years, though. I guess it depends on the climate. A guy said that you can sometimes get it unstuck by jacking up the back, running it in first with the clutch depressed and then slamming on the breaks. I tried to no avail, my was really stuck.

Good luck.
Lee Brannen

I don't think a clutch disk that's stuck to the flywheel will prevent the pedal from going down. And you should be able to push the car in neutral. It's also possible that the hose or pipe is plugged, if it's hydraulic (not familiar with this car). And the pedal hinge may be frozen, in fact, I think this is where I'd look first. Spray penetrating oil around the pivot point and use a hammer to vibrate the stuff in there. Once you get it moving, oil it good or take it apart and clean and grease it.
Tom

Thanks Guys for all your comments

A couple more things to add-- the Austin Cambridge MK II is basically an MGA in your Grandpa's clothing -- Hydralic Clutch, 1622 block 4 speed floor shifter etc etc All wrapped up in a body by Pinnenfarina. I think the vanity plate for it will read "PLODDER"

on my car the clutch and brake are on two seperate master cylinders from an older refit and were working fine five weeks ago.

Dominic - engine and transmission stay locked even as the stick will freely slip thru all the gears and into the neutral position. Wheels are locked tight

Tom - Now that I think a bit more if the clutch and flywheel were actually frozen I should get some play in the top end of the clutch pedel before the hydralics engage enough to apply pressure to the clutch plate to move it out of the way. so that would leave me to blame the slave cylinder that sucker is rock hard and not moving but what throws me off is the tranny not moving into neutral when you move the stick????

I think it is time to take my old friend the 5 lb hammer out to visit with the car.
I may also put a tow rope on and see if it can be persueded to break free.

Ralph


Ralph H .

Ralph, I once had the pedal pivot sieze on the shaft from rust, couldn't move it at all. That could happen rather quickly on a car that hasn't been driven in a while.
Bill Young

The clutch pedal only moves the pressure plate, not the clutch disk, so unless the clutch disk is rusted solid to both the flywheel and the pressure plate, the clutch being stuck to the flywheel, would not keep the pedal from moving. More likely as the others have said is the hydraulics. Also, if the car won't roll with the gearbox in neutral, are you sure it is not just one of the brake cylinders locked up?

Jeff Schultz

This thread was discussed between 29/06/2005 and 30/06/2005

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