ClassicCar

xxyzxxx

I have a 1939 Hudson Country Club that has sit for close to a year. I'm finally able to drive it again but have a clutch problem. With the car off I can put into gear and start the car, it will sit still until I start to release the clutch and move forward. If I try to change gears or just put the car into gear with it running it just grinds the gears. I have changed out the Hudsonite oil but that has not helped. If I clean out the clutch using any of the mixes discussed here on the boards how much do I put in? Same amount as the HUdsonite or fill it up? Any help would be appreciated I sure would like to drive the car before storing away for winter.

nick s

your 39 would have a non synchronous transmission, slow methodical shifts will grind. you may not have an issue other than technology. try a quicker shifting motion or double clutching.

xxyzxxx

thanks Nick, however before it set for a year it shifted fine. If i start the car out of gear, there is no way I could ever get it in gear. I have to turn it off, place it in gear with the clutch in to get it to roll. If I try to shift to another gear after gettting it moving, there is no way it will go into gear even if I double clutch it.

PAULARGETYPE

I'M THINKING YOU HAVE A STUCK CLUTCH THAT IS THE CLUTCH PLATE IS STUCK TO BOTH THE FLY WHEEL AND THE PRESURE PLATE YOU NEED TO START THE CAR IN NEUTRAL GET IT WARMED UP SHUT IT DOWN AND PUT THE TRANS IN GEAR AND THEN TRY AND START THE CAR WITH THE CLUTCH DEPRESSED THIS MOST TIMES WILL BREAK THE CLUTCH LOOSE

hoggyrubber

if it will start and stay still with the clutch in, the clutch wouldn't be stuck would it? sounds like it needs a clutch linkage adjustment or the pressure plate is not doing enough. sounds like what a new clutch will do till you get it adjusted correctly from what i read. good luck on getting it figured out. stacy k

Park_W

The description of the problem is a bit confusing. Let's clarify: With the engine off, what happens when you put it in gear, then, with clutch pedal still down, hit the starter? Does it start or does the starter not turn the engine over? If it won't turn over, the clutch disc is definitely stuck to the flywheel.

xxyzxxx

I can easily put the car in all of the gears with the car off. I can start the car with it in gear and I have my foot on the clutch and it will not move until I start to release the clutch. If it is out of gear and I start the car, depress the clutch pedal and try to put into gear it won't go into gear.

When it is running in first gear and I take off and I depress the clutch again to shift to second or any other gear it will not shift into that next gear.

Stacy, could the cluth linkage go out of adjustment from sitting for a year?

Any help would by greatly appreciated. Stephen H.

46HudsonPU

Your description matches what I was experiencing when the clutch was stuck to the pressure plate on my '46 last year (to a 'T'...). I 'pumped' the clutch for about 10 minutes, 'popped' the clutch a couple of times, repeated, etc., etc., took about 20 minutes to get it to work the way it should.

I have not tried any of the mixes that have been spoken of over the years for this type of issue. Here are a couple of the previous threads on the subject -

http://www.classiccar.com/forum/discussion/159425/stuck-clutch/p1

http://www.classiccar.com/forum/discussion/125134/1950-clutch-sticking/p1

Tallent R

It does not sound like its stuck ,but quite gummed up. Probably needs to be flushed and cleaned. Adjustment may help, it shouldnt grab soon as you start to let up,
Roger

hoggyrubber

you wouldn't think it would go out of adjustment from just sitting. you know the stuck clutch thing may be right. Rick was mentioning his being stuck to pressure plate, and this may be the symptoms. mine was stuck to both flywheel and pressure plate so it wouldn't disengage at all. but if it was just stuck to pressure plate..... who knows. since it starts you can do the flush it talks about in the manual and try what Rick suggests too. maybe you will have the same luck! since it's not stuck to both and it's just been a year it might not be too bad. next time you might do as has been suggested several times and cut a board long enought to depress clutch if it is going to set for any extended period of time. stacy k

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