MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - 1098cc Seized Clutch

Hello,

My midget has been stored in my garage for the last 11 months without being ran during that period. These last few days I've had time to get her back on the road. oil change, filters, new battery, etc...

She started up well but found when I tried moving out of the garage the clutch wouldn't disengage. I rolled her up on to my ramps to inspect the clutch cylinder and this appears free; operating over its full range when the clutch pedal is pressed.

My questions are... should the cylinder operate if the clutch plate has seized and what is the best method to free up the clutch? I've read in the archives that starting the car in gear then forcing the clutch to free up by driving around and braking hard is the usual method.

Many thanks for any help offered.
John
John Samson

Classic circumstances and symptoms of the clutch plate rusted onto the flywheel and/or pressure plate.
Being in a damp area, it is a problem we used to have before we got a dehumidifier, and the method you outline has always worked for me.

For especially problematic cases could be solved by providing a jerking action by cycling between full acceleration and full braking. I never had one that the only solution was to remove the engine and unbolt the clutch, but if the worst came to the worst that was always the back-up option.
Paul Walbran

John, I would follow Paul's advice but would add, that if you let the engine warm up well to normal working temperature and allow the engine time to 'heat soak', you may find it makes the whole process easier.

Mark.
M T Boldry

Thanks for all the advice, I'll let you know how I get on today.
John Samson

Didnt someone have a crazy idea once that involved jacking the rear of the car up on blocks warming the engine up, then putting the car in gear reving the engine up pretty good while having someone kick the car off the blocks...the result was a harsh bang followed by tire screech, and some how that freed the clutch...I remember that being just the funniest thing I had read....maybe that was a 1st person hilarous story in road and track or some mag. like that.

Prop
Prop

Mine does this not infrequently, and just starting it up in gear is usually enough to break it free.
On the other hand I had the same problem in a Mini once and that took about a 12 mile drive in 2nd gear before it finally freed itself.
G Hawkins

Someone on this BB stated a while back that a good non violent method, is to...

Warm engine up well so that it is really hot, depress clutch pedal and jam it down, then leave it overnight.

Et voila, all will be well in the morning!... apparently.

Not much work involved and easy to try.

I also heard of an MGC owner recently, who made a sufficient sized hole in his bell housing so that he could slacken off all the clutch pressure plate bolts, and with a screwdriver he was easily able to unstick the driven plate away from the flywheel. Tightened everything up and it was fine, apart from the enlarged hole in the bell housing.

Roly
Roly Alcock

John
I had this and fixed it by jacking the back axle of the ground starting in gear giving it some revs and then pressing the clutch and brake pedal.
It soon comes free and seemed to be a fairly stress free method for me and the car.
Hope it helps
Rich
R Brown

clutch down and force it in to gear, the clutch will free before the gearbox breaks
Alex Sturgeon

Thanks for all the advice. The clutch was set free yesterday! I tried the gentle method first and it worked; I warmed the engine through for about 30 minutes then used a metal bar to wedge the clutch pedal down and left it like this over night. Yesterday morning all was well! Apart from the rain.
John Samson

Woo hoo, that solution did work.
Nice and easy too.

Roly
Roly Alcock

Thankful for the archives.
Like John I had the same problem car had been laid up for
several months.
Taking the easy option I used Roly's input.
Ran engine upto normal operating temperature.
Switched off engine.
Cut a brush shank to fit.
Depressed the clutch pedal fully and jammed the shank up against the steering wheel.
As Roly said " Et viola "all will be well in the morning, and it was.
Thanks to all contributors.

Stew


s johnson

well done

I like simple solutions too

prevention is better than cure though Stew don't let the car standing for so long instead take the car out for a good run it'll do the car so much good to be run and all systems used or tested (horns, lights, fans. etc.)
Nigel Atkins

This thread was discussed between 27/07/2009 and 29/10/2013

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.