Eric's Clutch

["Al Powell" <APOWELL@agcom.tamu.edu>]

> From: ejfluhr@austin.ibm.com (Fluhr)
 
> A few weeks ago, I replaced the clutch slave and master cylinders because
> I couldn't get the car into gear, and then sometimes when I pushed the
> clutch in, to come to a stop, the car would continue to move forward.
> Since then, the clutch has worked ok, although the transmission was a bit
> more difficult to shift than in the past.

A clue!!
 
> Well, late last night and early this morning, the car is exhibiting the
> same symptoms.  It is extremely difficult (near impossible) to put the
> car into gear from a stop.  Once I am moving, it is easier but still not
> normal.  If I put the car in first at a stop, on level ground, and hold
> the clutch in, the car will creep forward.  However, if I let the clutch
> out, it seems to operate normally (i.e. there is some pedal travel before
> I feel the clutch engage, maybe 2", then it engages normally), so I think
> the hydraulics are working fine (that is, they hold pressure ok).

I don't!
 
> The difference, this time, is that something is chirping/squeaking when
> I put the car in gear, and it sometimes squeaks when the car is in a gear
> and I hold the clutch in.
> 
> My father suggested the possibility that a piece of the clutch disc has
> broken off and slipped down between the gap.  Does this sound like the
> case?  Any other thoughts?!?

I *strongly* suspect your clutch is not disengaging.  Nothing else I 
know of can account for a tendency to creep forward.  If it is not 
disengaging completely, that accounts for the difficulty in shifting. 

I know that hydraulic clutches are a problem in that you can't 
manually adjust them...I wonder if you have the correct parts from 
the slave cylinder to clutch fork, OR whether perhaps the adjustment 
is off between the pedal and master cylinder, so that you are not 
displacing enough fluid at the top end to disengage the clutch.

Them's my $.02 worth...




+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Al Powell, Ph.D.                 Voice:  409/845-2807
107 Reed McDonald Bldg.          Fax:    409/862-1202
College Station, TX 77843      
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"Some people can tell what time it is by looking at the
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             [From 5th/6th grade essays....]