Clutch not disengaging

[John DeCampli]

My clucth will not desenguage and i can not get my car into any gear when it os on. So I was Looking in through the release fork boot for a problem and saw a little clip looking thing with a little spring on it hanging in my clutch assembly. I then looked in my repair Manuel and saw what i think it is and it is called a return clip, and I was wondering what this does an what problems this could cause. I have a brand new master ad slaw cylinder, almost brand new act clutch and fidenza lightweight flywheel, and oem throughout bearing. Also my fork is moving the full
Movement.

 

[RickyM95GST]

The return clip holds the clutch fork and throw out bearing together. It SHOULDN'T cause the issue your having since the pressure plate should keep the bearing in place even if the clip comes loose. As for your dragging issue when the clutch is disengaged where does the fork sit in the transmission opening, closer to the side where the slave cylinder or on the opposite side?

 

[John DeCampli]

I think was a little to the opposite side of the slave but still close to center I'd have to look again

 

[n0de]

I've recently fixed a similar issue on a dsm i purchase. In that particular case, the transmission had not been properly mounted/bolted to the block (bellhousing also had a crack in it). Have another person jump in the car and push the clutch in while you look at the transmission. Make sure the transmission does not move at all (physically back itself away from the block).

Also check the slave cylinder reservoir for fluid, also check to see that the slave is pushing the clutch fork on the transmission.

 

[RickyM95GST]

Agreed, check for misalignment of the transmission. If it turns out that it is aligned properly and the clutch fork is still sitting on the opposite side of the opening then you will have to shim your pivot ball.

 

[curt-s]

The return clip holds the clutch fork and throw out bearing together. It SHOULDN'T cause the issue your having since the pressure plate should keep the bearing in place even if the clip comes loose. As for your dragging issue when the clutch is disengaged where does the fork sit in the transmission opening, closer to the side where the slave cylinder or on the opposite side?

The only issue is if the TOB and fork become separated, then they'd likely not go back together with every press of the clutch since the tolerance for alignment is so slim. However, you would definitely notice an issue with that visually which the OP doesn't seem to have since he says the fork appears to move a good full throw..

Agreed, check for misalignment of the transmission. If it turns out that it is aligned properly and the clutch fork is still sitting on the opposite side of the opening then you will have to shim your pivot ball.

I'd be careful about jumping to pivot ball shimming (I've had issues described in other threads. Quick summary: caused RPM drop on clutch press), as you're changing geometry. I'd make sure everything is to spec prior.

check the transmission for separation, all bolts are correctly torqued (crankshaft through to bellhousing), and check the flywheel step height. Make sure clutch adjustment is proper.. even a quarter turn of the adjustment rod makes a difference I've found.

 

[John DeCampli]

I can try a few things I can tell you it's not a shim issue I've put a good bit of miles on this set up. The only thing that I changed was I adjusted the clutch under the dash, since the last time that It was disengaging, I only adjusted it because it was just dragging. I can check for maybe a chance some
Bolts backed out on the tranny, and the clip I was talking about I was only wondering about it because I saw a piece of Metal dangling on a little tiny spring near the shift fork, and im not Sure what it is. I can say for sure it's not a spring from the clutch or pressure plate it is a very tiny spring.

 

[curt-s]

No tiny springs in there that should be there.. unless it's a piece of metal that was shaved and ended up coiling up.. clutch springs are much larger. Do you have access to an inspection scope? I'd get in there and find out what that is before something catastrophic could possibly happen (assuming the worst here).

 

[John DeCampli]

I can see it with my eyes, i was trying to get a picture but I need a defferent camera, my flash wasnt working right. But or deffinitly has a spring on I could pull it with a magnet and it sprung back. the spring wasn't strong but the magnet couldn't get it close enough to rip it out if I wanted to even.