Clutch Won't Disengage

[SlipGear]

Well I just bought my ’90 GSX. The car has been sitting for a couple years due to a fried ecu. The owner had a newer trans put in the car before it sat. Well the clutch on the car wont disengage. If I put the car in gear and crank the engine I can get it to drive. I replaced the slave cylinder, but that didn’t help. I can see the clutch move, but I don’t know if its moving far enough. I was thinking it might have got rusted to the flywheel. Is there anything else I should try to do? It looks as if I am going to have to drop the trans. If I do remove the trans is there anything I need to look for?

 

[bling5tatus]

I dunno about look for, but replace your throw out bearing while you're in there.

 

[talonz27]

i would suggest inspecting the clutch fork

 

[SlipGear]

I was trying to see if i could get it to work without taking the trans off. It would be foolish not to replace the clutch, throw out, and resurface/new flywheel if i had the trans off. Tomorrow i was going to try to push the release fork.

 

[dsm-onster]

I'd replace/rebuild the clutch master and slave cylinder first. How much "throw" are you getting at the tranny bellhousing at the clutch fork?

 

[SlipGear]

There is some throw but i don't know how much there should be. The master is fine, and i replaced the slave.

 

[talonz27]

you could put a stainless clutch line on it also to make it a bit more solid.

 

[brandonzero0]

I just did a clutch on a 91 awd same problem and his wouldn't completely go into gear at all. i out in a fidnaza flywheel and clutch kit, he got a new clutch fork and fulcrum ball ss clutch line, put it all in and still nothing, he got an extended push rod and now all of his problems are fixed engages and disengages fine still. butin 1g's some people had some problems with the clutch pedal assemblies breaking so check that too. and i would replace the clutch master nd slave like ds-monster said, i looked at his from inside the car and it was leaking down the fire wall, always want to place those parts down the road they do wear.

 

[brandonzero0]

And after all of that make sure you adjust the clutch pedal free play.

 

[SlipGear]

Ok well today i put a new master cylinder in and still nothing. If we use a pry bar we can push the fork far enough to disengage the clutch but it hard as hell to do. We tried putting something inbetween the slave push rod and fork, but it as if the master cylinder doesnt have enough pressure to push the fork all the way to disengage.

 

[cbassgsx]

The fulcrum ball tend to dig a hole into the fork after a while. But I would still look into new oem masters and slaves.

 

[numlock666]

just drop the tranny and look at it, no one will know whats really wrong, all we can do is assume. The Fork should throw about 1.5 - 2". Also one way to check for fulcrum ball wear is at the RRE site. http://www.roadraceengineering.com/clutchandflywheeltech.htm

 

[kronus]

just drop the tranny and look at it, no one will know whats really wrong, all we can do is assume. The Fork should throw about 1.5 - 2". Also one way to check for fulcrum ball wear is at the RRE site. http://www.roadraceengineering.com/clutchandflywheeltech.htm

Luckily for us, our hydraulic clutch system is pretty straight forward. There's really not a lot to narrowing down the issue. These are the fixes in the order of easiest to hardest.

1. Bleed both MC and SC.
2. Check for leaks at the Master and Slave Cylinders. Replace as necessary.
3. Adjust clutch pedal under the dash.

Still nothing?

3. Check for fulcrum ball and clutch fork wear by removing transmission and visually inspecting.
4. Inspect Pressure Plate for warpage and/or missing springs. Replace any of the above items as necessary.

Nothing again? Well this is gonna suck.

5. Check your clutch pedal assembly for play. REPLACE as necessary.

The link to RRE's page is probably your best friend right now. Tells you about everything you'll ever need to know about the clutch, flywheel, and adjustment. Go read it, and have fun!

http://www.roadraceengineering.com/clutchandflywheeltech.htm