Clutch Question

[Snowman]

If I leave my car for more than a week or so, can't engage gear. Need to bang the clutch free on the starter then all works fine.

About to resurrect it from four months in store and would be interested in opinions as to why it might be doing this. Clutch is about 4000 miles old, so is the cable.

Look forward to hearing suggestions!

[Sam Barker]

Hi Snowman!
Not had the problem on the 144, but did on my old Landy, and also on (surprise, surprise!) one of my Alfas.

The Alfa was due to a recessed flywheel and a build up of kack.

the Landy was due to a new flywheel going on that had a slightly different diameter friction face. It meant it was running on an unpolished portion of the flywheel and so was "corroding together" slightly. When I started driving it after a few weeks it would bind then pop off and work fine, after a few hundred miles of regular (daily) use it was spot on and never gave gyp again.

So, which is the first event of the year? Mine's looking like Berwick Classic, but I may be Navs in an Alfa.

Cheers!

Sam

[craig8661]

could be rust thats formed on it while sat best thing to do if there isnt to much drag is to start it in gear with clutch presed down and let it bite then drop clutch let it bite then drop cluctch like when you hold it on the clutch on a hill.
we did this with lorrys that was sat for months if not years most dangerus was to drop a 7.5ton lorry of a jack while on a good throttle let it go up the lane then drop clutch and slam on the brakes to free it up

[Snowman]

Thanks Chaps, doesn't sound too serious then, should use it more really.

Originally Posted by Sam Barker

So, which is the first event of the year? Mine's looking like Berwick Classic, but I may be Navs in an Alfa.

I've already done a handful of 12 cars in my Enduro spec Rover this year. Debating what to do with the Volvo, even crossed my mind to sell it as I've hardly used the thing in the last year or so. However, unless someone made me a bonkers offer for it, I've now promised to do the Leukaemia (S.Wales) in May and the Volvo team is discussing regaining it's Marque Team Trophy on LeJog in December. Fancy that? We get a good discount for team entry.

[fredwinter]

the Volvo team is discussing regaining it's Marque Team Trophy on LeJog in December.

Not sure how the clutch problem got from that to LeJog. However, knowing how you love a challenge, disconnect the clutch cable when not in use and use a pole on the clutch pedal to keep the clutch disengaged. Worth a try at least. Now how about a Volvo team for the HERO Summer Trial. Our entry is in. At least if you are already in Malvern you will not have to make a trip from Bath to sort out our car!

[Sam Barker]

It generally does if it's Snowman and myself talking...
Do you mean keep the clutch release arm pressed in with a pole, rather than the pedal? No need to depress the pedal if the clutch cable is removed.
I thought that would be a bad thing because you are exerting constant pressure on the clutch fingers and so that spring would weaken leading to premature clutch slip.

As for HERO events, I'm not sure if the sums will add up for me this year, I'll keep adding up and taking away and see where we end up. Still my 144 passed it's MOT today!