panelbeater1234 Posted October 3, 2023 Share Posted October 3, 2023 Hi to you all in the usa i have a 1937 dodge sedan and have prob trying to change or put vehicle into gear the car is on 4 jack stands and when i run vehicle in idle clutch is pushed down and wont engage gear .new clutch fitted to it Before i start to remove gear box i thought i would ask some one there thoughts before ripping in to dismantle parts Regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted October 3, 2023 Share Posted October 3, 2023 Is the clutch disengaging? If it is dragging the gears will grind and not go in unless you force the shift, then the rear wheel will turn even with the pedal down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panelbeater1234 Posted October 3, 2023 Author Share Posted October 3, 2023 Rustey before i started the motor i put it into Reverse gear and ran it again and the rear hub was turning then pushed the clutch down and still the drive shaft was still turning makes me think it is the clutch area to next to look at what are your thoughts ???? john schicker p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldtech Posted October 3, 2023 Share Posted October 3, 2023 Is this a new clutch that was just installed, or has the car run with it before? Wondering if it's just stuck or if there is an issue with the adjustment or installation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted October 3, 2023 Share Posted October 3, 2023 Take the clutch cover off if it has one and have someone push the pedal down. Then pop the disc loose with a screwdriver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m-mman Posted October 3, 2023 Share Posted October 3, 2023 If the rear wheels are off the ground it is difficult to assess clutch activity. When the foot is off the pedal the disc is pinched to transfer power. When the foot is pushing the pedal the disc is no longer pinched BUT it can drag just enough or have just enough momentum to turn the wheel/driveshaft. Testing: put the rear wheels back on the ground. (Use brake and wheel chocks). Place shifter in neutral. Start and run engine long enough that it will start easily. Turn engine off. Place shifter in gear. 3rd is a good choice. put foot on clutch, hold foot on clutch. Start engine. Engine should spin and start easily. IF it tries to move (foot still on pedal) or won’t crank and start easily then the disc is stuck to the flywheel. Now foot on pedal, engine starts and runs easily. Shifter still in 3rd gear. Move shifter to neutral (keep foot on pedal) then try to put back in 3rd. If clutch is released (foot on pedal) the transmission gears will not spin and you can move shifter into and out of any gear as if the engine is off. If you have a clutch that is dragging then with engine started in gear (foot always on pedal) you will not move be able to move lever between gears easily. It will seem like trying to move shifter with foot off the clutch pedal. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WPVT Posted October 4, 2023 Share Posted October 4, 2023 Some background would be helpful. Was the car in storage or sitting unused for a long period ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted October 4, 2023 Share Posted October 4, 2023 With the car in gear and the clutch pedal down, step on the brakes and see what happens. Is there an access plate on the bottom of the bellhousing that allows you to see the clutch? Can you have a look while someone steps on the pedal, to see if the clutch is releasing? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted October 4, 2023 Share Posted October 4, 2023 2 hours ago, WPVT said: Some background would be helpful. Was the car in storage or sitting unused for a long period ? He says he just installed a new clutch. I suspect the clutch plate is too thick or something not right, and the clutch is dragging. Or it could be out of adjustment. It could be stuck if it sat unused for a long time but that does not seem to be the case here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted October 4, 2023 Share Posted October 4, 2023 I think it may be possible to put the clutch plate in backwards, in which case it may not release. 3 hours ago, Rusty_OToole said: He says he just installed a new clutch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panelbeater1234 Posted October 4, 2023 Author Share Posted October 4, 2023 Yes the car has been in storage for about 4 years .New Clutch installed i forgot to mention that i have installed in all brake cylinders stainless inserts so the next thing before i look at the clutch to blead the brakes and then i am going to start the car and put it into 3 gear and apply the brakes and see if it frees the clutch .Will keep you posted on what happens as you can read i don't wont to rush in and remove the gearbox and clutch and start again that's why i am asking for some one that's been down that road .....John schicker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panelbeater1234 Posted November 11, 2023 Author Share Posted November 11, 2023 hi to all you good blokes the answered my cons earn as regards the clutch prob on the dodge 1937 .finely removed the clutch from the bell housing as i said the clutch was brand new and been siting in car about 4 years it was stuck real hard on the gearbox ie towards the rear round steel face placed a screw driver under it and then it came away the steel round facing was very Rustay cleaned up with sand paper and a little brake cleaner when looking at the facing ie spring side to rear of car and smooth to flywheel Regards john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted November 11, 2023 Share Posted November 11, 2023 You said you just put in a new clutch. You did not say you left it sitting for 4 years. If I had known that, I would have told you how to free it off without taking it all apart. Too late now, all's well that ends well. I would suggest you cut a stick to fit between the dash board and clutch pedal, to prop the pedal all the way down when the car is out of service for more than a month. If you do that it won't get stuck again. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcapra Posted November 17, 2023 Share Posted November 17, 2023 On 10/3/2023 at 4:34 PM, m-mman said: If the rear wheels are off the ground it is difficult to assess clutch activity. When the foot is off the pedal the disc is pinched to transfer power. When the foot is pushing the pedal the disc is no longer pinched BUT it can drag just enough or have just enough momentum to turn the wheel/driveshaft. That's what happened to my 48 DeSoto. I put in a rebuilt clutch, but it wouldn't disengage when I pushed the pedal down. I took the clutch into Southland clutch and they showed me that my rebuilt clutch was not rebuilt right. So the made me a new clutch and that one worked. You might want to look at Flathead Terry's video on his 37 Plymouth clutch. He covers everything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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