stuck clutch

DickWebber

I'm a life long collector/restorer, but I've never owned a Hudson, but I have admired and been around them since the 1950s.  My friend has a 48 Commodore 6 sedan, now running. Life got in his way and the car has not been driven in 6-8 yrs.  It's a pretty solid car.  Still has decent original interior.   Appears to have vacuum shift, overdrive, and I'm guessing a stuck clutch.

To my knowledge there are no Hudson guys around Bowling Green KY to ask.  Another friend has gotten it out of the barn and removed the inspection cover.  I expect we need to drain and flush this clutch, maybe several times and hope it will free. He can do the work.

Can anyone help with instructions.?

Thanks for your help!

Glowplug

Go to my webpage and select Clutch from the left side links. You will find the clutch procedures there. http://hudsonrestoration1948-54.com/index.html#RESTORATIONAIDS

DickWebber

Will the flushing procedure work if the clutch is stuck?

Jon B

It should.  The solvent will gradually work its way in around the cork.  But you must rotate the engine every once in awhile to evenly distribute the solvent.  Otherwise it only penetrates the corks near the bottom.

Don't worry too much.  This is pretty much a standard problem for Hudsons that have sat for any length of time.  And its' usually solved rather easily, with solvent.  That's why many people use a stick to prop the clutch pedal down when they know that the car will be in storage a long time.  But, just for a winter's slumber, there should be no problem.

DickWebber

Great!  Thank you so much!

Uncle Josh

The chlor-o-ethane is generally no longer available but a close relative can be bought at your local hardware as 'Carbochlor', Under the Sunnyside? label.

50/50 mix of Acetone/Dexron tranny fluid is a great dissolver of crap also.

Hudsonite is available from the HET club store and/or Wildrick restorations, or some people have good results with straight Dexron.tranny fluid.

I mix my own.  1/3 Dexron, 1/3 Marvel Mystery Oil, and 1/3 10W30 oil.  Works for me.

DickWebber

Thanks Josh!  That is a great help.  I use a lot of 50/50

Per

Dick,

Fifty years ago an elderly Hudson mechanic gave me his recipe for Hudson clutch fluid:

1/3 gear oil, 1/3 motor oil, 1/3 kerosene, and a dash of Marvel Mystery Oil!

     When I first start my Hudson after the winter, I put the car in gear.  Then I hold the clutch pedal and the brake pedal down, and push the starter button.  The car jerks, and the clutch becomes free.  

                 Per

Uncle Josh

After the treatment, you could drive around in 1st gear jerky-like or run it into a tree like I did with the Jeep truck to break it loose.

Make sure you're goin real slow or you won't need a clutch.

kamzack

I'd suggest calling Doug Wildrick @ Wildrick Restoration Near Shelbyville, In. Doug is the leading clutch wizard and rebuilds everything related to Hudson clutches. Much easier to buy clutch fluid from them and have the assurance it's  the right stuff. He's also one of a handful of people that can rebuild and make the Drivemaster function as new. In addition to these services they are a full Hudson restoration shop and also reproduce about all of the rubber components you'd need. Have a look at  their website.

   Denny Chilton is the lead man there and can answer all your questions. You're not that far from them and would be worth a trip to visit their shop.

   Kim