1939 Country Club Clutch problem

Unknown

I have a question about the standard clutch on my 39 country club.



Here is my problem; the car has set idle for long periods of time. About two years ago when I started the car to get it out after winter storage I could not get it to shift into any gear when the car was running and the clutch was engaged. I could turn the car off and put it in gear and restart the car with the clutch engaged and it would take off just fine.....until I would engage the clutch and try to shift. Once out of first gear it would not shift into any other gear with the car running. To move it again I would have to turn off the car and put it in gear and restart it.



After reading everything I could find I decided it was best to drain the hudsonite fluid out of the clutch. I replaced it with McKay Clutch Fluid made for Hudson cars that came in its original 6oz.cans (I bought the fluid from someone through the hudson club).



After this fluid change the car shifted smooth and without any problems. So here I am about two years later and the car does the same thing this past week. I probably have driven the car a total of 25 miles since I changed the Hudsonite. So I drain the old fluid out and put in another can of the same replacement fluid (McKay's Hudson Fluid) that I used before, except this time I am still having the same problem with it not wanting to shift into gear.



Each time I start the car I let it sit and warm up before moving it and I work the clutch numerous times to get the cork clutch plate lubricated.....or so I thought I was??????



My questions are;



Does the hudsonite fluid turn bad from sitting idle over long periods of time?



Would flushing out the clutch help me?



What do I need to do differently to avoid future problems?



Most of all what should I do now?



Any help would be appreciated.

[Deleted User]

Hi---Your clutch plate is hanging up due to non-use. Drain it out & flush it with some kerosene & work the clutch pedal in & out about 100 times or so while the kerosene is in it. Then drain & replace the fluid with Hudsonite available from the club store or one of numerous club vendors.

Unknown

When you get it working again when parking for several weeks prop the clutch pedal down.