Stuck H

Unknown

GREETINGS FELLOW OLD CAR LOVERS. I'M IN THE PROCESS OF HELPING A FRIEND GET HIS 51 HUDSON COMMODORE GOING. THE CAR SAT FOR APPROX 15 YRS. AFTER THE USUAL SERVICING NEEDED BY A CAR SITTING THIS LONG THE ENGINE RUNS GREAT. BUT THE CLUTCH SEEMS TO BE STUCK.

WE TRIED THE OLD TRICK OF STARTING THE CAR IN GEAR, ONCE THE CAR IS MOVING FORWARD AT A SUFFICENT SPEED, THE CLUTCH IS PUSHED IN AND THE GAS PEDAL PUSHED FULL THROTTLE THEN RELEASED SEVERAL TIMES. THIS CREATES A JERKING MOTION THAT ON MANY OTHER CARS WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM WOULD BREAK THE CLUTCH LOOSE.

IN THIS CASE NO GO AND NOT WISHING TO PUT ANY FURTHER STRAIN ON THE DRIVETRAIN, WE ARE WONDERING:



1. IF ANY ONE CAN OFFER ANY POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS SHORT OF PULLING THE CAR APART.



2. IT LOOKS AS IF THE BELL HOUSING AND TRANSMISSION ARE REMOVED AS ONE ASSEMBLY, AS VS REMOVING THE ENGINE. IF SO ANY TIPS OR TRICKS YOU CAN PASS ON WOULD BE APPRECIATED. WE ARE HOPING NOT TO HAVE TO DO THIS.

I AM A FULL TIME MECHANIC AND COMFORTABLE PERFORMING THESE TYPE OF PROCEDURES, HOWEVER I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL "OLD TIME MECHANICS" THAT MANY CONVERTED THESE VEHICLES TO A CONVENTIONAL CLUTCH AS VS THE HUDSON "WET" CLUTCH. IF SO WHAT PARTS GET USED ?

I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY AND ALL INPUT.



JEFF SCHULTE

609-267-5234 DAYS

856-234-1623 EVES

JEFFERYCAR@AOL.COM

Unknown

[QUOTE=

1. IF ANY ONE CAN OFFER ANY POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS SHORT OF PULLING THE CAR APART.QUOTE]



Put the car on a lift. Make sure it is secure. Start the engine and put it in gear. Put one foot on the clutch, one foot on the gas, and with the other foot, stomp on the brakes.:D



If that doesn't work, it's already on the lift, so start taking it apart.



Good luck

Steve

Unknown

smcmanus wrote:

[QUOTE=

1. IF ANY ONE CAN OFFER ANY POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS SHORT OF PULLING THE CAR APART.QUOTE]



Put the car on a lift. Make sure it is secure. Start the engine and put it in gear. Put one foot on the clutch, one foot on the gas, and with the other foot, stomp on the brakes.:D



If that doesn't work, it's already on the lift, so start taking it apart.



Good luck

Steve

One foot on clutch, one foot on gas and stomp on brakes with other foot? You have three feet! :eek:

Hudsonrules

Sounds like a new clutch and related parts are in order. Not the most difficult task one can undertake. It takes a little time,and a Motors repair manual or Hudson shop manual is a must. It would be a good idea to have the flywheel turned {face cleaned}. I once read an article where someone put a new clutch assembly from an early fifties Ford into a stepdown, but it will be much easier to stay all Hudson. an the Hudson clutch will last a long time if it is seviced properly. Easiest way is to pull the engine and transmission as a unit and detail the unit while it is out of the car and apart. One of the pleasures of owning and driving a Hudson or any other make of older car is knowing what it is made of and how it works. Most of us Hudson owners have dirty hands from time to time and may even say some unreapeatable words and have a large supply of hand cleaner and liquid refreshment. Good luck.

davegnh

I had a stuck clutch in my 53 Super Wasp, I propped the pedal down and added a mixture of automatic trans fluid and brush cleaner. ( A couple of quarts, as I remember) I let it sit for a day and turned the motor about a 1/4 turn, then let it sit again and worked it for a few days. I operated the clutch for a few times each day and then left it propped down again, I was able to free it up and it is working fine now. Good luck--

Unknown

Thanks Will Keep You Posted To Results

Clutchguy

Jeff-if you don't know the integrity of the clutch,you should plan to pull it apart.Also mention here,do the detailing under the hood,and other necessary repairs at the same time.This will increase the valve of the car and possible offset the cost of the needed clutch repair.