Clutch Won't Engage - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bluec10 · 08-02-2005, 05:06 PM

Cleaning out the garage and had to move my '69 onto the driveway. No problem, I thought. The truck started right up (the last time I started it was three months ago) but it lurched ahead as I turned it over. I had the clutch pedal all the way to the floor. I shifted it into neutral and it started fine, but when I put the clutch in to put it in gear, I got nothing but grinding.

The last time I started the truck it worked fine. What could be the problem?

.030over · 08-02-2005, 05:33 PM

That is kind of common when stuff sits. My Big block Camaro used to do it. You may try running it a while in neutral then turn it off and put it in high gear and crank it with the clutch depressed. The lack of gear reduction should keep the truck from moving and hopefully the starter torque will break it loose. Mine always did.
Scott

bluec10 · 08-02-2005, 06:55 PM

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll let you know how it goes.

68C15 · 08-02-2005, 11:24 PM

or put it in low, push clutch,start engine, let out clutch to start moving slowly, push clutch in again & floor it a couple of times. this way there will be less load on the starter.
it sounds like you have rust buildup on the input shaft of trans where the disc would normally float.

teamroper! · 08-03-2005, 10:17 PM

I'm glad that I read this. The same thing happened to me this afternoon except that mine has only been sitting for two weeks!

bluec10 · 08-04-2005, 12:52 AM

I idled the truck for quite a while on a pretty hot day to get everything nice and loose. I tried the starter and third gear thing a few times, but it didn't work. I finally went 1-2-3-Up and popped it into reverse. I heard a thunk and the clutch let go.

It's all good.

08-02-2005, 05:06 PM	#1
bluec10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 663	Clutch Won't Engage Cleaning out the garage and had to move my '69 onto the driveway. No problem, I thought. The truck started right up (the last time I started it was three months ago) but it lurched ahead as I turned it over. I had the clutch pedal all the way to the floor. I shifted it into neutral and it started fine, but when I put the clutch in to put it in gear, I got nothing but grinding. The last time I started the truck it worked fine. What could be the problem? __________________ Present: 2015 Tacoma. Yeah, not a GM, but I love it. 1969 GMC 32,000 - fix, drive, relax, fix... 2019 BMW R1250 GSA - Yahoooooooo 1979 Honda GL 1000 - retro touring at its best. Past: '05 Sierra 4x4 - Had 270,000 KM and running well when it was written-off by a stop sign runner. '94 F-150 from the "F word" company. I'll admit it...good truck. Sold what was left of it for $800 to a guy who came to pick it up at 11:00 PM with cash in hand. Hmm. '79 Sierra Grande (Black) organ donor - perfect rebuildable 4-bolt 350 and a good TH350. '76 Sierra Grande (Orange) - hate isn't too strong a word. Kid who bought it turned it into a hot rod. '68 C-10 R.I.P. - Dad's old truck...too far gone to resurrect. '59 C-50 - with hoist. Truck is gone, wife isn't. Nuff said.

08-02-2005, 05:33 PM	#2
.030over Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 129	Disc is stuck to pressure plate/ flywheel That is kind of common when stuff sits. My Big block Camaro used to do it. You may try running it a while in neutral then turn it off and put it in high gear and crank it with the clutch depressed. The lack of gear reduction should keep the truck from moving and hopefully the starter torque will break it loose. Mine always did. Scott __________________ '67 SWB big block project '85 C60 school bus motorhome conversion

08-02-2005, 06:55 PM	#3
bluec10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 663	Thanks for the suggestion. I'll let you know how it goes. __________________ Present: 2015 Tacoma. Yeah, not a GM, but I love it. 1969 GMC 32,000 - fix, drive, relax, fix... 2019 BMW R1250 GSA - Yahoooooooo 1979 Honda GL 1000 - retro touring at its best. Past: '05 Sierra 4x4 - Had 270,000 KM and running well when it was written-off by a stop sign runner. '94 F-150 from the "F word" company. I'll admit it...good truck. Sold what was left of it for $800 to a guy who came to pick it up at 11:00 PM with cash in hand. Hmm. '79 Sierra Grande (Black) organ donor - perfect rebuildable 4-bolt 350 and a good TH350. '76 Sierra Grande (Orange) - hate isn't too strong a word. Kid who bought it turned it into a hot rod. '68 C-10 R.I.P. - Dad's old truck...too far gone to resurrect. '59 C-50 - with hoist. Truck is gone, wife isn't. Nuff said.

08-02-2005, 11:24 PM	#4
68C15 blood type; Retumbo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: next to my reloading bench Posts: 10,269	or put it in low, push clutch,start engine, let out clutch to start moving slowly, push clutch in again & floor it a couple of times. this way there will be less load on the starter. it sounds like you have rust buildup on the input shaft of trans where the disc would normally float. __________________ Man rule #77...if you own a 67 stepside with a caddy 472 you will never be in danger of loosing you man card

08-04-2005, 12:52 AM	#6
bluec10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 663	I idled the truck for quite a while on a pretty hot day to get everything nice and loose. I tried the starter and third gear thing a few times, but it didn't work. I finally went 1-2-3-Up and popped it into reverse. I heard a thunk and the clutch let go. It's all good. __________________ Present: 2015 Tacoma. Yeah, not a GM, but I love it. 1969 GMC 32,000 - fix, drive, relax, fix... 2019 BMW R1250 GSA - Yahoooooooo 1979 Honda GL 1000 - retro touring at its best. Past: '05 Sierra 4x4 - Had 270,000 KM and running well when it was written-off by a stop sign runner. '94 F-150 from the "F word" company. I'll admit it...good truck. Sold what was left of it for $800 to a guy who came to pick it up at 11:00 PM with cash in hand. Hmm. '79 Sierra Grande (Black) organ donor - perfect rebuildable 4-bolt 350 and a good TH350. '76 Sierra Grande (Orange) - hate isn't too strong a word. Kid who bought it turned it into a hot rod. '68 C-10 R.I.P. - Dad's old truck...too far gone to resurrect. '59 C-50 - with hoist. Truck is gone, wife isn't. Nuff said.

08-03-2005, 10:17 PM	#5
teamroper! Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: northeast alabama Posts: 258	I'm glad that I read this. The same thing happened to me this afternoon except that mine has only been sitting for two weeks!

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