Not going into gear

[Mgicm]

Have an ad truck with s10 5 speed. Starts up find neutral of course. Won't go into any forward gear. Grinds bad when going to reverse. Won't move in any direction. Worked well just a week ago bit has sat for many days. Clutch pedal seems to move well. Any ideas? Not sure where to start. Thanks

[nail pounder]

Is it a hydraulic clutch? Does it have fluid?

[Mgicm]

Yes..got too dark so will check in am.

[joedoh]

if it goes into gear easily with the engine off but not with the engine on, its likely your hydraulics like mail pounder says.

[Mgicm]

Ok how would I make sure that is the issue and fix it. And does it just go bad as the cause?

[joedoh]

check the fluid level, if its low look for leaks at the trans bellhousing. the slave for an s10 is inside the bellhousing so unfortunately if there is a leak the only fix is to pull the trans.

the master/slave combo on an s10 usually come (should be bought really) already together. that doesnt work in a non standard application so you have to rely on clamps to hold the pressure on the hose between them. its possible a clamp is leaking and the components are fine. if the fluid level is low, top it off and try pumping the clutch pedal rapidly to build pressure and see if that allows you to go in gear. if so, try bleeding the system. keep an eye on the fluid level when bleeding!

if the master cylinder is not matched to the slave (s10 master? what master is it?) you may not have the pressure needed or the seals in the master have failed.

this is all pretty standard clutch troubleshooting, good luck!

[_Ogre]

i had 1 rivet (of 3) break on the clutch plate on a 59 with the stock clutch setup
clutch appeared to work fine, i could start in gear and shift thru the gears fine
just couldn't shift into gear from neutral

[mr48chev]

I'd go along with what Joedoh suggested in that most likely the slave cylinder failed. Or you have a leak and lost the fluid. When you push the pedal do you feel the same resistance you felt the last time you drove it or is there less resistance? On some hydraulic clutches it is real hard to tell if they slave is actually pushing the throwout bearing against the pressure plate fingers as there isn't much feel to it to begin with.

[Mgicm]

hi
clutch feels the same as it always does. Pardon my ignorance but how would I check the fluid level and bleed it? Master is like under the truck on frame rail not in engine bay. It is hard for me to get under truck at my current setup. Anyone able to step me through? What am i looking for on the trans and MC.

Is the slave cylinder inside on all s10 5 speeds or only some?

[Coupeguy2001]

I think you have a hydraulic throw out bearing. You step on the pedal, and the throw out bearing gets longer, pushing on the clutch. There should be a bleeder hose somewhere under the truck coming out of the bellhousing somewhere. Make sure it is closed off.
Another thing you might try is to squirt some fluid in the master reservoir, and crack the line so fluid comes out of it in a little more than a drip. You can bleed it that way, and then when you think the clutch is working, close off the bleeder line and add the fluid to the master.
If you got air in it, the fluid wouldn't push the throwout bearing very far.

[Mgicm]

Thanks. I gotta get it up higher as I can't see the master let alone the level. Have a bit of a crappy setup at home but will get things where u can get under there better.

[Wrenchbender Ret]

Most of those conversions used the stock mechanical linkage for the clutch. If the pedal feels normal that is probably what you have. If it had hydraulic clutch & had a fluid failure the pedal would go down real easy with hardly any resistance. I think your disc is stuck to the pressure plate or flywheel. Prop the clutch pedal down with a length of would, put the trans. in high gear & rock the truck back & forth. That may release it. If not get under neath & remove the flywheel cover. With the clutch pedal still propped down & the trans in neutral, take a screwdriver & see if the disc is tight against the pres. plate or flywheel.

[dsraven]

Could be a siezing pilot bearing. If it shifts fine when not running but grinds when running it could be because the input shaft is still turning due to the pilot bearing being siezed or if just a bushing then the input shaft is stuck/coroded/rusted to the bushing so even though the clutch is working fine the input shaft still gets turned. Seen that several times before.