I discovered my engine clutch was frozen after getting the engine running. When I attempt to push in the clutch pedal, it makes a grinding noise like I'm trying to force it in gear. I had a hint that this may be a problem when I discovered the clutch housing about 1/3 full of water. The pressure plate and tension coils springs don't appear to be badly corroded and only a few inches of the lower part of the clutch housing was in water. I drained the water/oil mix and loosened the nuts on the tension springs and squirted some penetrating oil to help loosen things up. The sliding sleeve on the input shaft of the transmission was never under water but there is some possibility that it may be the culprit.

Any suggestions?? My next try will probably be to replace the plug and fill the clutch housing 1/2 full with diesel (ouch!). I'll have to put that off until next month when I can afford that much diesel. Any help greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Tom

If you have the room, you might try holding the clutch disengaged and put it in gear before you start it. Then keep holding the clutch and "bump" something that won't move. With luck (and if the clutch isn't too tightly rusted up) it'll break free. If not, then a good long soak with diesel or kerosene might help. Depending on how patient you are, after it's soaked a while, try to break it free again.

Good luck

I had a similar problem , Backed of the Springs and filled with kero , left a few weeks and it freed up with a small bump.

Thanks! that's the plan. I'll update when something happens.

The cat ten clutch has a tendency to stick at the bolts that the springs mount on to. losen nuts and then spray with plenty of your favorite juice and let soak and repeat. do not attempt to start with it in gear as you may get run over! Filling compartment with diesel may be good to but roll engine over and let soak and work pedal several times and it may come loose ,but it may not shift good. The best solution will be to take it apart and clean and lube properly and it will be good for a long time instead of giving trouble every time it sets for a while Good luck . Ron Meeder.

I lucked out and got away with loosened pressure plate springs and Rust Buster. I went to the shop to try it yesterday afternoon in hopes of moving it indoors prior to some nasty weather expected through the Houston area this afternoon. When I popped the cover off and pushed the clutch by hand, I could see the pressure plate moving. I left the plate springs loose and cranked it off. It went into gear and pulled just fine.

I still have the loud grinding noise whenever and only when I depress the clutch pedal, but it shifts easily and it's obviously not the transmission making the noise.

Anyway, I moved it into the shop and the little Ten just sat in there and purred like a Cat for a few minutes.

Life is good!
Thanks to all

Tom