Clutch stuck to flywheel! HELP!!

[ICEMAN707]

I think my clutch has seized up on the pressure plate. No matter how many times I press the pedal, the clutch still won't release and let me go into gear with the engine running. Didn't touch the transmission. All I did was engine performance work with engine still in the car. I did however flush it with water via the starter hole when I removed the starter to flush out all the clutch dust. I guess that was a bad thing to do. Clutch probably rusted into the pressure plate or the clutch release bearing seized up from rust.


My idea is to hold the clutch pedal down with a pipe or stick against the seat all the way forward then see if I can tap out the clutch/flywheel with a hammer and a big long screwdriver/prybar while spraying some brake cleaner in there. That or start the car in gear a few times, but that seems scary to break something. Anyone have any ideas what it might be? Or if it is what I said it is, what's the best way to remedy it? I know my clutch is fine, doesn't need to be replaced. I hope I can fix it without having to remove the tranny.

[Bglad420]

Or mabey you blew your clutch!

[88Accord-DX]

Did you make sure your clutch cable is moving the fork?

[ICEMAN707]

Nah, couldn't have blown my clutch just sitting there for a month while I worked on the engine. It was working fine before I put the car down for the buildup. I think my release bearing has seized due to me washing the clutch down. I probably washed it of the little grease it has left (after 140k miles) that lubricates it.

I'm sure the bearing is the problem cus I started the car in 1st gear a few times to break the clutch loose from the flywheel and still nothing, so that rules out the possibility of the clutch face seizing on the pressure plate.

I guess I have to drop the tranny and inspect the bearing to fix this, so I might as well wait till I get the shorter geared tranny that's the next mod on my list off a 95 Civic Si/Ex with a performance clutch and aluminum flywheel. BTW, this problem is on my 95 Civic DX, not my 3gee. I guess the Civic will be down for another month. :(

[88Accord-DX]

I beleive if the bearing is seized, you wouldn't be able to push the pedal down. Might look into the cable & fork also.

[ICEMAN707]

The Civic has a hydraulic tranny. Fork looks like it moves when the clutch pedal is pressed. I replaced the clutch master cylinder and slave cylinder thinking they were the problem but apparently aren't. It is bled properly, of course. I have pressure and the slave cylinder is doing its work pushing the fork lever. So I'm stuck. Maybe the fork is not moving far enough? It has to be something with the clutch or release bearing.

[88Accord-DX]

Ohh. Ok, your working with hydraulic system, didn't know that.

Well, if you say everything is working right & moving the fork. It looks to me like your pressure plate fingers are broken or bent to hell.

Edit- Also, the ends of the fork could be broke where it holds the release bearing.

[88Accord-DX]

D.p.

[ICEMAN707]

Well, like I said before I never touched the transmission so it shouldn't break on its own. Maybe the shaft the bearing slides on has something to do with the bearing not moving freely? When I washed it down, I probably cleaned the shaft of the necessary grease it needed to lube it.

Either way, I'm stumped. I have to drop that tranny no matter what to find out what's wrong. So like I said, might as well wait till I do the tranny swap project I've planned to do next. *Sigh* This sux, I really wanted to test drive the car to see what my VTEC head build, port/polish, etc. did. The car sounds mean though!

[88Accord-DX]

I see where your coming from know. Need to read a little slower.

Well, if there is any bur on the spline, you will have problems as you mentioned. Maybe you can spray some PB blaster in there to loosen it up & give some lubrication to it. Definetly need to look at in person to determine the problem now. Anyhow, good luck & let us know what the problem was.

Edit- I've never seen a pilot bearing doing this, but something to think about.

[88Accord-DX]

Here is some stuff I pulled off the net.

Clutch linkage not properly adjusted or reset.
Flywheel not resurfaced before new clutch installed.
Flywheel surfaced improperly (i.e., incorrect flywheel step).
Flywheel machined too thin or not manufactured to stock (OEM) specifications.
Lack of lubrication on linkage or release bearing collar.
Linkage worn or damaged.
Hydraulics defective, leaking or air in the system.
Cable stretched or damaged.
Pilot bushing binding due to improper bellhousing alignment [or] bellhousing damaged or loose.
Clutch disc installed improperly.
Clutch disc hub rubbing against flywheel bolts.
Clutch disc binding on input shaft, damaged splines.
Input shaft bent causing clutch disc run-out.
Pressure plate assembly and/or clutch disc bent or damaged.
Clutch disc is too thick or has excessive marcel (too much cushion between the friction facings).
Pressure plate has defective or damaged torque drive straps.
Damaged, worn or improperly installed pilot bushing/bearing.
Oil or grease contamination on clutch facings.
Damaged or worn throwout bearing collar.

[ICEMAN707]

I'm leaning towards #5: "Lack of lubrication on linkage or release bearing collar".

I don't have a linkage since it's hydraulic, but i think it's the release bearing collar. Probably due to me washing out the clutch with water. Problem is, I have to spray PB blaster on there without getting it on the clutch/flywheel contact surfaces...hmm. Anyways, I sprayed PB blaster in the general area where the release bearing would be to let it soak overnight. So I'm hoping for the best tomorrow when I open up the flywheel service plate to get a better look inside. I shoulda used brake cleaner instead of water. Lesson learned. ...Then again, brake cleaner removes grease....I shoulda never tried cleaning it then if I was gonna do a tranny swap anyways.

[FyreDaug]

I shoulda never tried cleaning it then if I was gonna do a tranny swap anyways.

Yeah thats what its looking like... that is kinda strange, my friends 92 accord is doing the same kinda thing, except he thinks his clutch was slipping (he said engine would rev, but not speed up at the same speed... hes no mechanic, so this is what I assumed) and now he cant even get it out of gear, its in 1st but not matter what we do it just wont budge.

Little off topic I know.

with the car off though you can still fly through all the gears right?

[ICEMAN707]

Yeah with the car off I can shift fine. How much do you think the labor for clutch replacement would be should I decide not to do the work this time? I can do it, but I'm just frustrated right now.

[88Accord-DX]

Min. $200 cheap, go up from there. I would chill a week or so & do it yourself man. (I have to do that working on cars 5 days a week)

[smufguy]

this is the first time i have ever heard of anyone 'flushing' their clutch via the starter hole with water. It sucks that it happened, but probably its rust like you mentioned. usually when water enters the timing hole it either just goes around the flywheel or evaporates due to heat. The best bet would be to take the tranny apart from the block and examine the clutch and take some pics so we know how it looks.

[ICEMAN707]

I flushed it cus I felt that there would be lots of clutch dust buildup in there being it's a 140k mile car. I was right though, lots of dust and dirt got flushed out in expense of my clutch disc seizing to the flywheel pressure plate. Maybe I should have held the clutch pedal to the floor with a piece of wood or pipe to keep it off the flywheel while the clutch was drying. Damn...

I'm gonna open up the flywheel cover plate under the trans and see if I can get a big screwdriver between the clutch disc and the flywheel and pry it off. Having a big hammer and the pedal all the way down would help too.

...I'll take pics for you guys soon.

[thegreatdane]

sounds incredible if thats the case but if it is and your not extremely sensitive about the car, try putting it in gear, press down the clutch and start it (make sure theres road to go on), it will jerk a bit but it should start. If it was stuck to the pressure plate that ought to brake it loose.

[ICEMAN707]

Yep I did that too, but didn't work. I'm all out of options besides pulling the tranny. This sux!!

[FyreDaug]

Shit man, maybe that clutch with a block of wood idea wouldve worked... probably not good for the throw out to stay like that for too long, but you cant change time, but you can fix the problem still

[smufguy]

A clutch and its dust is similar to the brake and the brake dust. Some type of fast drying non corrosive Alcohol cleaner will and would have been a better choice, but finding the amouth of cleaning alcohol enough to pour down a hole is next to nill at a store. Clutch dust settles on the outside of the plates and on the inside bare parts of the tranny and does not build up on the moving parts of the clutch, which is the clutch face and pressure plate insides.

I am dying to see the pics tho :-D and by the way, its been a while sinve i have seen ur car. one of the cool cars on the forum.

[ICEMAN707]

I think my pressure plate fins are rust seized and won't spring back from the clutch disc to disengage the clutch. I guess it's time for a new clutch.

BTW does anyone know someone or have a 92- 95 Civic JDM D15B LSD 5 spd for sale cheap? Might as well change to a JDM tranny with LSD and shorter gear ratios if I'm gonna do all that work pulling the old tranny out.

The 3gee is still around. I still have yet to do a 5 spd swap on that after I finish the work on the Civic, as well as paint it finally. I kinda put the 3gee aside after I got the Civic and got hooked on the limitless aftermarket support it has. You know how that goes.... haha

[dillirk]

I had a spring come out ot the disk and cause this on the way home one night... no warning. our cars can be shifted with out the clutch being used with some practice. if it is just the clutch stuck to the flywheel you can get it going say at 25-45 step on the clutch and gas and hitting the break with your heal to free it up.