Clutch gone

[politeperson]

Sounds like your clutch is not disengaging and also you have a revere selector problem.

If the car has been standing a while, the clutch plate might be stuck, so just go out and drive it. That ,might fix everything.

If not, it will probably mean inspecting the clutch slave/rod area from underneath the car or bleeding the clutch. How is the fluid level? You are looking to see how far your clutch slave rod is moving the arm at the bell housing when the clutch is depressed. If you have a quarter inch gap between the clutch arm and the bellhousing when the pedal is fully depressed, you might be saved. The engine and box might not have to come out.

You may also find yourself removing the gearbox cover and and looking at the reverse gear selector mechanism. There is a fairly obvious adjustment from inside the car when you get into it,

At worst, the whole engine and box will have to come out and go back in again with about £300 of clutch parts assuming nothing else is wrong, plus a whole load of labour if you are paying someone.

[Normam jones]

Right, up early this morning and started her up and let it warm for 5 minutes, far from fully warmed up I know but tried clutch and i had 4 fwd gears and crunch on reverse. Pumped pedal a few times, no idea why...but anyhow i then had all 4 gears plus reverse! Backed her out of garage and she is sitting on driveway now, dusty and looking at me as if to say stop negleting me !

Thanks for all suggestions, though am thinking I do need to look at reverse as historically it has been tricky to engage

[H7OB]

Great. Sounds like it’s freed up easily enough and you didn’t have to resort to the starting in gear with the brakes on punishment! These old cars don’t like being left too long!

[mgcjag]

Hi Norman reverse dosnt have syncro....i think your slave cylinder pushrod still probably needs adjusting correctly and still some air in system.......try engaging a syncro gear..2nd and without releasing clutch go straight into reverse....Steve

[malcolm]

My reverse crunches if the tickover is too high

[Normam jones]

Good point Malcolm. Yes it now seems easier and no crunching. Tried the 2nd gear into reverse trick too and all ok.
Will put it on ramps later this weekend and check slave cylinder.
VE day today, we have bunting out ....and 2 japanese cars on drive
So it is only apt i can now move cars and put bunting on the Jag

Many thanks to all