VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1949-1954 Slipping clutch in '52 pickup

This is a "first" for me. My '52 half ton pickup clutch started slipping recently. I use it in the summer months to haul stuff to the dump. It was a weak clutch but it didn't slip coming up the steep hill to my place. I figured that oil on it was the reason. But, no oil was to be seen. It sits outside at the end of my street and when I lifted the hood in the early morning a ray of sunlight shown on the starter and the timing hole. Well, what did the sunlight reveal? The timing hole was plugged with mouse debris which was hard to remove. When I pulled the clutch/flywheel cover, if was obvious that the mice had a nest around the clutch. 100 pounds of air removed the visible nest, but the pressure plate was stuffed with it around the diaphragm fingers causing the slipping. It was in the way of fully releasing the diaphragm. But the air wouldn't remove it. I had to make wire hooks and after about half an hour and starting and reving the engine, I got most of it out of the clutch. My question: Has anyone else experienced this?? Especially with trucks stored in barns for years. My truck is outside now for about 10 years and mice have been under the seat frequently in the winter months.

Hi
Glad to hear that you found the cause of your problem. Is the clutch working ok now that you have the stuff cleaned out?
When I bought my '50 Chev I was unable to turn the motor over by hand. I took the flywheel cover off and found that mud bees had made a huge nest inside the clutch area. Once I got it cleaned out I could turn the motor. Once I got the motor running I have adjusted the clutch and its working good now. It made some real strange noises at first but once all the "rough" spots got worn off everything it sounds fine now.

Don

My truck clutch is working fine now. No slipping, but there must be more stuff in there because it feels different now. Your mud bee story had after effects and I hope my clutch action will improve with use like yours did. I'll use the truck and then remove the bottom cover and see what more came from the inner part of the pressure plate. Thanks, Joe

recently helped a friend seperate the transmission from the bell housing on a spare engine he had, it was really stuck but soaking with diesel finally solved that problem. The inside of the bell housing was packed with grass, and other stuff that mice had taken in there, I mean it was packed solid.

i had the same problem with my 30 that was stored in a shed for 40 yrs. when i started to pull it apart. i pulled the starter and found all this fiber stuff in there. i thought it was the clutch lining. but no. it was something making a nest,home in there. it too was packed in there tight. i think whatever was making a nest was using the seats for building. i found nut shells under the back seat. i filled a plasic bag just trying to clean it out. the stuff i pulled out was coated with oil. so that was a good thing as it stopped the rust on the bell housing and pressure plate.

I wish my mouse nest in the the bell housing was oil soaked! rust city! Packed full of mouse nest! Got it all (most) of it out now. This 28 only sat for around 38 years!