VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1933-1936 Just started 1933 Master Transmission Problem

I just started having a problem with my tranmission where it will not let me shift into gear. It makes a grinding noise when I try to shift into 1st, 2nd or any other gear. It's as if the gears are not aligned when I shift. Could this be a clutch ajustment problem or a more serious transmission problem? Any suggestions?

Can you shift gears ok with the engine off, if so than it should be a clutch that is not releasing.

Hi magician

It's a clutch problem.
It's possible that your clutch plate has stuck to the flywheel/pressure plate.
If this is what has happened, it's not a terribly uncommon problem, and I've had it happen myself.

I correct it this way:
Put the car into a gear that will take you AWAY from the nearest obstruction, eg if the front of the car is near a wall, put it in reverse.
You may need a friend to rock the car back and forth to get it into gear, as the clutch isn't releasing.
Set the brakes. HARD.
Hold the clutch pedal down and with the ignition off... hit the starter.

This has always been all it takes to break my clutch plate loose from the flywheel.
If this is the problem you are having, hopefully it will work for you too.
Good luck! :-)

PS
Could also be a pilot bushing/bearing seizing (had this once on a small tractor),
but try the above first as it's the most likely.

Might be a mouse nest in your clutch housing. Does your car sit unused a lot?

I had that in an old tractor and it rusted the clutch parts. they can enter through the timing hole in the flywheel housing.