I have just bought a 1981 Ford Cortina Mk5 it's in excellent condition but has not been driven since December 1992 I have got the engine running sweet but pressing the clutch does not release the clutch driven plate from the flywheel the cable release seams to be working OK I tried putting the car on axel stands and starting in gear to see if this would release the clutch but it did not work does anyone have a thought how I can get the car moving without removing the clutch.

Thanks.

 

if u have a private /quiet road start the car in gear and drive it up the road with yr foot on the clutch accelerate etc normally the clutch plate lets go

 

Thanks for the reply, not easy where I live, I did put the car on axel stands and started the car in gear but I did not sit in the car with my foot on the clutch I travel during the week so will try your suggestion at the weekend.

Regards

Alan.

 

Tried putting car on axel stands again and pressing clutch and applying hand brake to see if the clucth would release but unfortunatley it did not just stalled the engine, so it looks like a visit to the garage as I do have the means to lift the car to remove the gear box and change the clutch.

Thanks again for you advise.,

 

its the weight of the car that does the trick

 

Thanks I will try what you suggest when it's quiet in the street, my driive may even be long enough it's worth a try.

 

Tried running the car up the drive but the clutch will not release I will have a go at the taking the clutch out I may be able to borrow a lift to get the car off the ground and make life easy.

 

I had the same prob with a tina jacked up rear and placed stands under axle.
Started engine in 3rd applied some throttle and stamped on the brake pedal.

Bang clutch frees of job done

 

Thanks for the suggestion I did try in first gear, second gear nd reverse pressed brake but it just stalled the engine I willl try in third gear with a few more revs. I also started in first and second gear and drove up the drive with my foot on the clutch but has to switch off as I ran out of drive clutch still stuck.

 

Hi to all its been awhile but now I am retired I decided to change the clutch in the Cortina all has gone well but I new have quite a lot of travel on the clutch pedal 70mm I looked in the manual but I do not have the adjustment shown in the manual is it possible that the Cortina 80 has a fixed cable length as I can not see any means of adjustment at either end of the cable. I have attached some pictures which may help.

Regards

Alan.



no thread adjustment ?








I removed the gaiter for the pic

 

I would personally pull the clutch and renew the whole lot. But if you prefer not the I think people like demon tweets do cable kits so you can add in an adjuster.

You can probably drill out a bolt or buy a hollow bolt and put that through the bell housing where the cable goes through and then wind the bolt out to give you pedal adjustment. It looks like m10 or m12 would go through and the put the cable through that.

It looks like you clutch release arm has a crack in it...I would mig weld that up whilst at it.

Did the cortina maybe have a ratchet on the clutch arm...I think the Cossies may have had that?

 

Hi thanks for your comments, do you mean pull the whole clutch cable out and replace , I have just replaced the full clutch assembly, I must admit I did not notice the crack in the clutch arm I will check this out and weld it. I have checked an old manual and it shows the Cortina 80 has an automatic adjusting system so I will have a go at that

Regards

Alan

 

Hi ALan, I meant replace the clutch system following the stuck clutch but it seems you have done that. I expect the auto adjust will fix it but I would fit an adjuster anyway for the long term. The hollow bolt would do the trick.

 

A bit like this and put the cable through it and through the bellhousing where the clutch cable goes now.

 

Thanks Caddyshack
I will check out the ratchet system on the cortina and if it does resolve my problem I will look into a hollow bolt option

Regards
Alan

 

Hi all I have now got the clutch pedal working ok but there is noise from the thrust bearing ? I replaced the clutch with a complete system including the thrust bearing, I can engage all gears, easily I have only driven the car up the street just the check out the clutch operation, I have not yet refilled the gear box with oil didn't want to fill with oil only to drain again if the suggestion is to take out the gear box again any suggestions on a fix

Regards
Alan