Conference terri::cars_uk

    
    
    Sounds as if you were told right, what is required is a sudden jolt to
    free the friction plate from the flywheel, try turning over on the
    starter while in gear with the clutch pedal depressed (and the wheels
    well chocked) however if it doesn't free in a couple of short sharp
    attempts give up on this route or you will nacker the starter/ring
    gear.
    Alternatively you could try pushing/towing with it in gear (1st)and the
    clutch depressed.
    
    Does your car have an inspection plate on the bottom of the bellhousing
    you could try a couple of taps on the clutch assy through the
    inspection hole or remove the starter and go through that hole (again
    with clutch depressed)
    
    Or you could put the car in gear, get someone to depress the clutch
    pedal and try turning the engine over by hand with a socket on the end
    of the crank-shaft.
    
    Basically you need to force the flywheel and the clutch friction plate
    to separate, all the above (apart from the tap with the hammer) are
    attempts at this.
    
    Failing all these it's time for the gearbox to come out! 8*)
    
    Good luck keep us posted!
    
    Richard

    >>failing that it's time for the gearbox to come out.8*)
    
    With the luck I have with cars that is just what will have to
    happen.8*((
    
    Dougie.
    	

Taking the gearbox off a Ford Capri is sooo easy. You can change the whole
clutch in about 30 minutes with a socket set, an alignment tool and some ramps.

Dave.

    
    	Push the clutch down with a broom handle, wedge aforementioned
    broom handle in this position and leave overnight!!!!
    
    I read this in, I think, Performance Car. It actually worked as well!!

Put the car in 2nd gear, pref. on a road or long drive, with the handbrake 
off. Turn the starter motor until it starts (it will lurch forward whilst 
it's trying to do this. You may want to have already run the engine to make 
sure it will start easily). The kick as it fires will free it.

    As .5 mentioned but before you do it let the engine get up to working
    temperature that way it will fire and run more easily.
    
    Re: Tow starting a car. Its not a good idea to attempt to start it
    1st, far better to use 3rd or 4th as its a lot less strain on the
    transmission, tyres and nerves, but you need to be quick with the
    clutch.

    
    Could it be something as simple as a hydraulic clutch that's out of
    fluid??
    
    Brian
    

    
    ...Not on a 2.8 Capri......
    
    assuming, of course it's the same car... %^)
    
    G

    
    Had exactly the same with the old Jag and i nearly gave up, it took
    ages to free it. Here's how.
    
    Start the car and let it get really warm, ie; ticking over for an hour.
    Switch off and leave for twenty, so the heat gets into the ring gear.
    
    Put the car in top, handbrake on tight and "jolt" the starter while
    pumping the clutch pedal. Eventually it will come off and when you slip
    the clutch you'll probably hear the rust being cleaned off the
    flywheel.
    
    Alernatively, tie the bottoms of your trousers round your legs, find a
    straight clear piece of road, into gear handbrake off and bounce the
    car forward on the starter. Entertaining and quite effective.
    
    Bill 
    

    
    ... I started my car in 1st gear (on an empty road :^))  then depressed
    the clutch to the floor & held it there. Next I continually Kangarood
    the car by stamping on the accelerator then letting the pedal fly up by
    slipping my foot off it. It took about 3 minutes of this shock treat
    ment before the clutch plate freed off.
    
    Tony
    

    With reference to your clutch problem, I,ve heard of this solution but
    never tried it...... Warm the engine up to normal temperature, jack the
    car up putting all four corners on axle stands.Get the speedo up to
    about 80mph, preferably in fourth then hit the brakes... and pray.I
    have it on good authority that this works, but I have always avoided
    the problem by keeping the clutch pedal depressed with a block of wood
    during long term storage.
    		Goodluck, might be a good idea to have your garage door
    open!
    				brian.

    
    Well Dougie you never actually told us whether you free'd it and how!
    
    Richard