vw beetle

[chrisgrant]

cant get clutch to engage on a 1968 vw beetle

[8733mags]

I used to have a Beetle and I discovered that after some time when I had not used the car , the clutch would not operate. The pedal seemd to work OK and the linkage to the clutch housing seemd to be OK. The result was that the clutch plate had stuck to the flywheel with rust. The cure was to put car in gear, say 2nd, handbrake off no ignition on and rock the car backwards and forwards by pushing and pulling. The clutch plate should free itself off. Dont do this on a hill and if in doubt have someone in the car to put the brakes on in case it rolls too far. Why should this work because the rear wheels will try to drive back through to the clutch plate center splined hub. The engine flywheel is gripping on the friction material of the clutch itself. The rocking motion should apply torque to the clutch plate and it should free off....good luck