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DESPERATE!!! Clutch Has Jammed Open. Need car, Need Help!

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 5:36 pm
by Ibsn
Hey all! The name is Ian and im pretty new to outerlimits, Im stuck with a bit of a problem and im looking for some more experienced advice,

I went bush bashing with the 'low rider' gq patrol wagon of mine, road tires and sagged springs, anywho, I got seriously stuck in a mud pit at glasshouse, the depth of the mud and water was quite substantial, and im surprised i didn't start to float.

Anyways, I lost drive in the pit, and my clutch seems to have jammed open. I have tried spraying water in through the lever hole on the bell housing to flush out some of the mud and shit thats in the box, which got most of the muck out. HOWEVER. The clutch will still not engage. I even tried making the slave piston push further then normal on the lever coming out the side of the box, to maybe even possibly dislodge a stone or something that might be in the way. stopping it from closing again???

I feel there is no more I can do, without taking the box off, SO I need to find a mechanic. I have done gearbox's before. But nothing the size of the patrol. I have heard its about 360-80 kg's. And I don't have the equipment to do this..

my other problem is, it is my only means of getting to work.

I need a trusted mechanic asap! And im sure many people here know of a few. I live at chermside so local is better, however not essential.

Can someone here send/email me any phone numbers, and or advice so i can get this truck back on the road asap. AND OR prices that people have paid to have their clutch done - and where - and if they were happy with the service? SO i know im not going to get ripped off...

Any and all helpful advice and or contacts would be greatly appreciated! As i said im desperate to get this thing back on the road, and I don't like to use just any old mechanic, and I know plenty of people that have been screwed over by ones they don't know!

Thanks for ya time reading all that! I look forward to hearing some info from you guys!!!!

Cheers,

Ian

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 6:42 pm
by Nev
Geez Ian mud slinging in the patrol and you've broken it! Were you out there with Nick? Do you still have pedal movement but the clutch won't engage or is the clutch plate completely stuck? ie. no pedal movement. Did you drive it home? Reason being I have heard of the clutch plate rusting to the flywheel if left sit for a few days after a dunking and a few quick pumps of the pedal can sometimes dislodge them. PM sent regarding mechanic.

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 7:19 pm
by PGS 4WD
Ive recovered a slipping clutch in my GQ twice by putting a hose at low pressure in the clutch fork hole with the engine idling, operate the clutch while doing it.

good luck

Joel

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 9:33 pm
by GRINCH
the boxes arent that bad to get out if you have a decent trolley jack and a friend or 2. if you take the transfer off it makes it a lot lighter. but i wouldn't say they were 360kg, 50kg would be closer to the mark plus about 30 for the transfer? a mecanic quoted me $700 labour to do a clutch plus parts

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 10:59 pm
by Ibsn
Ok all has rushed ahead quickly, its costing me for the convenience. I got onto a mechanic out at sandgate, who was recommended to me by another mechanic. I towed it there tonight, and the guy came round to open the gates for me to park it inside the workshop area, at 9 at night. I have actually been there before for 2 of his charity dyno days. Nice guy, and seems pretty trust worthy.

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Probably woulda gone for the cheaper quotes, except that I made the call at 6.30 this arvo and the guy was still at the workshop just about to leave and I agreed I would take it there asap, I had to jump onto the first opportunity of being able to fix it.

He said it may even be completed as soon as tomorrow/latest friday! This comes at a convenience price of a bit over a grand. But with no other means of getting to work, a taxi to the south side and back over 2 days getting to and from work would probably cover the difference. And all things aside, after sitting for 3 hours in mud and water, Things start to rust pretty bad while they sit around, So im gald its being changed tomorrow or the next day so i can get the whole car spinnin again.

Thanks for the feedback everyone, tried all the suggestions, but a new one is in order... the pedal moves, but the clutch wont engage. It seems to be jammed open! I'll let everyone know if this mechanic is any good. See if they put in the extra effort to win over new customers. So far rocking up at 9 to let me in the gates, hes not doin too bad! If all goes well, and the price comes down, ill gladly recommend him to anyone round the sandgate area!

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 6:11 am
by dwaynes
over a grand is normal for a clutch change in a GQ.

Normally around $600-$700 in labour and then what ever clutch that is used.

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 7:38 am
by Jimbo
I paid $300 in labour last year but the gu had never done a patrol b4. He said next time he would be asking for more heheheh

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 1:16 pm
by 1MadEngineer
Maybe this might help you out, way cheaper and easier than a rebuild
http://kalecoauto.com/index.php?main_pa ... ucts_id=13