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[Bob Hipps]

I have a 74 TR6 that has 40k and is in great shape. Yesterday I took it out for a short drive and it was hard to get into Reverse. After a short trip it wouldn't go in gear when I stopped. Finally got her in 3rd and made it home but now she won't go in gear at all..The clutch seems O.K...
Any ideas?

[charley fitch]

Did you try turning off the engine and then changing gears?  You said the clutch was okay.  But this is a better way to test to eliminate the clutch as the problem.  Try to change gears and then start the engine or push the car to determine if it is then in gear.
Charley Fitch 

[Bob Hipps]

Thanks for the advice.
I did try to change gears with the engine off and it works..
This I guess means the clutch. Do you think it is an adjustment problem or the clutch being shot? If so do you know where to purchase one and would you trust an average mechanic to install it???

Thanks for the help...

Bob Hipps

[charley fitch]

I would say you should start on the outside and work your way in if needed.  Start on the top and make sure there is fluid in the clutch master cylinder and that it is working okay and not leaking fluid. Next there is a slave cylinder under the drivers side floor next to the transmission where the engine and transmission bolt together.  To check this have a helper push on the clutch pedal and watch to see if the rod  in the end of the slave cylinder moves much.  It should move over an inch.  If it is less you may have found the easy fix.  Let us hope that this is the problem.  To repair it you can get a repair kit or a new slave cylinder.  The slave cylinder is like a clutch or brake master cylinder and has only a few parts of which the most important is the rubber sleeve inside. A new one is in the repair kit.
That concludes the outside repair.  I will continue  the inside repair only if the outside one doesn't do the job.  If you are not up to checking the slave cylinder I would guess that most good mechanics can do that for you and rebuild them also.  But first be sure to check the fluid level in the clutch master cylinder.
Charley Fitch 

[Bob Hipps]

Thanks Charley.
The fluid level is LOW.
What do I use to fill it? Someone said brake fluid. If so should I use DOT 3 or Dot 4???
Thanks so much for your help....

Bob Hipps

[none]

Hi Bob,

Your discription of how fast it went down makes me think there is a leak in your system. It could even be quite slow. I had a similar experience when I put my car back together last summer. I drove about a 1,000 miles and had the clutch do just what you are describing. It turned out to be a connection that was not tight. Yet it took that many miles to show up.

[Bob Hipps]

Thanks Tom.
I'll check that out..
What do I fill it up with???

Thanks,
Bob...

[herald948]

What do I fill it up with???

Whatever you are using for brake fluid is fine.

[charley fitch]

As to brake fluid Dot 3 or 4 is fine .  Dot 5 is silicone and should not be mixed with Dot 3 or 4.  Once you fill the reservoir you may still have air in the line or slave cylinder.  If this is the case then the slave cylinder may need to be bleed.  Most service stations should be able to help you with this if you don't know how.  I might add that a likely  spot for the lost brake fliud  could be the slave cylinder .  The  remedy is rebuild or replace the slave cylinder.
Charley Fitch