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On two occasions, with my 1969 350/350 in reverse, I depressed my clutch, and turned the key to start the engine. When the engine started, the car immediately jumped back while the clutch was still depressed.
I cannot reproduce the problem at will. Again, it only happened twice. Once I’m rolling, shifting appears to be fine.
Is it likely that I have a clutch problem or something else?
Possible that the input shaft that slides into the pilot bushing is sticking/seizing...thus allowing the input shaft to rotate WITH the engine...and NOT disengaging as it is supposed to do when you press the clutch pedal. SO regardless if the clutch is pressed or not..IF the input shaft is NOT able to spin freely in the crank pilot bushing when the clutch is pressed...that is the problem.. I know this because I recently dealt with this same issue.
Possible that the input shaft that slides into the pilot bushing is sticking/seizing...thus allowing the input shaft to rotate WITH the engine...and NOT disengaging as it is supposed to do when you press the clutch pedal. SO regardless if the clutch is pressed or not..IF the input shaft is NOT able to spin freely in the crank pilot bushing when the clutch is pressed...that is the problem.. I know this because I recently dealt with this same issue.
Adjust the clutch so the freeplay is nearly gone and try it. Make sure the clutch is fully releasing- no doubt about it. If you still have a problem, then you might pull the trans and look at both the clutch itself and the pilot bearing.
When the engine was not running. I could press in the clutch and shift the gears and it worked perfectly. I could leave it in gear...and begin to press the clutch and see if released and allowed the car to roll...and it did.
When the transmission was in NEUTRAL...I could crank the engine..and when I tried to put the transmission in 1st gear it WOULD NOT even come close to engaging.
I turned off the engine and the transmission would allow the shifter to shift in 1st gear or reverse and all other gears. NO problem there.
I LEFT IT in 1ST GEAR...and when I cranked it...the car started to roll on its own..EVEN WITH THE CLUTCH PEDAL DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY DOWN.
I removed the transmission and replaced the pilot bushing and that fixed it.
When the engine was not running. I could press in the clutch and shift the gears and it worked perfectly. I could leave it in gear...and begin to press the clutch and see if released and allowed the car to roll...and it did.
When the transmission was in NEUTRAL...I could crank the engine..and when I tried to put the transmission in 1st gear it WOULD NOT even come close to engaging.
I turned off the engine and the transmission would allow the shifter to shift in 1st gear or reverse and all other gears. NO problem there.
I LEFT IT in 1ST GEAR...and when I cranked it...the car started to roll on its own..EVEN WITH THE CLUTCH PEDAL DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY DOWN.
I removed the transmission and replaced the pilot bushing and that fixed it.
always check the pilot bushing to the input shaft before installing it, and don't just hammer it in!!!
110%.
Also I make sure that is is the correct bronze bushing that is NOT magnetic. Many look like the original ...but when you put a magnet on it...it sticks...because they are adding sintered iron in the mix when casting it. I must have 10 "crappy ones" in my top drawer of my tool box. The "crappy ones" do come in with some clutch kits...and I go get the correct type if is it magnetic...or install the needle type bearing that can also be used....which is often times required in some transmission installations due to being a bit higher tolerance than the solid bronze bushing.