Clutch not engaging, pedal not returning

[wre805]

Howdy. I've been driving and enjoying my '62 D200.

I used it yesterday to deliver a load of firewood. It sat in the driveway overnight. Today I went to move it - clutch won't engage. I push the pedal, it won't engage and I can't shift, and the pedal won't come back. If I pull it up with my hand it easily goes back into place.

I tend to overdo it when trying to fix things like this.... What's the simplest thing I should start? Lube the return springs? Change the clutch fluid?

Also I should mention it was park on a slight incline, nose up, and it was a warm day. Usually it's in the garage, totally level, out of the sun. Maybe that was enough to make the clutch fluid get weird?

[PwrWgnDrvr]

Did you check the fluid level in the master?
If its not empty, its time for a new master and slave.
And to be correct, you have the terminology reversed. The clutch is actually not DIS-engaging.

[ROD100]

I recently had the same issue in my D100. I found that I had run out of fluid in the clutch master cylinder. refilled and had to bleed the slave cylinder quite a bit to get my clutch petal to raise back up.

[wre805]

Sorry for the slow response. It has been busy around our house lately.

It was the simple answer: clutch fluid was basically empty (there was a tiny puddle above the exit point of the line). I think a very slow leak has formed around the pump gasket inside the cab. I added fluid and bled at the slave and it's fine now. I ordered a new master and slave. And a new brake master as well. May as well get it all done at once.

[martincom]

Brake fluid is an excellent paint stripper. So you'll want to clean up any leaks from a painted surface immediately.

[Wildergarten]

May as well get it all done at once.

If you want to get it all done at once my suggestion is to flush the entire brake system with methanol and convert to DOT5 silicone fluid which would prevent any future corrosion of wheel cylinders. The two types of fluid may NOT be used together. It mst be a full purge.