I ahave removed the transmission from my pontos in order to replace the worn-out clutch. The pressure plate is supposed to back out when you slowly loosen the bolts around the perimeter of the pressure plate. I loosened gradually all these bolts to the point where they were very loose, but the pressure plate did not back out. It is stuck in place, to the flywheel in some fashion. Note I have a "deep dish" type of flywheel and a flat pressure plate. It must be stuck by some combination of rust and corrosion. There is no obvious plethora of rust and corrosion viewed externally.

I plan to wire brush all around the perimeter where thye pressure plate snugs into the fluwheel dish. Then pleanty of penetrant and moderate hammer tapping all over.

If that doesn't work, what do I do? Thanks.

__________________
Douglas
1959 M-B 220S cabriolet

It sounds like it has sat up without being used for some time. I have had this happen before. If that is the situation, you can wrap around on the pressure plate and knock it loose without too much trouble. It would be pretty hard to hurt anything as long as you are careful about where you hit it.

Hope this helps,

With the bolts still installed but loose, lay a piece of 2x4 against the side of the pressure plate and give the wood a couple of medium whacks with a BFH.

Duke

Thanks for the quick responses. FYI, I have been using the car leasurely. The car has not sat unused recently. In fact, the clutch has allowed gear changes easily when I operated it with care. The problem is that motor car often races when under load, going up hills and sometimes when starting from stop when I give it too much gas. I was not grinding synchros.

__________________
Douglas
1959 M-B 220S cabriolet

Very strange! Are you SURE all the bolts are out? If it is not rusted in place there has to be something holding it.

Good luck,

Yes, I was able to loosen all the 14-mm bolts around the perimeter of the pressure plate. I cannot recall of there are six or eight of them. I got all of them so loose I could twirl them with my fingers. The pressure plate remained stuck in place.

My next plan is to wire brush all around the perimeter to remove external rust and corrosion, although not much of this is evident. Then I shall douse the perimeter in penetrant or vinegar (vinegar being the best rust-busting penetrant I have ever found albeit slow-acting). Maybe wait awhile and then apply the blows to hopefully jar things loose.

What is your advice if this does not work?

__________________
Douglas
1959 M-B 220S cabriolet