1971 280 sl clutch issue
 

my girlfriends family has a '71 280 sl sitting in their garage. i tried to get it running for her mother this past summer but didn't have time or any tools to get too deep into the car. It's been sitting for about a year (give or take) and nobody had cranked it up until I tried. I tried to crank it had the clutch pushed in but the car lurched forward and didn't crank. I'm assuming the clutch is seized up as I couldn't feel the shifter come out of gear either. I'm not a mercedes expert but I have plenty of experience with other cars. Any recommendations on what to do first? I checked the reservoir and there was plenty of clutch fluid there. I wonder if it needs a new master cylinder or not. Any body have any ideas or suggestions? I'm going to their house soon for a week and would like to take another look at it.

Welcome

Your clutch plate may be sticking to the flywheel due to rust.
First you have to get it out of gear.
Move the car backward and forward to take the tension of the gears.
While doing this try to move the shifter into neutral.
Now you can start the engine.
The engine heat may loosen up the rust on the flywheel and with a little persuasion the clutch plate may brake loose.

First go under the car and have your girlfriend press the clutch pedal. See whether you detect or feel any movement of the slave cyclinder. It maybe hard to see, but you may feel pressurization and or hear spring moving. If so, clutch is sticking. If not, either slave or master is leaking badly.

It may also be air in the system from a leak, so bleeding may also help.

If it is a sticky clutcj (and I have had my fair share of sticky clutches), first do what 1960 mog says.

If that does not work, it is time for the bronco/rodeo trick. Make sure you have plenty of room in the front or rear of car. If room in rear, put car in reverse gear, pump clutch pedal several time, then hold it depressed and crank the starter. Car will lurch backwards, but force of clutch and torque of starter may break the sticky clutch. If room in front, put car in high forward gear and try the same.

If this doesn't do the trick in a couple of tries, then definitely check the master and slave cylinder.

CAUTION: CAR CAN JUMP SEVERELY. MAKE SURE YOU PULL IGNITION CABLE FROM COIL TO DISTRIBUTOR TO PREVENT ENGINE FROM FIRING AND CAR LURCHING AWAY FROM YOU. DO NOT HAVE YOUR FEET DANGLING OUT OF THE CAR OR YOUR DOOR OPEN.

It should work, but I do want to put the serious warning out because we are talking about a fairly non-conventional manoever and safety comes first.

Good luck,

Bert