Frozen Input shaft to clutch disk

[Robert Steuer]

So, this is a new one.  I've owned and rebuilt several Jeeps over the years and never run across this one. Working on restoring a '49 3A. As most of you know, the L-head usually just about jumps out of the vehicle once you get it ready to be pulled.  Well, not so with this one.  After an hour, or so, of yanking and tugging, I pulled the inspection plate only to see the cavity in the bellhousing completely packed with stuff the mice brought in over the years.  After cleaning it out, it became obvious that the shaft is rusted tight to the clutch disk, making it impossible to pull apart.

I've tried soaking it for several weeks now, applied heat and there it sits - just as frozen as ever.

The only thing I can come up with - and believe me, it would be a last resort- would be to crack the bellhousing so I can get to the bolts that mount the clutch plate to the flywheel so I can remove them.  But, I don't want to smash the bellhousing, so asking if anyone has any ideas.  Thought of trying to cut the input shat but there's no way to get to the shaft.

Thanks

[SteveKfl]

Thinking out loud here, if the clutch is frozen to the pressure plate, have you tried towing/pushing the Jeep in gear with the spark plugs out to get it to spin the flywheel?  If it will spin, can you jack up the rear wheels free from the floor and turn the assembly getting to the pressure plate/clutch bolts through the inspection cover on top?

[oldtime]

Try unbolting the transmission from the bell. Wedge s pry bar between them for added leverage.
If that’s not enough try pushing them apart with ports-powers or sideways mounted  bottle jacks.

[Robert Steuer]

Thanks for the suggestions.

SteveKfl, Everything turns, tranny/transfer/engine are not frozen.  The input shaft is frozen to the pilot bushing in the flywheel, which is odd, as the bushing is usually brass and shouldn't rust to the input shaft. Given that the frame and all running gear except engine/tranny/transfer case are being sandblasted as we speak.  Thanks for suggestion.

oldtime, split the tranny from bellhousing a bit ago to try your suggestion about prying.  But, no luck and I didn't want to force it and break anything.  Haven't tried pushing apart with jacks.  Will give it a try.  Thanks.

[Robert Steuer]

I should say frozen to disk, not pilot bushing!

[oldtime]

You should be able to pull the inspection cover from top the of bell.
Then if you have access to oxy-acet you can heat the hub of the clutch driven disk.
Even if you only get it hot enough to melt and absorb some parafin wax that can do wonders.
Melting oarafin / candle wax is more effective than any penetrating oil.

[SteveKfl]

If OT's wax idea doesn't work, and I hope it does, but if not... What about removing the 6 pressure plate bolts from thru the inspection plate area by spinning the engine, and then remove the starter, and then remove the bellhousing mount bolts, and try to lift/move/pull the block away from the bellhousing/clutch assembly?  Then maybe access from the front wax can work it lose, or a puller can be used???  To my mind, that pressure plate is locking everything together with the frozen clutch spline between it and the engine/flywheel.

[Robert Steuer]

Thanks for the responses.  I took OT's suggestion and was able to pry apart without breaking anything (didn't need to heat or use wax, just brute force.)  Where the tranny and bellhousing are bolted is beefy enough to be able to pry without breaking anything.  I was reluctant to pry between the engine and bellhousing - concerned the bellhousing might break there.

SteveKfl, Access to the bolts around the pressure plate isn't possible through the inspection hole.  That was one of my first attempts but no way to get to the bolts.  Thanks for the suggestion.

[oldtime]

Glad to hear you “gotter done”.
At least you was able to stave off collateral damage.

[SteveKfl]

Thanks for the update.    Congrats.  It's been about 10 years since I took mine apart.  I used a universal joint socket and short extension and another universal joint and extension to get the angles needed, but, that doesn't matter since you were able to get things apart without damages.  Now you can see what and maybe why the situation was "frozen up".  Again, on mine, the clutch seemed like it was "glued" to the pressure plate and flywheel surfaces from all of the years, of sitting unused, about 15 of them, stored under a tarp, (at least some of that time) by the PO.  Lots of oxidation from the heat and humidity trapped in there.  You should make great progress with your project now after accomplishing your hold back safely.  Have fun!