Clutch does not disengage

[LongJohn]

I have a 93 MX-3 with a stock F-series tranny, and a 91 Escort engine. The engine swap was done 4 years ago. Thanks again to everyone on this forum that helped.

The brake reservoir ran down to the point where the clutch master cylinder took in air. This happened while my wife was driving. I couldn't get the air out of the line along the road, so I drove it home without the clutch (start in 1st, match engine speed to shift, don't stop, etc.). The tranny seemed just fine on the way home.

After bleeding out the air, I still couldn't get the clutch to disengage. The short version: I replaced the master cylinder, the slave cylinder, used a pressure pump to flush the system, etc. This morning I experimented with the clutch lever that sticks out of the side of the tranny that the slave pushes against. I found that the slave is pushing it as far as it will travel.

My question: Has anyone seen a clutch break, or fall apart, or some such thing from something as simple as getting air in the hydrolycs? My wife said it was making a horrible racket, but I assumed that was just the engine bogging down or something since she doesn't know much about cars or mechanical things, and since the tranny ran fine when I drove it home. Now I suspect something went wrong with the clutch itself.

[nolig2278]

i once had the clutch not disengage and it turned out the clutch fork had popped off its ball.
This would be visible by removing the tranny without opening the tranny.

also make sure there is no master or slave leak.

check that the slave pin is actually moving when you move the clutch pedal

[LongJohn]

As a followup, I took the tranny off and one of the anti-chatter springs had popped loose and wedged itself. I put in a new clutch, and with the totally rebuild clutch hydraulics the clutch feels great, and very very smooth.

Now my big problem is I have no reverse. I can get the stick over to the reverse to the far right, but I can't pull it down. There is no grinding sound or anything when I try with the engine on, and with the engine on or off it just won't go.

Is it possible the reverse switch is jamming it? I just thought of this and I will try loosening the switch. It's a new switch since the wires broke off the old one while I was removing it.

[Daninski]

I love it when we answer our own questions. I do that alot. Keep us posted as to what the fix is. Cheers

[LongJohn]

It was the reverse switch. The new one came without the copper washer and I hadn't noticed, so it was screwed in too far. Thanfully I still had the old part (and hence the washer). I got the washer on with a minimal amount of oil loss, and it seems to be fine now.