Changing gear on a Series Land Rover has never been a smooth affair. Slow and easy is the way changing up. Double declutching and speed matching on the way down the box. The main gear box has four forward gears. I do not need to use first gear in normal driving because it is such a low ratio. Setting off in first Degsy moves about 10 feet (3meters) before needing second gear.
The trouble started in 2016 when a I got a Ford Ranger for a daily driver. Degsy got parked up for long periods. I leave Degsy in gear when parked to help the hand brake keep Degsy where I leave it. Land Rover hand brakes have a reputation. When I came to start Degsy the first thing I do is depress the clutch pedal. That habit goes back to the days when I started driving. Electrics were weak and battery technology was not as good as it is now. It is safety feature as well. Old cars can have worn gear selection mechanisms so selecting neutral can be a lottery. With clutch engaged the car is not going anywhere when it fires up. Engaging the clutch means the starter motor only need to spin the engine and not the gearbox as well. The starter systems does not need to work so hard. Incidentally, my wife new care (2016 Toyota) requires the clutch to be engaged before the electronics will allow the starter motor to turn. See technology has caught me up. I digress.
On pressing the clutch pedal I would sometimes find the clutch would not disengage. I thought it might be the hydraulic system. I checked that out. No leaks. Trying to start the engine would make Degsy lurch as the starter motor turned the engine, gearbox and wheels through the clutch. Then there was a massive bang, the clutch pedal went straight to the floor, The gear lever in my hand came free and dropped into the neutral position, Degsy stopped moving, the starter motor spun normally and the engine fired. Naturally I tried to select reverse gear to move off the drive. After a bit of sliding of gears reverse was engaged. Driving in forward gears was fine as along as your did not rush gear selection. I knew what had happened. The clutch plate had been on Degsy from new (1981) and 85,000 miles has passed Degsy's odometer. The rivets that secure the clutch friction material to the clutch rotor where so close the surface the clutch plate they had rusted onto the flywheel. The bang was the rusted rivets letting go.
A trip to the Land rover mechanic saw a new clutch plate, thrust bearings fitted along with new fluids and I was more than £400 lighter in the pocket. That said gear selection is much easier and I can leave Degsy in gear for as long as I need to without fear of seizing the clutch plate the flywheel.
