odd screeching noise

[mike1953]

ok, I am gettin an odd screeching noise from my 53 buick special with manual trans...it sounds awful, like a loose belt or something...metal rubbing on metal...
when I push my clutch pedal in maybe 1/2 inch to an inch...not even engaging it...the sound goes away.... is this just a linkage issue? My clutch does not always fully engage for first... or is this something much more sinister?

[Straight Eight]

This maybe something that can be lubricated or adjusted.

Does your clutch pedal have a space at the top of its movement? What is the distance you can press the pedal before you feel resistance?

Also by removing the flywheel cover, you can look up into the mechanism, and using a long screwdiver with a little Harley Davidson chain oil on it, put a little on each fulcrum point.

If this doesn't do it, I'm afraid it's your throwout bearing, but lubricate all those friction points and see if that solves it.

[mike1953]

general consensus is throw out bearing, I am going to be adjusting and lubing as soon as I can get free from the house...the wife is doing things and I am watching the kids...the inch or so I can to move the pedal with no pressure, tells me i might be able to adjust it away, I can say it does feel like the trans shifts rough into first from time to time...mostly when it's been warmed up...maybe this is all outta wack from the car sitting in a barn for god knows how long...

[mike1953]

post script on this issue...I adjusted the linkage a tiny tiny bit and it went away...I still have plenty of play in the pedal before the clutch engages so I should be fine