Last Fall I put our 122 away for the winter due to a sudden shifting problem. I was driving the car and, after a few miles from my house I couldn't get the car in or out of gear smoothly. I have had master cylinders go bad in the past and chalked it up to worn out MS and slave. After looking into the master cylinder and the slave cylinder, I concluded they were shot, due to leaking. I just replaced both MS and SS this morning. I Bled the system and adjusted the clutch per the Haynes manual. I still can't get the car in gear without grinding or totally unable to engage any gear. One other thing is that the return spring is missing. Does anyone have any experience with that? Or does this sound more serious?

Thanks,
Greg

Can you engage all the gears with the engine off? If so the likelyhood is that the gearbox has all its gears.

If the car has stood for awhile it may well be that the clutch friction plate has rusted onto the flywheel.

First make sure the clutch arm is moving when you press the pedal. There should be slight freedom between the clutch release bearing and the cover plate, so make sure that is adjusted properly, Ie you can feel the free play by wriggling the arm. The spring should be present to hold the bearing away from the arm, but it doesn'r affect the symptom you describe.

Now check whether the clutch is releasing, stick the car in gear, get someone to press the pedal and then push the car, if the engine tries to turn the clutch isn't releasing.

Patent cure is to warm up the engine, get the car facing down a gentle slope or on level ground, engage first gear, hold the clutch down and start the engine. The clutch should free with a bang.

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE PLENTY OF SPACE AND THE BRAKES WORK. IT CAN HAPPEN THAT THE CLUTCH DOESN'T FREE AND YOU NEED ENOUGH SPACE TO REACT AND STOP!

Assuming that you know the clutch and pressure plate are in good condition of course, a stuck clutch disc is what I would have guessed first also.

Also, check that the release arm is not bent. Had that happen on my 145 once. It was an early 140 style (not sure if the 122 is similar) and it gave way just from fatigue over 37 years.

"Now check whether the clutch is releasing, stick the car in gear, get someone to press the pedal and then push the car, if the engine tries to turn the clutch isn't releasing."
I would add that you only need to push the car BY HAND to check this.
--
Tom - '60 544, '68 220S, '70 145S, '86 745T, '06 Mazda MPV

Arm failure on the 140 was common, I've never personally seen it on a 120, but anything is possible. This stuff is getting old.

Absolutely, push/rock the car BY HAND.

Interestingly I once saw a guy release a stuck clutvh plate by squirting a CO2 fire extinguisher into the bell housing, but the start the car in gear method is more common!