Clutch Adjustment

sounds like someone disconnected the clutch cable and allowed the slack to be taken up by the adjuster. This will happen if you have a clutch cable with the 2 nuts on the tranny end that allow adjustment.
You will need to first readjust the clutch, then push up on the spring loaded lock on the quadrant to rotate it back to the other end. you need to keep tension on the cable or else it will just snap back.

2 person job.

...if you do not have an adjustable cable as stated, and everything is stock, then you have some weird stuff happening.