After 6 months of winter storage (it's summertime in the antipodes) I've
now got a clutch problem on my TR6 - the problem is the clutch doesn't
disengage when depressed. The clutch was 100% OK when it went into storage.
What I've done so far to try to fix it:
- resleeved slave cylinder and fitted new seals (bore was pitted and it was
leaking)
- removed, checked the bore and fitted new seals to the master cylinder
- Bled the system (several times - 5 bottles of fluid!)
- checked the flexible pressure hose while clutch is being depressed - no
sign of expansion in it and if this was the problem wouldn't it come on
gradually?
The pushrod off the slave cylinder moves the lever arm 3/8". I read
somewhere it's supposed to be 5/8" - can anyone confirm that? I'm fairly
sure now that the hydraulics are OK, and I'm starting to suspect a
mechanical problem inside the clutch. One thing which doesn't look right to
me is that if I detach the slave cylinder pushrod then move the lever arm
by hand it's got about an inch of free play, so by the time the pushrod has
taken up this 1" of slack and then moved it's 3/8" with the clutch
depressed the slave piston is close to the end of the bore. Perhaps the
pushrod can only push it 3/8" because that's all the travel that's left in
the lever. Is it possible the clutch plate is just stuck to the flywheel?
I know a common problem is to mount the slave cylinder on the wrong side of
the mounting plate - I have mounted it correctly. There is a small amount
of slack in the linkages, but as this problem has come on suddenly I don't
think gradual wear is the cause.
If it is just a stuck plate, what's the best way to free it up?
Don Guthrie
'73 TR6PI
don@soccer.net.nz
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