[TR] Test Drive! Clutch Problems

[Michael Lang]

After 7 years of restoration work, I finally started the engine on my
TR3 today. I let it run at 2k rpm for a half hour to break in the cam
and then took it for a short ride up the driveway and back (1/2 mile).
No fenders, bonnet, boot lid, doors, or transmission tunnel. What a
rattle trap with all of the loose cage nuts floating around in their
cages. What a torquey little engine! I had a blast and can't wait to
finish assembling it.

I ran into one problem. The clutch is very slow to release. It takes
about three seconds from the time that I press on the clutch pedal until
the load is removed from the engine. Since I have no transmission tunnel
installed, I can watch the release level as I press on the clutch. I get
full travel out of it immediately but the clutch doesn't actually
disengage until about thee seconds later. No additional movement of the
clutch lever occurs over the three second period.

I can pump the pedal and gain additional travel, but it still doesn't
change the amount of time that it takes for the clutch to release. Does
the mechanism in pressure plates get sticky? I pulled this clutch
assembly out of my parts car. It had a rebuild tag by Borg&Beck from
1978. It must have been installed shortly before the car was taken off
the road because it was nice and clean and had no significant wear. I
has been sitting around for decades.

All the other parts - master cylinder, slave cylinder, flex hose and
clutch lines are brand new.

Thanks,

Mike