First let down in three years

[tav]

Unfortunately my S1 has let me down this morning after three years of happy motoring. Alright it has had a fair few parts replaced but it has never refused to move before.

Started engine as normal - depressed clutch, no pressure. pump clutch, no pressure. Look around garage for inspiration and try again, nothing. Check under car (while dressed in office gear) and see a puddle of clutch fluid underneath the slave cylinder. So I think that might have something to do with it!!

without jacking the car up there is no way of having a good look so what are the options?

The obvious one to me is that a seal has failed and the fluid drained past. either that or the pipe has become disconnected or punctured.

So what is the cylinder part number and is there a reconditioning kit available or is it best to buy a new one?

Luckily I can work from home as I have no meetings today and on the bright side, at least it has happened in the garage today rather than last weekend on a 350m round trip to Devon.

Any suggestions?

[steve b]

There is a reconditioning kit - i fitted on a little while ago from a motorquip dealer, the part number was GIR SP4190 and cost £3.62. The master cylinder was 74661384 and was £4.99 it may be worth doing at the same time. It is a very easy job (on the S2), a single bolt holds the clamp to the bell housing (19mm).

I think the cylinders are of a Morris Minor.

Good luck,

Steve.

[muley]

If you decide to replace the clutch slave cylinder seals, they are Lucas part no SP4190, available from those jolly nice folk at autofast ph 01254 692772 (cost was GBP3.75 + Vat and postage a few weeks ago).

Might be worth trying before getting an entire new cylinder.
BTW the top bolt on the cylinder is a swine to get at - but a small 13mm(?) socket with extension can be used.

[steve_b replied at the same time - my S1 slave cylinder has two smaller bolts...]

>> Edited by muley on Wednesday 15th May 10:36

[tav]

Thanks for the tips and part numbers. Looks like an evening of grovelling under the car tonight to get the slave out. still if I can fix it for under £4 that must be some sort of record!!!

cheers

[keithyboy]

I hope its as simple as that too Tav - I had a clutch problem on my V8S a few weeks back - Ive ended up stripping the whole front of the car down (including the engine)as a result. The cost is going to total far more than £4!

[tav]

Following on from the first problem. I decided to do the decent thing and buy a brand new slave cylinder. As I had such a job trying to get the hydraulic pipe out of the back of the old one I ended up cutting it off. So, as I wanted the job to be easy (ha ha) I nipped out today and got a local exhaust / brake etc place to make up a new pipe using the same fittings. all good so far

Put everything back together and the bl**dy thing is now leaking at the master cylinder end through the connection with the new pipe grrrrr.....

I've tightened it as much as I dare and everything looked in good condition before it went back together. The flares were done properly (as far as I could tell when compared to the old ones) - so I'm stumped. Any clues - this could put an end to the Chatsworth trip planned if I cant sort it out soon, so any suggestions welcomed.

Cheers

[shpub]

As stated in the S bible, new cylinders often come with different connectors (imperial to metric is one reason) so always buy the connectors to fit the cylinder so that new pipes match the cylinder and don't leak. It could also be down to a lousy fitting.

Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk

[tav]

Hello Steve

I did check the bible, but I haven't actually changed the master cylinder or its connector which is why it is so frustrating. The slave on which I have changed both seems OK!!

One thing I have noticed is that the connector on the old slave had a tapered end (which matched the taper on the inside of the slave cylinder) whereas the connectors which I now have are both flat ended. The one from the master cylinder was flat to start with but maybe whoever put it on 'got away with it'.

Next step appears to try to get connectors with tapered ends and get the pipe made up again. Does this seem sensible?

[shpub]

quote:
Next step appears to try to get connectors with tapered ends and get the pipe made up again. Does this seem sensible?

Yes. A pipe flaring kit is around 14-20 pounds and the tubing around a fiver for a roll. I got so fed up with other people not getting it right that I made my own. Very quickly pays for itself.

The taper and flat don't sound right but it is possible to get away with it especially if copper tubing is used.

The connector thing has caught me out several times now and I get new ones to match (and a spare of two) and just renew the piping.

Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk

[tav]

I don't seem to be able to get the right connectors anywhere. the ones with a cone shaped end appear in short supply. Tower View suggested the TVR centre and they said that they get the pipes direct from the factory (which is closed until Monday). I've been to four places today and they all only do the flat ended modern ones (partco did offer to order 50 of the ones I wanted!!). So any suggestions for somehere around maidenhead / Reading / Slough / Bracknell that might stock them?

Ignore that last bit - Tower View have had a rumage around 'upstairs' and found a spare one, fingers crossed it will fit. Another Brownie (or is it browny?) point for Tower View

>> Edited by tav on Wednesday 5th June 15:56

[gavinr]

Tav

Will it be fixed by Sunday?

Gavin

[tav]

Its on and fixed so all looking good. Mind you I did have to pay £27 for a two foot length of copper pipe with the two connectors!!!

Advice to anyone else taking the slave cylinder out is try not to damage the connectors in the first place!

See you at South Mimms

[gavinr]

quote:
Its on and fixed so all looking good. Mind you I did have to pay £27 for a two foot length of copper pipe with the two connectors!!!

Advice to anyone else taking the slave cylinder out is try not to damage the connectors in the first place!

See you at South Mimms

I had to get a clutch pipe up and that cost about £30 , that's the thing with a hand made car isn't it. Well worth it though!

See you there

Gavin