Confusing Clutch

[aaronmartin]

I have had a TVR S3 sat in my garage for a number of years and at the weekend I decided that it was time to give her an airing. After a few good checks of the engine I fired her up, started first time and she rumbled into life. But then it didnt move it seemed like the clutch was stuck dis engaging drive I was slecting gears without my foot on the pedal (while the engine was running). Also the pedal was rock solid, I tested to see of the hydraulic lines were blocked they seemed clear, after a bit of fiddling around the pedal did go down with a lot of force, but the clutch did nothing. I thought that it might be the slave cylinder that has seized up, could this be the cause of the problem, and if so would it be something that I could take out clean up and repair or sling and buy another?

Cheers aaron

[Scoobimax]

Cheap enough to replace - I've just done mine £20 delivered.

[Griffinr]

aaronmartin said:

But then it didnt move it seemed like the clutch was stuck dis engaging drive I was slecting gears without my foot on the pedal (while the engine was running). Also the pedal was rock solid, I tested to see of the hydraulic lines were blocked they seemed clear, after a bit of fiddling around the pedal did go down with a lot of force, but the clutch did nothing.

Cheers aaron

That’s very odd, sounds like the slave cylinder is stuck in the extended position, the master cylinder would then re-fill from the reservoir and go solid. Did you initially press the clutch before it went rock solid? Its common for clutches to seize engaged when standing for a time, never known one release though.
Rob.

[techbotics]

Like said must likely one of cylinder mast or slave stuck in extended position.

My master cylinder failed this way but my pedal was not sold?

Must have been like this when parked up though?

On mine you could manually return the position a d it would feel ok but after a few good pumps would stick again. Replacement master cyl fixed.. May be worth changing both mast and slave cylinders to prevent future issues

Thanks D S3

[aaronmartin]

I did have a thought that it may be the slave cylinder, ill get a new one, is it a straight forward take the old one off and bolt the new one in ?

[Griffinr]

aaronmartin said:

I did have a thought that it may be the slave cylinder, ill get a new one, is it a straight forward take the old one off and bolt the new one in ?

This thread should get you up to speed on the clutch hydraulic issues and options.
Rob.

[Scoobimax]

aaronmartin said:

I did have a thought that it may be the slave cylinder, ill get a new one, is it a straight forward take the old one off and bolt the new one in ?

PM me if you wish - I've just changed both master and slave :-)

[S2Mike]

Stop me if I am on the wrong track, but is it not possible for the clutch fork to move out of position, I read somewhere it can pull itself through its bracket, or something drop down into the path of its motion and block its travel??
Maybe worth a look before buying anything.

[aaronmartin]

just a few pics to show you what am working on, i went over it today and wrote down all the little bits and bobs that I will be doing to it, hopefully it will be fully done for next summer. Nothing too major, hopefully the clutch will be a simple job, then it will be little jobs like lights, and making her look beautiful