Calling all clutch gurus please

[jt]

I could use a bit of advice from you knowlegable folk.

Last sat I got in my S2 to come down to S club heaven, fired up the engine and noticed the clutch pedal went straight to the floor, a little investigation revealed low master cylinder fluid level so I topped it up, rebled the system and made it successfully down to SCH (and back). (gandalf has nicely posted a pic of me on PH just to prove it (with mate Glyn standing next to my red S2 ! 10 th photo down)

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=274030&f=11&h=0 )

Anyway the problem returned and more inspection tracked down a fluid leak from the clutch slave cylinder.
I ordered a new one from David Gerald and have tried to fit it but the piston return spring in the new one (Lockheed Delphi A19)is much stronger than that in the old one(Girling Q139 / 74660035. The Actuator rod is also now a little long to allow reassembly. Lastly is the clutch release fork meant to be sprung (to push back the piston in the slave cylinder) mine does not seem to be so this sounds like a gearbox out job?.


Any advice on the make of slave cylinders, replacement actuator rods, and release forks greatly appreciated.
(I've already check the bible and prev threads)

cheers jake

[petclub]

Hi Jake, sorry to hear your problems. I must say I'm no mechanic. However, I'd not had my S2 long when I lost the clutch fluid which turned out to be the slave cylinder. A friend fitted a new master and slave BUT although the slave looked the same, it was just a little different. We ended up taking the insides out of the new one and putting them in the old one, then refitting it. I posted a thread (last July/August time) and on it put a link to a TVR parts catalogue that you can find by visiting RT Racing's web site at Sheffield. If you can't find it and would like a copy, email me and I'll hunt it out. Cheers, Dave

[petclub]

This is scarey, I've just found out how to use the search facility, this was part of last years thread:


This link takes you to RT Racing site, from where you can download a pdf parts catalogue. Hope it helps, Dave


www.rtracing.co.uk/40000/info.php?

[jt]

thanks for the reply, I have thought along the same lines: the new slave cylinder innerds fit in the old one but the spring still causes the same problem. Did you change the actuator rod ? Any thoughts on the release fork?

[spivvy]

had a similar problem,
when i ordered a new one it had a longer rod etc,
ended up using the old rod and getting the slave overhauled
and using that

[petclub]

Hi jt, I think we changed everything, but I'll check with my mechanic friend and post again, which may be tomorrow. Cheers, Dave

[jt]

Hmmm, I've had another look at this today and I'm wondering if I can get away without putting it in to get the clutch done...

What causes the clutch pedal to rise back to its normal position after being depressed? Mine is sprung and rises even when there is no fluid in the system, is it normally helped by a spring on the clutch release fork? Do you all think I can get away with just using the return spring for the pedal (would this be strong enough to pull back the piston) or would I be better off getting the clutch looked at?

jake

[Ralph S3]

As far as I remember there is no spring on the clutch release fork. It just rests against clutch release bearing. So I'm pretty sure that once you get your slave cylinder sorted it will be OK.

By the way I fitted a slave from a Rover SD1 which was a straight swap.

R

[jt]

interesting, perhaps a little adjustment of the actuator rod will sort it then...

[jonnylayze]

Ralph S3 said:

As far as I remember there is no spring on the clutch release fork. It just rests against clutch release bearing. So I'm pretty sure that once you get your slave cylinder sorted it will be OK.

By the way I fitted a slave from a Rover SD1 which was a straight swap.

R

I've got the same problem at the moment - was the SD1 slave a straight swap for the slave fitted to the 2.9 (S2/S3)???

[Ralph S3]

I brought a clutch slave cylinder from local factors for 30+vat.

It was off a Rover SD1 part no. Lockheed LL37528. It fitted without any problem. Only thing I cant remember is whether I used the old actuator arm..

Ralph

[jt]

Hi folks,

thanks for your help, up and running again, no need for clutch replacement after all...

and guess what the weather has changed for the worse, typical.

jake

[JonnyLayze]

Having bought the rebuild kits it turns out the return spring inside the master cylinder has actually broken up and its about the only bit not supplied in the kit. Don't suppose anyone's got a spare spring knocking around? If not, I'll have to sort a new master cylinder on Monday morning.

[AllanByrne]

Not knowing where my leak was comming from, I fitted Landrover Defender clutch master and slave cylinders and made a new copper pipe for my S2, it works fine and was simple and quite cheap. I did rob the old master cylinder con-rod and because the original pipe was all in copper, I decided fit a short £3 rubber section between the slave cylinder and the chassis to avoid any metal fatigue proplems. The total cost was about £60 and I now have the piece of mind of having a complete new hydraulic system.

Edited by AllanByrne on Friday 16th June 17:50