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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - CLUTCH AND GEARBOX WOES......

Hello All - 1st thread so bear with me

I have a 72 RWA midget and have today experienced some pretty horrible crunching when changing gear.
It gradually got worse to the point where I could not really select 1st or reverse without crunching and also had some nastay changes while going through the gears,
When in 1st stationary (at lights) with the clutch depressed, the car also creeped as if the clutch was not fully engaging.

Looked at my Hyanes manual and suggested bleeding the system which I did. This has imprpoved things slightly but still not quite right

I have opened up the box under the bonnet which shows the linkage from the pedal to the master an slave cyinder and there seems ot be quite a lot of mechanical play in the system. Could this need replacing?

I have removed the carpet which has given the pedal an extra 1/2 cm of travel and this has improved things also

Its almost as if when i depress the pedal, there is not enough travel and the clutch is not engaging completely

Help!!


SIMON SHENTON

Simon.

Welcome!

Yes, any play is unwanted in the clutch linkage, so it will be worth starting there and renew the fork and clevis pin, perhaps even the pedal too... (yes, this does meen taking out the pedal box I'm afraid), but it WILL be worth it.

Let us know how you get on ...

Cheers,
Mark.
Mark T. Boldry

Simon,

It sounds as if the gearbox is ok but the clutch isnt working properly.

That could be:
1 master cilinder is shot
2 slave cilinder is shot
3 carbon release bearing is shot
4 to much play on the rods and clevis pins

and of couse an airleak in the system, but that can be the result of 1, 2 and a faulty connection.

First try to bleed the system, then take a close look there is a rubber grommet so with a torch you can loom into the bell house to see if the release bearing is shot, then buy yourself a rebuild kit for master and slave, then buy yourself new cilinders and then sell the car to me for 100 euro's:-)

The good news is only the release bearing is an engine out job.
Bas Timmermans

I hate to add a number 5 but the other issue can be a bent fork and/or worn clevis pin on the fork. This is, unfortunately also an engine out job and tends to happen in conjuction with shouting 'fecking ell' and grinding and pushing the clutch till we admit something is up :-)
Rich Amos (1330cc Blaze Red '72)

Had a similar experience with Ava, my Mk3 Midget the other week while on holiday. Debated calling the RAC, but we soldiered on, and survived the 600 mile journet home. The tell-tale metal filings in the gearbox oil confirmed the gearbox was breaking up. Had it re-built, (don't have the know how or equipment to do it myself!) plus a new clutch. She's now running better than ever, and looking forward to a week's holiday at the end of October!
MM Brock

I think I'm having the simular issue. I had this problem once before, and it turned out to be a bent fork and worn pivot bushing. I'm afraid the same issue has come back. Not being able to get the clutch to disengadge fully and grabbing without hardly lifting at all.
Hopefully I can locate another fork (release arm) as they are not available from most well known suppliers.
I'm wondering why it's happening again in the first place. The clutch looked good last time so it wasn't replaced. Could a worn pressure plate be causing the release arm to bend?
Jim Dombrowski

This thread was discussed between 14/09/2008 and 20/09/2008

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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