Clutch adjustment rod.

[eastona]

my clutch broke this morning, the clutch adjusting rod broke where it is bent 90 deg.

I finished the journey, with numerous clutchless gear changes, (only difficulty was traffic lights), and managed to get another 90 deg bend in the end courtesy of a lump hammer and vice at work.

The adjusting rod had enough adjustment in it so I could back the nut off enough to pop the new 90 deg bend through the clevis, secured with tape and drive home fab.

Question is, do they just randomly break? Or is there an underlying problem? The clutch is working fine now, just concerned there is an underlying problem. The pedal has very little slack in the bushes and is working OK.

Andrew

[bigginger]

Not random, no underlying problem. They just break/wear out, I'm afraid. Did the one that broke had a groove worn into it by the clevis? Most do

[alanworland]

Might be covered under warranty?

[brixtonmorris]

the original ones would have been heat treated to make them last, but these repro ones, well too expensive to be bothered with that. profit rules these days.

[eastona]

not sure about the groove. I've never replaced it (only had the car 2 years and 16K miles).

I looked online, a new one is only £2.95 woohoo

I checked Alan, and apparently the warranty on the car ran out ages ago I'm going to write a letter of complaint though! It seems the original manufacturer was subsumed into a nationalised company and is now in the hands of the Chinese.
Andrew

[bmcecosse]

Not sure about that - 'Morris' may still be owned by BMW.
But if you have fixed yours with that hammer - it will last for a good ten years now.

[Willie]

It won't last ten years if it hasn't been retempered. The fact that you could bend it with a hammer points to it not being hardened. Enquire from the various Minor specialists as to who supplies a correctly tempered rod. I would start with 'Minor Developments'.

[eastona]

The old one did have a groove, it broke near the groove, not on it.

I drilled my botch job today for a split pin, I think it'll last the week until I can get a new rod. Using a jubilee clip as a retainer just slipped off after 2 miles (strangely enough worse than gaffer tape, which lasted a good 30 miles and showed no signs of deteriation).

Good point BMC, I think you're right, BMW retained loads of the old names.

I will look for a hardened one, although I'm not sure how long this one lasted, could have been ages for all i know.

[bigginger]

The old one did have a groove

Thought so ;)
a