heavy clutch

[green123]

hello i own 2 morris minor my other minor has a really light clutch and the other minor has a really heavy clutch it has no spring on and returns to the top with no problems without the spring i sprayed it with wd40 and greased the pedal shaft and its still heavey does any body know why this is any help will be good cheers

[Tom and Maria]

Do they both operate properly? No crunching, slipping etc.

Have they both got an inch and a bit of free play at the pedal? You should be able to press the pedal easily with one finger for an inch or so before you feel the mechanism make contact with the pressure plate.

It sounds like the one which returns on its own has no free play and is being depressed too far.

Let us know what you find out...

Tom

[green123]

hello they both have about a inch at the top of free play with no crunching when in gear or slipping as it had a new clutch you can press the cluth for about 1 inch and then feel it contact with something it is still very heavy as soon as it tought the mechanism any more help?

[bmcecosse]

Perhaps just the new pressure assembly is et very tight. You can extend the operating lever to give more force - but with longer travel of course. Folks using Spridget clutches (maybe this is what you have ?) do this with great success.

[green123]

it has a rather long travel but u only have to press the clutch halfway and u can change gear should i alter this

[bmcecosse]

You would need to increase the free travel - or extend the levers to get more 'effective' pedal movement. Running without a return spring means the carbon thrust will be rubbing all the time - it won't last long......

[Tom and Maria]

If it feels like it is the linkage rather than the clutch itself then I would slacken the adjuster nut right off (see your workshop manual for a diagram, very easy to do) then see if the pedal still feels stiff.

With the linkage not attached to anything it should be fairly easy to rock the pedal up and down to 'feel' where the stiffness is coming from.

If the pedal drops to the floor when you remove the nut then you know the problem is with the clutch pressure plate.

You never know, it might just need a drop of oil?

Tom

[green123]

yes the pedal drops to the floor should i oil the pressure plate

[Tom and Maria]

Don't oil anything near the clutch plate unless the engine is out of the car, it is bound to get where it isn't wanted.

It could just be stiff because it has a different type of pressure plate to your other car, or just stiffer springs.

As it is working and if it isn't too hard to use then I'd be tempted to leave it, it might get easier with use. Stiffness with no other symptoms wouldn't worry me too much.

The next stage would be engine (or gearbox) out to examine it.

Tom

[green123]

well its a new clutch so pressure plate is the issue so i will leave it till i whip the engine out to paint engine and then the engine bay and another respray on the car

[mike.perry]

You do not say what engine/gearbox/clutch you have in your car

[bmcecosse]

I think you must have a Spridget clutch in there..........

[mike.perry]

Precisely what I was thinking

[green123]

hello its a 1098 engine running with a 1098 gearbox and i got the clutch of a new engine i bought