clutch return spring,....where is it!!!

[Budgie]

Right , just as the heading suggests, I think that my clutch return spring as disappeared as the pedal doesn't return back fully after I depress it but works fine so I bought a new clutch return spring with the view to replacing it while I was under the car wax oiling it thoroughly but I couldn't for the life of me find where it locates .I'm assuming that the old one must have broken and dropped off as I can't see any remains although it was a bit awkward trying to see from under the car which was only jacked up the height of a standard pair of axle stands !

[bmcecosse]

Tag on the clutch rod and small hole in the backplate. Surprising it's not dangling there by the non-broken end.

[Budgie]

Yeh that's what I was hoping / expecting to see but on saying that I didn't have much room to look as I was only using small axle stands so not much clearance for looking , can't beat an hydraulic ramp for working underneath cars!

[Budgie]

Right I'm a bit confused now because when I was trying to locate the spring I was looking at the left hand side of the gearbox underneath but some of the pictures I've seen seem as if it's located on the right hand side [as if I'm in the drivers seat] and they are all off the club site but via the internet. I was playing with the clutch pedal underneath so I know I had the right pedal / linkage but these pics have thrown me now!

[PSL184]

It's on the right (the same side as the driver) Just look at the very front of the clutch linkage and the other end in a drilled hole in the engine backplate.

[Budgie]

ok thanks I'll take another look ...god I need an hydraulic ramp!

[GBond]

You may have seen pictures of a LHD car, where it would be in the left side.
Shouldn't be too hard to find, it's on the end of the clutch lever which is the only thing poking out of the gearbox under the car.

[mike.perry]

You do not need to jack the car up or stands. If you lie down in front of the car (handbrake on) you will see the clutch rod and adjuster nut with the spring attached to the linkage or hanging down. If it is not there you can replace it with a carb accelerator return spring

[bmcecosse]

All you need is a hydraulic trolley jack - not a ramp... Or just put two wheels up on the kerb! Entirely possible the clutch and brake pedals are sticking together on the shaft - try some oil...

[Budgie]

Update , I crawled under the front of the car today on the right hand side and hey presto, there they were, the two locating holes that have been sooo elusive to me !So it seems that there hasn't been a spring here since I've had the car but all's well now , well except for the fact that I keep on stalling her as I'm not used to the strength of the spring.....or even no spring at all!

[bmcecosse]

Good job, well done.

[Budgie]

Thanks again for all the invaluable info / advice.

[mike.perry]

The spring does not need to be too strong, just enough to pull the clutch pedal up

[Budgie]

It seems strong , and it was quite a pull to locate it onto the holes to attach it but I suppose it's because I'm not used to it as I've unknowingly been driving the car without one for quite some time! But at least it's the correct one for the job as I ordered it from ESM some time ago just never got around to fitting it till now!