Moss Motors, Ltd

...as in do I need one?

Just as I'm mating up the engine and gearbox, I notice that the release bearing surface on the clutch diaphragm is not quite in a parallel plane with the flywheel. A straight edge on the bearing easily showed that it was quite out of true . i.e it will wobble as the clutch spins, and probably had uneven contact with the release bearing even when the clutch was fully engaged. In fact the old release bearing was worn unevenly - both off centre and deeper on one side than the other. The off centre problem was likely due to a very sloppy release fork.

With these things in mind, would it be advisable to replace the clutch outright? I've postponed reassembly of the car until I can get a new clutch (or someone trustworthy tells me that this one is OK). The present clutch is a Borg and Beck unit - perhaps surprising that a problem has arisen?

Oh, and remember my weird noise thread? I think this might be the heart of the problem - the wobbling clutch acting on a loose release arm. The rattling noise would change when the clutch was pressed.

Advice welcome as ever.

Cheers,

Ed

 

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I want my MGB

For what it's worth, my 2 cents...

How many times would you like to pull this engine? Replace everything and get her back on the road with no worries or weird noises!

Can you imagine your angst after hearing a noise that you knew you COULD HAVE easily fixed? Do it Eddie! Don't be penny wise and pound-foolish. The price of a new clutch, throw-out bearing and fork is a pittance compared to your time in doing the job twice.

 Take it from me, the king of screwing stuff up and needing to pull the engine again (3 times in fact), replace everything now while you have the opportunity!

 

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On their death bed, nobody ever said, "Gee I wish I'd spent more time at work!"

davey has learned, Ed.

 This is most likely the cause of the noise indeed. It sounds like a broken clutch diaphragm spring. How's the surface of the flywheel? If it has any circumferential grooving, remove it and have it ground. Have fun.

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Motorbill
From Lola to Land Rover, If it's British and has wheels, it's likely I've bloodied me knuckles thereupon

Exactly my thinking davey... thanks for the reassurance. It's not really sensible to chance it, given the work involved to put right. I also don't have the time!

This, however will be the third new clutch in 4 years and probably only 2500 miles.... First one was fitted when the car was "gone over" by a garage that got her on the road again - before I saw her. It was fine. Second was fitted when the gearbox was later changed for a temporary stand in to make the car driveable, and the garage doing the work managed to destroy the first clutch and bu88ger the pilot bushing...  now we're looking at the possibility that that one was dodgy. I've said before that I have some strange magnetism that enables me to attract faulty products, and will get the one in a million that was made wrong.

Cheers,

Ed

 

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I want my MGB

Bill, thanks - you posted as I was composing (or is that decomposing...)

I'll look closer at the diaphragm springs, after I fit a new clutch, but didn't notice any broken spring fingers, just the bobbin/bearing twisted out of true. The flywheel surface looks fine. I doubt this clutch has seen 2000 miles (see my earlier post).

Again, thanks everyone. I'll be calling my frendly local Britcar parts dealer in the morning,

Ed

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I want my MGB

We're lucky to have an MG parts specialist here. I crossed his palm with silver and am now the proud owner of a new clutch kit.

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I want my MGB

Overtime in the garage last night. With a break for bedtime stories of course!

New clutch fitted (oddly, the disc was not marked for orientation wrt the flywheel, but the original of the same type provided a guide...) Engine and box back together and in the car. Driveshaft, clutch slave, carbs radiator etc. all still to be bolted up, but tonight is another night...

 Cheers,

Ed

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I want my MGB

Tell me Ed,

Were you telling the stories? Or were they being told to you?...

Cheers.

Bill W.

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Motorbill
From Lola to Land Rover, If it's British and has wheels, it's likely I've bloodied me knuckles thereupon

I was most definitely the storyteller One of my favourite parts of the day - Important family time that I would not miss for the world - even for my MG! Plus it provided an inner tranquility that later helped me face up to those transmission & crossmember mounting bolts.

Oh yes, and that circlip that retains the gear lever & anti rattle spring. I'd like to meet the man who devised that... I have an alternative suggestion for its use that I hope he would find uncomfortable but, perhaps, poigniant. 

Ed

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I want my MGB

Ah yes, Ed,

One of my favorite parts of the job. It helps me develop my linguistic creativity.

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Motorbill
From Lola to Land Rover, If it's British and has wheels, it's likely I've bloodied me knuckles thereupon

Doh! Upon resuming work yesterday, I noticed that some half-wit had put the gear lever in back to front. The fact that it has MG in plain letters on the gear knob was obviously no guide at all. Thankfully, the circlip wrestling was mercifully brief...

Just carbs, oil and coolant to go.

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I want my MGB

Geez Ed,

Thank goodness you caught that. Imagine four speeds in reverse and only one ahead....

Bill

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Motorbill
From Lola to Land Rover, If it's British and has wheels, it's likely I've bloodied me knuckles thereupon

It's funny, 'cos I remember thinking the lever felt out of position, it's the non-OD type with a dog-leg in it. Perfectly positioned if one installs it correctly a bit of a stretch otherwise.... After a few brisk shifts into third took the skin off my knucles on the dash, I'd have worked out the problem, honest. Maybe that's why they added the padding in '68.

It's lucky that I didn't get the two gearboxes mixed up in the garage, and put the wrong one bac... Uh-oh, hang on...

 

 

 

No, the unit that came out of the car was stuck well out of the way to avoid exactly this mistake...

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I want my MGB

Wayhey!

We're back on the road again. Finally back together last night, engine starts second turn of the key, a nervous wait as I wait for things to warm through, then it's time for the moment of truth.

Bliss... pulled away in 1st with just a slight whirring, shift to second rather sticky, in fact a bit stubborn at first but this eased up as we went on and seemed normal at the last stop sign before home. 3rd & 4th perfect. And - knock on wood - the rattle is gone.

I went to bed very happy

Ed

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I want my MGB

Good for you, Ed. Gearboxes can be tough, and you have mastered this one. I raise a Guiness to ya!

Bill

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Motorbill
From Lola to Land Rover, If it's British and has wheels, it's likely I've bloodied me knuckles thereupon