Hi Guys,

Sometimes when I push in the clutch pedal I hear a loud noise like the throw-out bearing is spining on the pilot shaft
or spining on the pressure plate. Could this be a result of the rod between the slave cylinder and the fork being to long or short? Any one else experience this in the past? This is a 4 speed side shift transmission.

Thanks Bob

BOB
My experience with a similar problem was caused by the pressure plate failing and damaging the throw out bearing..

A similar noise may be the result of a Flywheel bolt backing out and hitting the pressure plate. In any case it should be attened to right away.--Fwiw-Keoke

Healey transmissions don't have a throw-out 'bearing' per se. The 'bearing' is a graphite disk--flattened doughnut shape--that rubs a disk on the clutch when engaged. If it's making noise, it's possible the 'bearing' is worn out; i.e. the graphite has worn down to the iron housing (would be a scraping noise). I would expect the bearing to last the life of the clutch in normal/highway driving (100K+ miles), but if you've done a lot of round-town driving and/or ride the clutch it'll wear faster.

Bob--

Unless something in the clutch hydraulic system/linkage has changed lately (and you can change it back) I agree with Keoke that this bears looking into. Whether it is the clutch, pressure plate, carbon bearing or flywheel or bolt it is not going to heal and further damage will only result. I know it's a pain but I would pull the transmission and see what things look like--if there is mechanical interference there will be evidence of it.

Update.
The problem has been corrected and along with eliminating the noise the transmmision now will shift into first, reverse and second gear much smoother. Upon removeal of the transmission, pressure plate, relase bearing and clutch disc I couldn't find any visable problems. The problem was the pilot bushing would spin freely in the end of the crank shaft. So about $5 and 7 hours of work at a fairly leasurely pace I am back on the road again. I love it when it's cheap and easy.

Bob