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Spitfire Clutch Kit Preference - 1500 Spitfire

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dklawson

dklawson

Yoda
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My Spitfire is a potpourri of different parts. Though it is a '72 it has a later 1500 engine and single rail gearbox.

Lately the clutch pedal is operating way at the top of its travel and the clutch can be made to slip if you goose the throttle. Though the clutch only has perhaps 5000 miles on it, these were miles driven by a teenager so the friction disk really may be worn out. (It doesn't appear to be oil saturation... there is no leak on the pavement and the rear main was replaced when the engine was installed).

If I buy a new clutch kit, what is the current preferred brand and who has good prices on it? The current parts are from a Q-H kit and I am not really interested in putting one of those back in if they are only going to last a few thousand miles.

Thanks in advance,
 
Before you pull the gear box or order a clutch kit, check the adjustment of the slave cylinder.
The symptoms you've described may well be cured by shortening the push rod until there is a little play there. 5000 miles -- even teenager miles -- might be enough to wear the clutch to the point where the cylinder may need adjustment. It shouldn't be enough to have finished off the disc.
 
I pulled the tunnel last night to see what I could learn.

The fork will only move a short distance between touching the pressure plate fingers and the back of its stroke (pulled towards the rear of the car with the slave cylinder removed).

The slave has two pinch bolt clearance slots cut across its diameter. I had the slave pushed forward and was using the rear-most slot. I thought that perhaps the friction disk had worn and therefore the pushrod was "all the way back" having pushed the slave piston to the bottom of its bore.

I moved the slave backwards to use the front slot. In that position I did not initially get enough throw on the clutch to fully release it. It would grind when trying to select reverse. I loosened the pinch bolt again, left the bolt in the "forward" slave slot but pushed the slave forward about 1/8" so I could select reverse without grinding.

While that did seem to work, I'm hesitant to say I have fixed the problem and that the clutch isn't worn. At the same time I am open to suggestions.

Can someone confirm that mounting the slave with the pinch bolt in the "forward" slot is correct?
 
None of the girling slaves I have, have two slots however, they do have a fairly wide slot for the pinch bolt with allot of range for motion. I had to force the slave as far forward as possible to get it the clutch to disengage properly. In that position it works quite well.
 
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