Clutch Problems

[Dr_EluSivE]

Its seems as though i have trashed my clutch somehow, It works for a mile or so and then Will not Disengage. When you push in the Pedal it feels Like there is clutch, But i get a grinding sound as well and the car will not go into gear when running. So i plan in the spring to pull the tranny out and replace the clutch and Release bearing. I have a feeling that my carbon pad on the bearing crumbled and now i have no clutch. Has anyone ever used one of the Roller bearing replacement release bearings that minimania Sells for the spridgets? Seems like it would be a worthwhile upgrade, but i only want to do it once, so i am looking for advice. Clutch has not been touched for about 12 years. Also, are Mini Slave cylinders and Midget slave cylinders the same? Thanks for the help

Dr.

 

[Tim Hollister]

[ QUOTE ]
...Has anyone ever used one of the Roller bearing replacement release bearings that minimania Sells for the spridgets?...

[/ QUOTE ]
I use them on both of the race cars and have had no problems with them at all. I still have the carbon pad release bearing in the street Midget but that's only because I have yet to pull that engine. When I do, a roller bearing style clutch release bearing will go into the street car too.

BTW, NOS Locators is selling these on eBay with a Buy It Now price of $29.99 plus $4.25 shipping. You might take a look instead of paying MiniMania's asking price of $49.95. Check eBay Item Number: 140065594753. I bought three of these a while back (one for the street car, and two for spares and future projects) and had a good "eBay experience."

[ QUOTE ]
Also, are Mini Slave cylinders and Midget slave cylinders the same?

[/ QUOTE ]
Can't help on the slave cylinder question - no experience with Mini's.

Tim

 

[Sarastro]

Does anyone know if anything similar is available for 948 sprites? That graphite release bearing doesn't exactly inspire confidence, and at some point I'd like to replace it with something more reliable.

 

[Billm]

I have interchanged the Mini/Spridget slaves many times and never had a problem. I really never cared if I had 5/8" or 3/4" cylinders (are those the correct sizes?) in there and the peddle pressures really weren't different enough to matter. In summary, yes, they will work.
Bill

 

[Dr_EluSivE]

Sorry about the delay, But thanks for the advice, i found NOS locator's on eBay and their price is better. They say though that the bearing is made of plastic. Seems like they wouldn't make it out of plastic if it wasn't strong enough, but it makes me a little nervous. Was yours also made of plastic?

Dr.

 

[bugimike]

I have used both, and either work well! Of course, there really isn't much wrong with the regular carbon bearings either. I have found them to last well too!

 

[Bugeye58]

The plastic roller bearings are all I've used for years. Never any problems, on the race cars, or the street stuff.
Jeff

 

[healeyboz]

VB has a 3 piece clutch set on sale right now. Replace it all while you have it out!

 

[Guest]

Has anyone posted or seen a fool proof way to bleed the clutch master cylinder & slave cylinder? I understand that bleeding the clutch system is difficult since the air bubbles want to rise to the top. Any way to ensure that the system is bled properly without buying a lot of special equipment? Thanks.

 

[jlaird]

yep, the old fashioned way works, one person underneath and one on the clutch. check the knowledge area for options.

 

[ChrisS]

You can make a power bleeder like this or you can make one out of an inner tube - see this thread.

 

[bugimike]

I don't see why the clutch system should be any harder than the brake system since clutch and brake lines both go down to the "bottom" of the car. The air will be expelled by hydraulic pressure, hence the pumping! The clutch might actually be a little easier because there is a shorter length of line to purge of air and thus less pumping at the pedal! The only reason the clutch might be considered harder is because of the tough position of the bleeder, but there are also solutions to that such as by extending a remote bleeder(can be found on another thread elswhere in the Spridgets section).
I like Chris' sprayer solution, basically a self-pressurizing EZbleed setup. The inner-tube system, while an elegant, low cost solution has elements that could result in messy disasters, and quantities of errant brake fluid dumping all over painted parts is a daunting prospect!!
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[Guest]

Chris - Thanks for the help. I think I'll try the sprayer. Thanks again.

 

[zimmy]

go figure, i leave for a few months, then come back and totally missed this thread with my exact clutch problem
i was working on last summer!...im goin roller bearing and
a new clutch disk ....zimmmmyy