quick clutch question

[theleisure]

Hi guys,

The clutch on my 66 Sprite engages almost right away when i press on the pedal, with all action occurring in the first 2" of travel. Is that normal or indicative of some other problem? It's been this way since I got the car back in June. I've read that a clutch that engages near the floor is bad but how about this?

Thanks,

Sean

 

[14dna]

This could be a low fluid level in the clutch, possibly an adjustment, or the clutch disc is worn out and needs replaced.
Do the checks in this sequence and let us know what you find.
If you need more info, just reply.

Dave

 

[bugimike]

The first thing I would check is the throw-out bearing to see if it is badly worn! You can check this with a flashlight through the access holes at the top of the bell housing (hard to get a good angle to look from there though!) or the access plug on the other side of the T.O. bearing fork (from under the car).

 

[Bayless]

Do you mean it disengages (that is allows the engine to turn without turning the transmission)?

 

[jlaird]

Sounds like all it needs is adjusted ie the MC rod or a longer rod on the slave cylinder. I would check both before I did anything else.

 

[Billm]

When I read his original posting I thought that he ment that it DISengages too quickly (as soon as he touches the peddle. Is that correct Sean or the other way?
If it disengages too quickly then it is probable that someone put an adjustable rod between the slave and the arm and tightened it too much, not the other way (?).
Bill

 

[theleisure]

The car is completely drivable, it's just that everything involving the clutch happens in the top 2" of pedal travel. If this was the only standard transmission car I've ever driven I might not know that it was odd. It is possible to control the clutch as on any other car, it's just that the distance between on and off is short.

Bayless & Billm-- thanks, in my first post I incorrectly used "engages" when I should have used "disengages".

 

[jlaird]

Please reread what I said above, if you need instructions on how do do that please say so and I will provide in the morning.

 

[theleisure]

Thanks Jack,

After reading your post I went over to the moss site to check out the diagrams.
https://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=36484
I've never done any adjustments to the master cylinder or slave cylinder but it looks like you must mean adjustments to the push rod, or item 12, right? That looks like it will move the position where the clutch disengages/engages along the arc of the clutch pedal but will it also affect the distance between engaged and disengaged? I think I understand how the adjustment to the push rod would work but instructions are always appreciated.

Sean

 

[jlaird]

Yes #12 is the ticket, it is used mostly to adjust your pedels so they are the same but also adjust the bite of the cylinder, keep in mind that not much of an adjustemet is good.

However, and I would prob do this first. I would pull the rod from the slave cylinder and place a 7/16 nut in there for the rod to push against, this will of course effectively give you a longer rod and a different bite on the clutch at a different place on the pedel.

Please advise after you do this of your results.

 

[theleisure]

Thanks again, it's on my schedule for Saturday.