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freaky clutch...I don't understand...

To: british-cars@autox.team.net
Subject: freaky clutch...I don't understand...
From: tooze@vinny.cecer.army.mil (Marcus Tooze)
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 94 21:18:07 CDT
On my list of 'things to do while the engine is machined' was a clutch 
hydraulics rebuild (remeber, this is for a '72 Midget now). When I pressed
the clutch, it wouldn't move...there was fluid inthe resevoir though.

I took the engine out, then decided the rebuild the slave and the master 
just because the rubber was probably knackered in them both. I did the
master...all went well. I then pulled the slave, dissasembled and reassembled
EXACTLY how the diagram in book showed (which, obviously, was what it looked
like when I dissasembled it).

I started to bleed the system, which wasn't going too well...fluid was 
definately disapearing from the master though, but not coming out of the 
bleeder to well. I tighten the bleeder fully, just to see if I got any action
(note: the engine is out, the release bearing arm moved freely when not
connected to the slave. The pedal felt like it was jammed again. 

I then thought about the slave cyl. HOW on earth does it work. Theres
that spring behind the piston which forces it towards the back of the car
without the aid of hydraulic pressure. Well, thats kinda dumb....because
the piston is at the top of the bore then, and when you stick your foot on the 
pedal, theres nowhere else for it to go. Now both the Haynes and the rebuild 
kit clearly show the spring compressed behind the piston....whats the deal here?

I'll attempt some ascii....

My slave cyl. as it sits in the car right now...
        
                bleeder
              _____   __________________________
             |____|  |______________________ ,-,|
             |\  \  \  \  \   | \_____/     | | |
-------------| \  \  \  \  \  | piston+    / _|_________________
pipe in->       \  \spring  \ |rubber cup  ||_______rod to arm__  
-------------|   \  \  \  \  \|  ______    \  | |
             |____\__\__\__\__\_/______\____|,|,|
             |__________________________________|
                                              ^ 
                                              |
                                            circlip
                                        i.e, the piston is AGAINST
                                        the circlip, pushed there
                                        by the spring!

Surely the piston should rest at the base of the bore, then when you
push the clutch, it pushes the piston to where it sits now, thus pressing
the release bearing against the clutch?



Yours very confused

Marcus


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