Jeff Williamson wrote:
>
> Henry Frye wrote:
>
> > When the pedal is depressed, the clutch disengages. But when you put her
> > in gear and let out the clutch, the clutch doesn't engage promptly. I
> > have the tranny tunnel off so I can see the linkage, and the linkage is
> > _slowly_ moving back to the noraml, engaged position. The crazy thing is
> > if you work the pedal up and down repeatedly, the master cylinder "pumps
> > up" to the point where the pedal is rock hard and will _not_ move from
> > the top of it's travel, and the clutch is disengaged. After a few
> > seconds, the clutch will again slowly engage, but only if I take my foot
> > off the pedal.
> >
>
> Henry,
>
> I've had this same problem more than once before with my TR3A. I
> adjusted the pushrods on the master and slave cylinders and solved the
> "pumping up" problem. The clutch action was still very sluggish so I
> attached a large spring to the clutch release shaft to help the clutch
> to engage. This improved the situation, but didn't solve the problem.
>
> I replaced the seals in both cylinders and noticed little improvement.
> But I noticed that the master cylinder piston uses an "o" ring that is
> not included in the rebuild kits abailable through Moss or Victoria, so
> this seal did not get replaced. I think now that the old "o" ring may
> have swelled to the point that it was binding the piston, thus causing
> the sluggish motion.
>
> After driving the car in this condition for years, I finally recently
> replaced the master cylinder, which included a new piston with new
> seals, and the problem is solved. For the first time in years, I can
> burn some rubber --- it's great (until I have to replace the
> tires)!!!.
Jeff,
I received a couple of responses suggesting the collapsed flex hose, and
I tend to lean toward that direction. However, you bring up an
interesting point. My clutch master cylinder is the same as the one you
described, it had two seals installed on the piston, but the rebuild kit
only comes with one. The fine print on the directions supplied tell you
if you have the old style M/C with two seals on the piston, buy a new
M/C. :-(
Being a bit like Nick (luckily he is with us again so we can pick on him
;-)) I felt I needed to try. Refitting the old seal that is no longer
supplied was not an option, so I left it out. It appeares to be a
redundant seal, to make sure any fluid that made it past the primary
seal wouldn't leak out of the M/C. I do have a spare piston that doesn't
have the groove, so maybe if the new flex hose doesn't do it, I will try
swapping the piston for a later designed one. It came from a clutch M/C
for a TR250.
Has anyone walked this line before and want to share an experience?
And before I get flamed remember this is the clutch, not the brakes! I
don't think I would be so bold with the brake M/C!
--
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| Henry Frye E-mail thefryes@iconn.net |
| TR3B TCF1927 L http://www.iconn.net/thefryes/ |
| TR250 CD8096 L A Little Town In |
| TR250 CD1074 L Connecticut, USA |
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