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-   -   It's that clutch again! (https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=317173)

PaulR 9th January 2022 17:12

It's that clutch again!
 
My clutch wore out a few years and 20,000 miles ago. I decided to get the best replacement I could and went for the metal kit sold by DMGRS and fitted by a garage recommended by them.

Just recently the clutch pedal has had a "dead area" before any pressure is felt when pressed and the clutch doesn't bite until the pedal is pressed right down. I do a lot of local area driving so I wouldn't expect the clutch to last well over 40,000 miles as they did when I drove longer distances but this seems rather premature. I haven't checked the fluid level yet but I assume there is a leak somewhere.

I have a "thing" about not riding the clutch and saving wear on the thrust bearing by keeping the car out of gear when stopped and releasing the pedal so I don't think that my driving technique is an issue.

Has anyone else had any problems with the metal master and slave cylinders? I have to say this is rather disappointing to have problems at this relatively early stage.

macafee2 9th January 2022 17:41

Do not assume a leak.
I have no experience of a metal master but I have known an original plastic one to have an internal seal fail and fluid stay in the master when the clutch pedal was pushed down.

macafee2

PaulR 9th January 2022 19:16

Thanks - that still suggests a failure where one should not have happened. I suppose the best initial action is to look at the fluid level - if look is quite the right word in view of the position of the reservoir!

stevestrat 9th January 2022 19:41

Dipping it with your finger is the easiest option.

Number 6 9th January 2022 20:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevestrat (Post 2915747)
Dipping it with your finger is the easiest option.

And make sure the "Condom" is removed (If fitted) before dipping your finger in.

PaulR 9th January 2022 20:38

I will have a go tomorrow. When I got the car 13 years ago I seem to remember going through this process. I might have been a bit more supple then!!

COLVERT 9th January 2022 21:20

1 Attachment(s)
Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulR (Post 2915754)
I will have a go tomorrow. When I got the car 13 years ago I seem to remember going through this process. I might have been a bit more supple then!!

I got my car 13 years ago too and at 84 I know exactly the feeling you are talking about.

A pic. for you below just as a reminder of the bits.---:D

PaulR 9th January 2022 22:13

Thank you. I wonder if the metal master has the condom thing. I will find out tomorrow weather permitting

Ravinder 10th January 2022 01:06

I had the metal one fitted on my old diesel and had the exact same problem as you.

KWIL 10th January 2022 08:59

2.5KV6 now at 104K, changed clutch at 68K and still using the original master cylinder.
Only precaution taken was to flush the master cylinder thoroughly with clean fluid before refitting it.

PaulR 10th January 2022 09:04

Interesting that another diesel owner has had this problem. The slave cylinder fitted by MrClutch when I had it replaced years ago lasted the life of the clutch with no problems. Ironically the original master cylinder was fine, I just thought I would get the whole thing done when I had it changed again.

Rather than messing around I think I will go back there.

PaulR 11th January 2022 10:07

I topped up the reservoir yesterday which restored the clutch to normal operation. I only had a 5ml syringe to do this so didn't get a lot in before frustration set in. I have ordered a larger one and will put more fluid in then wait and see what happens.

My old Rover P4 had a rod operated clutch - simple, robust and leak-free!!

Ducati750cc 11th January 2022 17:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulR (Post 2915957)
I topped up the reservoir yesterday which restored the clutch to normal operation. I only had a 5ml syringe to do this so didn't get a lot in before frustration set in. I have ordered a larger one and will put more fluid in then wait and see what happens.

My old Rover P4 had a rod operated clutch - simple, robust and leak-free!!


A little tip, if the syringe has a rubber seal, many do, as soon as you've finished with it work some warm water with a bit of washing up liquid through it, then the same with some warm clear water, remove the plunger then put it somewhere to dry, ready for the next time.


The reason being that the seals and brake fluid don't get along too well if in contact long term, as Pikey in Dads Army said " They don't like it up em " 😨🤭

PaulR 11th January 2022 18:27

Thanks for the information. I will do that

sylvester 12th January 2022 11:41

I had no end of grief with the clutch on my 75 tourer and tried all ways to bleed it - it would run OK for a few miles then start playing up.
Eventually I gave up and sought the help of Apple Rover in nearby Meopham.
I was half convinced that I might be looking at a gearbox off job and a bill in excess of £1000 but their chief technician was convinced without looking - given my symptoms that the fault lay with a leaking master cylinder. I told him it had been replaced by one from the afformentioned supplier and that seemed to further persuade him that that's where the fault lay as these items are notorious for having a very short life!
Anyway, they replaced the master cylinder with a genuine Rover item which when supplied comes complete, sealed with its connecting pipe. The bill came to about £250. I've been using the car now since the autumn including a couple of long trips with no issue whatsoever.

PaulR 12th January 2022 12:45

There is no sign of leakage on the master cylinder but the fluid had disappeared from the reservoir. I am hoping that any leak is small and I can keep it going for a while longer.

COLVERT 13th January 2022 17:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulR (Post 2916103)
There is no sign of leakage on the master cylinder but the fluid had disappeared from the reservoir. I am hoping that any leak is small and I can keep it going for a while longer.

If the fluid level is dropping and there is no sign of a leak at the central joint then it can only be leaking out of the slave cylinder in the gearbox.

If you have an under-tray then it could be dripping down on to this not on the floor where it would be obvious. It leaks at the bottom of the gear-box joint with the engine.

PaulR 13th January 2022 19:10

Thanks for the information. I have decided to keep it going for a while if I can then to get a Borg and Beck replacement from Mr Clutch. My previous one came from there and I had no problems with it. I went for the replacement with metal cylinders because that seemed to be the most robust and trouble free but in retrospect that does not appear to be the case.

Would there be any problems going back to a plastic slave cylinder in view of the metal piping now fitted?

COLVERT 14th January 2022 20:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulR (Post 2916288)
Thanks for the information. I have decided to keep it going for a while if I can then to get a Borg and Beck replacement from Mr Clutch. My previous one came from there and I had no problems with it. I went for the replacement with metal cylinders because that seemed to be the most robust and trouble free but in retrospect that does not appear to be the case.

Would there be any problems going back to a plastic slave cylinder in view of the metal piping now fitted?

Trikey could answer that question.--;)

trikey 14th January 2022 21:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by COLVERT (Post 2916438)
Trikey could answer that question.--;)

i shall try....

Yes, it would be a problem, you would have to refit the plastic pipe to be compatible with the original cylinder.

On the plus side, the vibrations into the cam from the copper pipe would be gone

PaulR 14th January 2022 22:36

Ah would that mean replacing the metal master cylinder as well?

PaulR 19th June 2022 17:22

Just an update on this. I have dipped my finger in the reservoir a couple of times now, the latest being last week before I went on holiday. There is still plenty of fluid in it. I am now wondering whether it wasn't properly refilled when the clutch was fitted and the level had just dropped a bit as the clutch has worn.

I have, nevertheless, brought a bottle of fluid and syringe with a piece of pipe attached with me just in case!!


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