No clutch

[mark westbrookwhite]

Ok guys its driving me mad. My clutch suddenly stopped working (B series engine) so i had a look underneath the bracket holding the slave cylinder had broken (its a bit of a bodge) so my son with my help made up a new one and fitted it We then bleed the system him underneath the car (I am trying to get him to learn how to do these sort of things) by the end of the day It was all back together but still not working.
Last night I thought I would have another go at it so I checked for leaks couldn't see any took the slave cylinder off and operated the clutch pedal and determined that the cylinder was moving in and out then I put the unit back on the car this time with the bracket round the other way putting the cylinder under pressure before it started still nothing!!!
Anyone got any ideas!
And if possible a photo of the slave cylinder bracket in place so that I can make a better job of mounting it.

[cameronfurnival]

Re: No clutch

Im wondering why it broke in the first place Mark? Maybe the clutch has fallen apart inside...I hope not! SOmeone will be along presently to give you the info you need Im sure.

[b_caswell]

Re: No clutch

I thought the slave cylinder bracket was part of the bell housing? The only advice I can offer is to make sure you have the bleed nipple upper most above the pipe so the air doesnt get trapped in the end of the cylinder.

[stevejgreen]

Re: No clutch

Best pic I can find showing the clutch bracket is.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3169/3043226475_6f2c4cb49c_z.jpg

With the standard forces, it would have to be a very solid fixing.

You will probably be better off searching for a replacement bell housing. They are the same for 1.3, 1.8 Marina and 1.7 Itals but make sure that you get the sleeve that covers the gearbox input shaft and the clutch thrust bearing slides on. There are at least two different constructions.

[mark westbrookwhite]

Re: No clutch

Are........... thats strange mine looks nothing like this I think my best option is to post a picture of my bodged bracket and see if it rings any bells.
Ben I think the bleed nipple is at the top but I will check thanks.

[stevejgreen]

Re: No clutch

Might have confused you a little. The bell housing in the picture is Marina but the gearbox is Ford!
A pic of yours would help identify.

[dogoncrazy]

Re: No clutch

Possible MGB gearbox/bell housing ? Slave cylinder underneath

[dogoncrazy]

Re: No clutch

On Marina bellhousings it's not unknown for the clutch operating arm to come adrift from it's fulcrum inside the bellhousing resulting in no movement from the release bearing and consequently at the pressure plate. regretably if this happens it's an engine /gearbox out job to access the internals of the bell housing.

[stevejgreen]

Re: No clutch

Possible MGB gearbox/bell housing ? Slave cylinder underneath

i thought that at first but isnt the MGB clutch slave cylinder bolted to the integral gearbox/bell housing. I think we need a picture, but there are not that many gearboxes bolted onto a B series.

[pearwood]

Re: No clutch

your right steve ive got a mgb gearbox in mine and the slave cyl is bolted to the bellhousing.

[dogoncrazy]

Re: No clutch

Assuming that what you have is an MGB set up [steve /pearwood -you're correct with the slave cylinder, I remember changing one on MGB I had] I cannot help wondering if it has been 'modified' to overcome a fairly common problem on th 'B' in that unlesss the system is in top condition you cannot get sufficient travel at the slave to release the clutch. People then tend to use longer pushrods to overcome the problem which is NOT recommended. So has someone fitted a bracket to the 'original' slave cylinder position and adapted another slave cylinder with perhaps a longer travel in order to get the clutch to work? I realise that there are a few 'ifs' in this but as you say Steve there are limited possibilities in bell housing /gearboxs that could be used. We really need a picture!!

[mark westbrookwhite]

Re: No clutch

I will get a picture of the unit over the weekend. I am fairly sure the gearbox is Marina with overdrive although I am only guessing the original engine was Marina when I bought the the car as a box of bits although I have replaced it with an MGB lump.

[stevejgreen]

Re: No clutch

Marina gearboxes did not have overdrive. Single Rail Triumph gearboxes in Dolomites etc did have an overdrive option. MGB's though different gearboxes also had overdrive.
A Dolomite gearbox can be fitted to a Marina bell house as they have the same basic case design, the Marina being a variant on the Triumph design.
Its sounding more and more as if you have a complete MGB engine/gearbox assy.
A picture should confirm things.

[mark westbrookwhite]

Re: No clutch

Clatch slave cyl.jpg

so this is the beast

[stevejgreen]

Re: No clutch

First look, that is a MGB clutch slave arrangement.
But the Slave cylinder does not look at all right to me as it should look like this.

MGB clutch slave.jpg