MG MGB and MGB GT Tech Talk
Need advice on a weird clutch problem. This happens sometimes when the clutch gets warm. Or when I first start out for the day.
Today it was the worst. I started on a hill and the clutch SHUTTERS like mad when I engage in first. All other gears are fine.
Any ideas? This happens infrequently. Mainly when its warm or only when I first start out in the morning. It hasn't done it in the mornings for a while though.
Check for a worn pivot bolt or pivot bearing. Probably no easy way to do this but if the lever wiggles from side to side then it is worn. Otherwise you may have oil on the clutch face. Sometimes a bad throwout bearing will do this too.
I replaced all the pivot bushings and pins when I redid the motor. I'll check it.
What could be wrong with the throw out bearing?
I only have about 6000 miles on a new clutch and throw out.
Are you getting a rattling sound when idling in neutral with your foot off the clutch? That would indicate a bad pivot bushing and worn bolt. There is a bad bunch of improperly hardened bolts around. I've had two in less than 10,000 miles. Mine never shudders though. I am going to source them from someone other than an MG parts distributor next time. If the fork is tight I would bet on oil contamination or sloppy pilot bushing.
No rattling. New pilot bushing. I hope its not oil. I don't see any amounts of oil near the cotter pin on the bell housing.
If you only get a shudder in first, you could have a spot grease, dirt, or some foreign product on the clutch disk face or pressure plate face. Also if it's an old pressure plate, it could be warped. JMHO. PJ
hope you did not buy a QH clutch and install it...it has been known to disintergrate within one year.
I bought what board recommended. I'm sure its a Borg & Beck.
Gary,
Do you have an overdrive trans.? If so, it may not be the main clutch that is causing the issue. I had a similar situation a while ago and found after replacing the clutch that it was infact the clutch that is in the overdrive unit that was toast. It would slip or shudder only when starting from a dead stop in first gear, mostly on a hill or when pulling out into traffic. Just a thought..
It is a O/D. I had it rebuilt. Ugh. I'm hoping its something fixable from the exterior. O/D works flawlessly.
Make sure that ALL of the motor and transmission mounts are good.
You know the drill, jack the engine carefully with wood between the jack and the pan and watch for separation of the mounts. You might have to get the car up in the air to begin with in order to get under and look at the transmission rubbers. I had a B in the building not too long ago with what were supposed to be brand new mounts. One had separated though and had rust stains on the plate where it was supposed to have been vulcanized to the rubber.
Jack
Thanks Jack. They all look ok. I have a bad feeling its internal. Like a contaminated clutch disc. I don't have any oil I can see really leaking from the cotter pin though.
Next step is to think in terms of failing damper springs in the disc. If that is the case a fix is in order before one falls out and locks the assembly up.
Jack
Oh no! Is this possible with a new set? It only has 6K on it. I just can't pull that engine again...
Gary,
Thinking of how you might rule out the OD before taking things apart, once apart it may be hard to diagnose the OD without just rebuilding it (expensive):
From my limited understanding of the OD, it pumps fluid in one direction for Non-OD and in the other direction for OD. Starting off in first the pump wouldn't be moving very much fluid. Could this cause the shudder?
What about servicing the OD valve, ball, solenoid and screen before pulling the engine/tranny just to ensure there's not a problem with the OD?
I'm assuming tranny fluid level is good. Also assuming your OD is wired properly with the lockout switch.
Did you have the flywheel refaced during the rebuild?
I really doubt its the O/D. I just had the trans gone through and the O/D works flawlessly.
I did have the flywheel resurfaced and everything was balanced.
