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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Popular Opinion Needed

Ok, before I start anything, I'm going to get the popular opinion on something. I think I know what it will be but I'm going to tap into your brain cells.

Subject vehicle is a 76 midget, 58000 miles. I am having trouble getting it to go into reverse without grinding at times and sometimes it has trouble getting into first. I have the clutch pedal all the way down and sometimes it feels like it isn't quite disengaged when I shift into first from neutral. I get a heavy "clunk" when shifting into the gear that I can feel through the shift lever and the vehicle is still stationary. It's not the universal joints as I have replaced those a while ago.

Shifting through all 4 gears isn't a problem although it feels a little stiffer at times.

The idle speed is 800RPM so we're not idling too fast. I remember reading something somewhere about allowing the transmission time to "wind down" before selecting the appropriate gear.

Clutch master and slave cylinders have been replaced and I did bleed out some air last year again after I had replaced the master cylinder earlier. It might be that but it's odd that I'd get more air in almost a year later.

It doesn't do this all the time though but has just started doing it more than I like.

I think it might be clutch replacement time because it is probably the original clutch and who knows how well the other 8 owners drove it!

I'm going to rebleed the system again and check transmission fluid levels as those are the cheapest and easiest to do first but your opinions or suggestions are welcomed.

Clive Reddin 76 Midget

Is there wear in your pedal linkage?
Trevor-Jessie

I just had many of the same symptoms and after a new MC I discovered that the hole for the clevis pin at the top of the clutch pedal was completly worn out.
A quick weld and drill job had me back on the road.
Phil


Phil

Phils picture looks vary familer....

when I went with a new Hi performance set up.....the old system looked just like that....

If I was a betting MAN the thing I would focas on even before bleeding would be the slave cly. push rod....it may have worn down a bit and is not depressing the system all the way....thats the first place Id probably look....as thats what the symptoms seem to fleash out IMHO.

prop
Prop

Check the pivot pin for the clutch linkage. These are prone to falling out on the 1500's. Had the same thing happen to me with very similar symptoms. I ended up replacing mine with a bolt put in form the top. End of problem...
Tim Michnay

Thanks for the advice received so far. Maybe my car isn't as sick as I first thought! It's been a gradual thing but it's gotten worse over time and frankly I hadn't thought of the pedal wearing.

Maybe I'll be lucky but it's one more little thing to check out.
Clive Reddin 76 Midget

Clive,

A work around, particularly if the rest of the stuff looks good, may be to put it in third before selecting first or reverse. I believe this works because it puts an end to waiting for wind down.

You may find that you don't even need to fully engage third, but only need to put some gear lever pressure in that direction.

I have a tendency to do this without thinking about it in most cars.

Charley
C R Huff

Being as you have a 1500, you might want to drop the sump and check your crankshaft thrust bearings. These area a known failure point on the 1500 engine... if allowed to go untended for a long time, and with heavy clutch use, the rear one can wear thin and fall out, allowing the crankshaft to shift forward when you hit the clutch pedal, and eventually leading to engine failure. (Read, #3 rod through the block.)

Granted, this may be off-base. But you're hearing a "clunk" from somewhere. Does it sound like it's coming from the bottom end of the engine? Could it be the crankshaft moving forwards and hitting the journal?

Easy test - have somebody depress the clutch pedal while you watch the crankshaft pulley. If it moves forward, you need thrust bearings. Hopefully it won't be that, but there are two positives; you can replace them without pulling the engine, and the engine hasn't croaked yet...

Best,

-:G:-
Gryf Ketcherside

This might be what Tim was referring too, but when I had a clutch problem last year it turned out that the pin which holds the fork which pushes the plate out had come loose, so depending on its position at the time the clutch would release to varying degrees. I think with a little crawling and wiggling and a small mirror, one should be able to see this from underneath.

--john
jf Falconer

Gryf, I don't think it's engine related. It happened when I was shifting into first while sitting at a light. I don't keep the clutch pedal depressed at lights and I felt it through the shifter as it dropped into gear. It felt like the transmission mainshaft was still turning slightly as I selected the gear.

This has happened from time to time. If it was a clutch problem it would probably be happening all the time so perhaps it is a wear problem in the clutch pedal as has been suggested.

I may as well check everything out anyway. Doesn't take long and it's cheap insurance and I want to keep the original engine in the car as I want to keep it as "factory original" as possible.
Clive Reddin 76 Midget

This thread was discussed between 18/06/2008 and 19/06/2008

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