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MG MGA - I don't know why , but I'm always amazed!

Last week , I pulled the engine on the "A", because I have known that it had a clutch issue since I got the car last Spring....I had decided then that I would drive the car all Summer, and enjoy the driving weather....I went ahead then, and purchased a new clutch and pressure plate, as I felt that once the motor was out, I "might as well" replace them.
The first "surprise", was the spigot bushing that literally fell out of the flywheel, as the engine was coming out....
It now made sense, that I kept hearing a rattling (I mean "death rattles" ), sound in first and reverse....
Looking at the bushing, it was obvious that a PO's "mechanic" (yes, the engine was done professionally, less than 4000 miles ago, with a new clutch and pressure plate, as well), had ground the exterior of the bushing to make it fit! In addition, the resulting ID looked like an egg. Fortunately my input shaft is still perfect.
The next "surprise", was the throw-out arm bolt and bushing, that were so worn , that it was obvious that they had probably NEVER been replaced, even though the throwout bearing showed very little wear...Meaning that the said "mechanic" had replaced the throwout, without replacing the other worn parts...including the slave cylinder push rod, that had a hole double the normal size.
Some poor slob had paid good money to have this work done, and this is what he got....
Having redone many British and American cars, it still amazes me how many unethical or incompetent repair shops there are.
Edward
Edward Wesson 60MGA

If the spigot bearing was the cause of the rattling, it's unlikely that it would just be in first and reverse.
Dave O'Neill2

My theory is that first and reverse are straight-cut gears, and noisy to begin with....Adding a loose and out of round ,spigot bushing to the mix, at high rpm, magnified the noise.....I feel confident that my "clutch" problems were caused by the combination of all of the items that I listed....
Edward
Edward Wesson 60MGA

This thread was discussed between 20/11/2013 and 21/11/2013

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