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MG MGA - Time for a clutch?


Hi Everyone,

I've got a '60 MGA 1600 that I'm helping a friend out with. The car is extremely difficult to shift into and out of gear while moving (especially into or out of 2nd). It will also grind badly on downshifts when attempting to engage a lower gear (2nd again) I went through and replaced the MC, SC, hose, dowel pins, and bled the system properly. The problem still remains and I'm pretty sure I can feel the clutch slip while driving. I think the car is probably due for a clutch but wanted to get some opinions first.

Thanks,
Dave
David Plantz

To me that sounds more like your clutch is dragging rather than slipping Dave.
If the clutch was slipping it wouldnt make it more difficult to change gear but if anything more easy.
A slipping clutch would also make the car more difficult to drive away from a standing start. The engine revs would tend to rise even with your foot off the clutch pedal, and also when you drive up a steep incline.
There may be something wrong with the clutch hydraulic system or clutch adjustment or the clutch itself. Is the correct friction plate fitted?
Also, have you checked if there is enough oil in the gearbox?
Colyn
Colyn Firth


Hi Everyone,

I've got a '60 MGA 1600 that I'm helping a friend out with. The car is extremely difficult to shift into and out of gear while moving (especially into or out of 2nd). It will also grind badly on downshifts when attempting to engage a lower gear (2nd again) I went through and replaced the MC, SC, hose, dowel pins, and bled the system properly. The problem still remains and I'm pretty sure I can feel the clutch slip while driving. I think the car is probably due for a clutch but wanted to get some opinions first.

Thanks,
Dave
David Plantz

To me that sounds more like your clutch is dragging rather than slipping Dave.
If the clutch was slipping it wouldnt make it more difficult to change gear but if anything more easy.
A slipping clutch would also make the car more difficult to drive away from a standing start. The engine revs would tend to rise even with your foot off the clutch pedal, and also when you drive up a steep incline.
There may be something wrong with the clutch hydraulic system or clutch adjustment or the clutch itself. Is the correct friction plate fitted?
Also, have you checked if there is enough oil in the gearbox?
Colyn
Colyn Firth


Hi Colyn,

I'm not actually sure if the correct friction plate is in there or not as it is an older restoration. When I watch the slave cylinder move the clutch fork it looks like it is moving sufficiently. Yes, the gearbox was very low on oil, and after topping it up there was a slight improvement, but not much. It is extremely difficult to get the car out of gear while driving to downshift or upshift. Most shifts require a lot of force on the gear lever and usually result in grinding when engaging the next gear.

Thanks for your reply.
Dave
David Plantz

Is it still stiff when the car is parked and motor off?
Art Pearse


Hi Art,

It's still pretty stiff with the engine off but not as bad. I wonder if the PO driving it with low oil did any damage to the gearbox?

-Dave
David Plantz

Clutches in death throes frequently give both dragging and slipping, as the pieces warp and/or disintegrate. Best test for slip is hard acceleration up a steep hill in third, or a 3-4 shift on said hill. You should be able to find a suitable hill there!

FRM
Fletcher R Millmore

Best test for a slipping clutch is to apply the handbrake hard and then select fourth gear. Now increase the revs and slowly release the clutch increasing the throttle the whole time. If you land up with the clutch pedal fully released and the engine still spinning then you have a slipping clutch. Drag can be caused by a partial collapse of the clutch cover assembly which will prevent it from being released fully in fact this will also prevent the full clamping force being applied to the friction plate and thus causing the slippage. You have a classic case of a knackered clutch in dire need of replacement.
Iain MacKintosh


Fletcher and Iain,

I'll double check for the clutch slipping, but I'm sure I'll have to pull the engine and put a clutch kit in. I might consider doing the 2nd gear synchro as well.

Thanks,
Dave
David Plantz

Regardless of the clutch it should drop out of gear fairly easily when moving without load i.e. neither under power nor over run. Anyway, you will be able to check the gearbox if you do the 2nd gear synchro. Sounds like you have to pull the engine anyway because your clutch is shot, so it would be false economy not to fix the box.

The only last ditch hope might be air trapped in the clutch slave cylinder:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj1dMdYgRK4&feature=PlayList&p=16C0B71AF1C3954E&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=33

If that's not the case...
Neil McGurk

I agree 100% with Neil. When you pull it you need to go through the gearbox. I didn't when I replaced the clutch and now I am sorry. Now my second gear synchro is starting to go so I have to pull it again to do the gearbox. And like Neil said, as long as you are not accelerating or decelerating you should easily be able to shift into neutral without using the clutch. Your problems may be just the clutch, but from everything you say you will probably end up doing the gearbox too.
Jeff Schultz

What oil did you refill it with? The MGA uses 30 weight egine oil, not 80-90 weight gear oil that is usually in gearboxes. But it sounds like a synchro problem.
Peter.
P. Tilbury

This thread was discussed between 02/05/2010 and 03/05/2010

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