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MG TD TF 1500 - Sticking Clutch

I have completely rebuilt the engine and assembled the 1953 mg td. I now find the clutch sticks to the flywheel. Sometimes he takes awhile before it does not stick to the flywheel. Obviously the gears grind in this condition. The question is: Is it the oil seapimg from the engine causing the problem?
Ralph Cacace

I would think that oil would certainly prevent any sticking.... when you are driving it and it isn't stuck, does the clutch 'slip'?
What are the symptoms when it is 'stuck'?
gblawson(gordon)

Ralph,
Gordon is "spot on" with his answer... If you did have oil seaping onto the clutch and flywheel, your clutch would slip rather than "stick"... I would think that there is a problem with he clutch adjustment,,,, Or the motor or trannie mounts might not be tight..

SPW
Steve Wincze

Did it always do it after rebuild, or start later? Besides above posts, check to see that the clutch lever on the bellhousing is really moving the correct amount- as Steve mentions a loose motor mount would allow the whole assembly to move. As Gordon speculates, I have driven my TD with a really oily clutch which worked perfectly- I was shocked to see how oil-soaked the disk was. Check out the O'Connor Classics web site on the clutch linkage. Is the clutch new also? George
George Butz

Thanks for the feedback. I installed a new clutch plate when I did the restoration. I have adjusted the the clutch so that it engages on the high end. After the car sits for a week, I place the transmission in first gear, depress the clutch, and start the engine. the car jumps forward and the clutch plate releases. After driving for a short period depresing the clutch to put it in neutral the engine bogs down slightly acting like the clutch has not released. Pumping the gas soles the problem. Continue driving the problem is gone. Clutch has not shown any slipping while driving.
Ralph Cacace

Ralph. I'm not one to judge the validity of this article, but you might want to read the part about starting the engine with the clutch depressed.

http://mg-tri-jag.net/tech4.htm

Cheers

Larry
L Karpman


Ralph one unforuniate possibility maybe that the
trans. input shaft is seizing in the crankshaft
bushing. If this started new after rebilding the
engine, the bushing may be dry.

I hope it's something eaiser to fix
Regards
Doug
DAB DOUG

Or possibly the splines weren't lubed with a bit of white grease for the clutch disc to slide back and forth on.
Tom

Ralph - One doesn't normally associate this problem with Arizona because it is so dry there, but often times when an standard transmission sits for awhile in a humid atmosphere, the clutch disk will rust to the flywheel and/or pressure plate. You can check to see if this is the problem by bracing the clutch pedal all the way down the next time you put the car away for a week. Release the clutch and then try starting the car in your normal method by pressing the clutch in. If the car doesn't jump forward, they your problem is probably rust on the flywheel/pressure plate. Take the car out for a drive and spend some time slipping the clutch (or sit in your drive way with the hand brake set and slip the clutch). do this until you have heated the clutch up components up and drive any moisture off and abrade the surface rust off of the components. Next thing to do is find where the moisture is coming from. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

Lazarus' gear train was in place for about six months before I got to start him. Clutch wouldn't release. The attached image shows the rust that had stuck the flywheel to the disk.

Bud Krueger

This thread was discussed between 01/11/2008 and 06/11/2008

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