Clutch issues: FIXED!! 05/06
Turbo Mini Forums

I got my new engine running for the first time today, with very few issues. One thing I cant do is select gear whilst the engine is running.
The clutch pedal is rock hard and the revs drop about 2-300 rpm when i depress the pedal. It's freshly bled and the arm does move.

I have done a search and have read that it could be a couple of things from release bearing to poorly machined backplate

Any ideas gents?

Edited by stefaz on 5th Jun, 2009.

have a search for theoneeyedlizards posts.

i think he took his engine out because of the thrusts :( Im not saying rip your engine out! It just might be worth a search for :( its the dropping revs that has me thinking.

Will be properly gutted if it is as this is a brand new build - only fired it up this afternoon

whats the history of the engine etc clutch wise also ?

Brand new ultralight flywheel, greay diaphragm, new lightened backplate with the lugs machined as you suggested steve.

Ant I told you not to use marmite as your build paste, it's just not good practice!

ewwwww marmite!! i thought i told you it was a healthy dollop of hp

Don't mean to scare you, but after ripping mine apart, I found the thrusts were breaking up and had damaged the crank badly.

Exactly the same clutch/flywheel setup.

You can get oversized thrusts, but there is very limited offering (Just+.003 from memory). So my old crank is scrap unless there is another way to take up the end-float.

Although, if this is a new build it could just be the thrusts bedding in as per Tom's reply to this thread...

http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.php?p=vt&tid=5924

Fingers crossed for you.

Edited by theoneeyedlizard on 13th May, 2009.

In the 13's at last!.. Just

I'm quite worried about this on mine aswell!! But then im a paranoid/nervous wreck about everything on it at the moment haha.

The only other thing I can think of is the clutch plate round the wrong way? Is that possible?

Thats what I was thinking Rich, will have to have a look if I get time this week

Just had a quick go as I had a brainwave and thought it might just be stuck as it's been stood a while. tried pushing the clutch down with the engine at about 2000rpm and it just killed it

Stripped the clutch apart this afternoon and I had the plate in the correct way around.

I'm going to replace the release bearing and clevis pin while I have the wok off as a matter of course.

Could anyone tell me what the thickness of the backplate should be at the lugs as my issue sounds the same as mikerace had not so long ago. I couldnt find it in a search.

Cheers gents

Have you measured the crank end-float?

In the 13's at last!.. Just

good call,

yep 4 thou

Would them being put in back to front be causing something like this?

well I was going to measure the backplate and double check first. if its the thrusts I will just have to strip it apart which means i defo wont driving it this year :(

Have you got the flywheel off? is the primary gear free to move on the crank, i say this as i had a similar problem, couldn't get a gear when the engine was running, turned out the spacer washer behind the primary was on the wrong way round.

133.5 bhp 123 lb torque 116mph @6640rpm 9.5psi
Shakespear RWYB 14.995 91.83mph

yeh primary gear spins easily enough by hand. could you not move your primary gear at all mate because this was my next thing to check

I could only just turn the primary when i stripped the clutch, I could easily turn it when i initially assembled the engine even though i put the washer on backward.

133.5 bhp 123 lb torque 116mph @6640rpm 9.5psi
Shakespear RWYB 14.995 91.83mph

hmmm might still be worth a check then. oh well down goes another gallon of oil

The prize goes to chinlesswonder - have partially stripped the clutch side of the engine enough so I can tell it's on the wrong way...now just need to take the cover off properly and install the new thrust washer the right way round.

I've also bought a new release bearing and clevis pins just in case

You should be ble to change that thrust washer without taking the transfer casing off I think.

Yeah you can, just whip the seal out and pull the gear off.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fusion-Fabri..._homepage_panel

www.fusionfabs.co.uk



1/4mile in 13.2sec @ 111 terminal on 15psi

I told you it was that washer Ant!!