Anybody else having trouble getting hold of a clutch?

[braddy]

I had to take my car into a local Rolls Royce garage as I couldn't get it to a TVR dealer. They've done work on TVRs before and do a great job.
The fingers have broken on my clutch so I need a new one. They have been trying to get hold of one for over a month now, but say that the there is a backlog on the route they use to get them (HL Horner supply them via TVR in Blackpool).

Are there no industry obligations that TVR have to adhere to regarding adequate supplies of spare parts?

I'll be honest, I love the car, but it's not worth the hassle at the moment. I think I'm too much like Basil Fawlty to cope with it keep breaking down. I swear, if I'd have had a tree branch...

[oli_quick]

I am dreading this...mines done almost 33k now on only 1 clutch...so I am fully expecting my next service advice to be 'you need a new clutch mate' (even though I have no signs of failure yet - always like to air on the side of caution).

I remember someone mentioning a load of Cerb owners getting together and commissioning a decent auto engineer to knock a job lot of them up (someone is bound to have the blue prints).

[spartacus]

Think you should read this thread!

[url]www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?t=212955&f=6&h=0[/url]

[braddy]

Cheers Spartacus, I'll have to have a look into the refub option.
It's still bloody rubbish that TVR aren't looking after their existing customers.

[TurboNelly]

Be quick if you want it - looks like there may be competition:
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=13&t=213597

[Rappa]

When my clutch went on my 4.5 (Fingers and wear on the plates). I got it refurbished at a local place in Somerset for £100 plus VAT and it came back like new, obviously there's the pain and grief of getting the gearbox out to get the clutch out and back in but all in all including the running around about 6 hours work.

The boy at the Clutch shop got very excited explaining it's similarities to a F355 AP unit.

[gazzab]

AP cant supply direct. I wrote to them.
They make them to order for TVR.
TVR stopped ordering when Ruski took over.
AP are now supplying but TVR are only ordering enough for new cars and are seemingly not bothered about the 2nd hand car market spares supplies.
I mailed TVR and they havent responded yet and I dont expect they will come back to me. I am only someone who has owned 3 TVRS and put loads of money in their direction.

[simonsparrow]

Rappa said:

When my clutch went on my 4.5 (Fingers and wear on the plates). I got it refurbished at a local place in Somerset for £100 plus VAT and it came back like new, obviously there's the pain and grief of getting the gearbox out to get the clutch out and back in but all in all including the running around about 6 hours work. The boy at the Clutch shop got very excited explaining it's similarities to a F355 AP unit.

Sounds good, feel like posting the details of this place?