The clutch, the cold, getting it in gear - comments?
Discussion
Recently, Ive found the cerb very difficult to get in gear. Just went out and found it nearly impossible to get first without a lengthy warmup on the drive first. When I do get a gear, it takes another several minutes of driving before the gears become smooth.
I'd guess it was the cold, but... Im not sure. Its been mega stiff recently (always when starting the car from cold, it always goes) and the problem was non existent in October/November, even on the cold days, I think...
Also, today it seemed that the first third of clutch pedal travel was slacker than it usually is, but again Im really not sure. Maybe im imagining things. After all, my attention/focus on the clutch pedal was 500% what it usually is, because of the stiff gears. Comments/suggestions anyone?
Can I also ask - how many miles has everyone's clutch lasted, over the years?
I'd guess it was the cold, but... Im not sure. Its been mega stiff recently (always when starting the car from cold, it always goes) and the problem was non existent in October/November, even on the cold days, I think...
Also, today it seemed that the first third of clutch pedal travel was slacker than it usually is, but again Im really not sure. Maybe im imagining things. After all, my attention/focus on the clutch pedal was 500% what it usually is, because of the stiff gears. Comments/suggestions anyone?
Can I also ask - how many miles has everyone's clutch lasted, over the years?
UKBob said:
How does one bleed the clutch - is it easy to do:
Three pieces of advice:
1. Ask a friend to help you
2. Start by using a syringe to get the fluid out of the master cylinder reservoir if it is at all dark. Mine collects rubber particles from seals. There is no point flushing rubbish through your system. Top up with fluid from a NEW sealed container. (OK you open it to get the fluid out!) You reach the reservoir by removing a GRP cover which is on the driver's side inner wing, almost touching the black air box. The bleed screw is very easy to reach once the panel just in front of the screen is removed. The bleed screw is at the end of a flexible pipe with braided stainless steel protection, quite high up.
3. Remember the fluid attacks paint. I cover the wing with a plastic sheet and newspaper on top of that, in case of accidents. I also have a container with water nearby to dilute any spillage.
If the gearbox is stiff, I would change the oil but use the special fully synthetic stuff garages like Christopher Neil use. You need to jack the car up high, use axle stands and not suffer from claustrophobia to do the oil change.
Aren't these jobs done for you at servicing though?
Best of luck!
kevin63 said:piece of piss. But when you dont know where to start...
I think YOU will find it is harder to do on Yellow cars.....
If the radiator filling was a experience then i would get someone else to to the bleeding for you or that could become your favorite word.
Extra 300 Driver said:My clutch has only done 10k miles, so im hoping it will be ok. And new seals would have been fitted(dream machines tell me) 11 months ago, when the new clutch was done.
Sounds like there is a clearance problem there somewhere. Is the bite point moving at all?
If you need a clutch and a slave I have one, both in VGC.
What exactly is bleeding? How does it work? And yes, the biting point seems to have moved (the first third of the travel on the pedal is also really slack)
Cheers alderly. I dropped the car off at dream machines last night, they are going to try and bleed it this week.
How many hours labour is:
bleeding
changing the seals
master cylinder
slave cylinder
(I checked the footwell the other day, and it was dry)
Just hoping its not going to be expensive, and will be sorted this week, fingers crossed.
UKBob said:
(I checked the footwell the other day, and it was dry)
Just hoping its not going to be expensive, and will be sorted this week, fingers crossed.
How many hours labour is:
bleeding ----- 1 hour
changing the seals
master cylinder ---- 1 hour if done inplace but 3 hours if removed. A new cylinder is from a TR7 I think
slave cylinder ---- 6 hours, min. It has been claimed that it can be done in !hr but I would like to see that. The company that did my clutch charged me £380 to do the clutch and slave cylinder.
Extra 300 Driver said:I think DM said 3 hours for that, not sure. Will let you know how I get on.
bleeding ----- 1 hour
Tam Lin said:Hmmmm, i hope its not on its way out. I'll just have to wait and see. Whats the breakdown of a new clutch though, the cost of parts VS time (how much labour etc). Isnt it a combination of the most expensive/common thing to go wrong on cerberas, not a case of if but when. With a min price of £1k for the job to be done?
..fingers crossed.
Wouldn't even mention fingers..as they're more likely to be broken than crossed. Before we needed a new clutch at Easter, the cold into-gear selection did seem to need more and more force. Good luck!
Clutch is , what £580? Plus new slave seals, £25, plus oil for the grearbox and some DOT5.1 fluid then I think you would be looking at getting at beill for £1K.
You could do it for maybe £200-300 less but that would take some time in getting your clutch rebuilt.
To be honest of its gone floppy then it has to be the slave or master. When the fingers go the clutch feels normal but you cant select any gears.
If money is tight then give me a PM. I have done mine twice now and have access to a ramp.
You could do it for maybe £200-300 less but that would take some time in getting your clutch rebuilt.
To be honest of its gone floppy then it has to be the slave or master. When the fingers go the clutch feels normal but you cant select any gears.
If money is tight then give me a PM. I have done mine twice now and have access to a ramp.
mad mark said:
Mine is doing the same thing at the moment, almost impossible to get it into gear when cold, but once it warms, no problems.
Going to bleed mine soon.
The hardest part is getting that small cover off above the master cylinder.
try pumping the pedal before you pull away.
mad mark said:
Mine is doing the same thing at the moment, almost impossible to get it into gear when cold, but once it warms, no problems.
Going to bleed mine soon.
The hardest part is getting that small cover off above the master cylinder.
Mines just duck taped on. Comes off with a gentle peel. Not the prettiest but its hidden most of the time anyway.
Extra 300 Driver said:Cheers mate, I appreciate it. Its booked into dream machines for next year. They've given me a temporary fix. Its possibly the seals they said, 5 hours labour was quoted to replace all 4. They cant do the job till next year so have topped up the fluid and the car appears to be fine now. It wont last forever, but with luck it will last another 2 weeks. I wonder if the cold brought on the demise of the seals, assuming it is the seals?
If money is tight then give me a PM. I have done mine twice now and have access to a ramp.
Is that your plane (not the jet, the other one) in your profile?
UKBob said:
If money is tight then give me a PM. I have done mine twice now and have access to a ramp.
Is that your plane (not the jet, the other one) in your profile?
sniff sniff. She was sold due to lack of use. It was m best mates. He spent all the money and I flew it!
Cool eh!
Extra 300 Driver said:Very cool
If money is tight then give me a PM. I have done mine twice now and have access to a ramp.
Is that your plane (not the jet, the other one) in your profile?
sniff sniff. She was sold due to lack of use. It was m best mates. He spent all the money and I flew it!
Cool eh!
Ive flown a few times, and the excitment plus awe/cool factor is like driving your cerb away on the day of purchase (almost 
) A small light craft costs about as much to run per year as two cerberas.
Check this out:
Its actually a microlight. Cost less than a cerbera, and it costs less to run (average pilot, average hours) than a cerbera. And will out perform most light aircraft (VNE, cruising speed, climbing speed, cieling, mpg etc) Microlights have come a long way in recent years, and dont have dodgy clutch seals either
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