No clutch !

[m4ckg]

I've been to get the car out today for the first time after being garaged for the winter, I always start the car every couple of weeks and thought everything was ok untill I pressed on the clutch pedal! Nothing there at all. I've looked in the bible for a fix and that gives a few options but I just wondered if anybody could give me some advice on which

[TVR Beaver]

Do you have fluid in the top?.. under the plastic black cover in the engine bay?
If not, you have to work out where it went... start at the bottom.. has the bleed nipple come loose??
If not its most likley seals... in the main (top of the pedal).. or slave (end of the push rod)... look on the floor under the car... and I guess main would drip into the car??...

[m4ckg]

TVR Beaver said:

Do you have fluid in the top?.. under the plastic black cover in the engine bay?
If not, you have to work out where it went... start at the bottom.. has the bleed nipple come loose??
If not its most likley seals... in the main (top of the pedal).. or slave (end of the push rod)... look on the floor under the car... and I guess main would drip into the car??...

thanks for the reply, tbh I didn't have time to look as the car is at my Dads, I just looked in the bible and looked at the 'clutch problems after laying away' and it mentions bump starting and jacking the rear end up etc but says damage can occur with some of these techniques.

[TVR Beaver]

Mmmm when you say 'nothing there'.. are you saying the pedal goes to the floor (this is what I assumed)... or the clutch is stuck solid?... If the latter then the bump start etc may work... but if its going to the floor I would not bump it.. how would you stop it unless you turn the key or ram it out of gear??

[Tomej]

has any fluid leaked into footwell, above the pedals?

[m4ckg]

Yes, nothing there at all, I'm going to have a look this morning, cheers Scott

[m4ckg]

Tomej said:

has any fluid leaked into footwell, above the pedals?

Sorry ! we posted at the same time ;-) I'll have a look there as well

[CHGRIFF]

Theres a plastic clip mounted in the end of the clutch fork that the slave cylinder push rod locates into. If this breaks you can loose your clutchas the fork is displaced. Cheap part but not easy to replace without removing gearbox/bell housing. Some have serviced the fork without removal. Easy to spot through the aperture in the bell housing.

[haircutmike]

CHGRIFF said:

Theres a plastic clip mounted in the end of the clutch fork that the slave cylinder push rod locates into. If this breaks you can loose your clutchas the fork is displaced. Cheap part but not easy to replace without removing gearbox/bell housing. Some have serviced the fork without removal. Easy to spot through the aperture in the bell housing.

The fork itself often fails as the pivot punches a hole through the fork and instant, "no clutch"!

[taylormj4]

haircutmike said:

The fork itself often fails as the pivot punches a hole through the fork and instant, "no clutch"!

Mine did that but the pedal went soft for one push (whilst it was 'relocating' the clutch fork) and then solid as a rock as it jammed in the bell housing.

[m4ckg]

been and looked at the car today and the resevoir is empty and I could see some drips of fluid coming off the chassis, I just need to find the leak now, thanks for the help. Scott

[rigga]

Slave cylinder gone

[haircutmike]

rigga said:

Slave cylinder gone

Quite usual, you can't get the original bore size slave so the replacement will make your clutch feel slightly heavier, only just!

[rigga]

When i replaced mine is was obviously heavier in action,very noticeable.

[m4ckg]

Is there a seal kit or do I just buy a replacement off the shelf?

[haircutmike]

I'd get a decent one from Clev Trev, mine from there has been in 3-4 years.

[bam50]

Hi Scott,

check out this info I added after I had the same problem:-

Chimaera No Clutch - Info for Others

Regards BAM50

[m4ckg]

bam50 said:

Hi Scott,

check out this info I added after I had the same problem:-

Chimaera No Clutch - Info for Others

Regards BAM50

thanks for that Brian, I'll give them a ring :-)