Clutch arm re-attachment?

[halcyongriff500]

Recently, the clutch pedal on my Chimaera 450 went to the floor and stayed there. It seemed that the master cylinder had jammed, disengaging the clutch and marooning the car on my sloping drive. I was able to jack-up the car to remove the slave cylinder, 1st gear could then be engaged and the car dragged itself into onto ramps with the starter motor. [King lead removed from coil!] Access to the master cylinder mountings in the driver's footwell was challenging and beyond the flexibility of my ageing spine so I employed a mobile mechanic to assist when the new master and slave cylinders arrived ex- Motaclan. With the cylinders duly fitted and hydraulics bled, we then discovered, via the access hole in the bell-housing [BW T5 gearbox] that the clutch arm had become detached from the pivot pin and release bearing carrier. Neither of us were able to manipulate this back into position lying on our backs under the car!
So 2 questions; 1. Is the clutch arm likely to be damaged/worn - hence why it became detached? I suspect the spring clip on the clutch arm had become tired allowing it to become detached when pressure from the slave cylinder was released?
2. Can the clutch arm be manipulated back into position via the access hole if the car was over a pit or on a hydraulic lift [or removed and replaced if worn /damaged] without removing the gearbox?
A couple of local garages said that gearbox removal would be required and only one was prepared to tackle it [in 3 weeks time!], albeit the car will need to be recovered to their premises as it is currently immobilised. I ask the questions so new parts can be ordered in advance if gearbox removal is likely to be required.

[kris450]

Not sure about any potential damage, I guess its possible. Seeing as its 'off' as such I'd change the fork anyway for piece of mind. Along with the pivot and slave cylinder rod clip. Not mega money and not something that should need doing frequently, so whilst you're in there...

What year is the car/gearbox do you have ? If its a T5 then yes it can be changed without the gearbox coming out through the access hole, but its a fiddly faff. I've done it on my car and unbolting the slave gave me the room needed. But again, its a faff Entirely possible though !!

EDIT: Oh and this was with car on axle stands so no pit/garage lift etc needed.

EDIT 2: Wow I'm quite clearly half asleep this morning... Just seen its a Chim 450... Yes, its entirely possible to change it in situ.

Edited by kris450 on Tuesday 15th April 10:45

Edited by kris450 on Tuesday 15th April 10:47

[Belle427]

I managed to put one back on through the hole but it was a real pita to be honest.
I used some grease to keep those pads that engage with the bearing in place but it still took an age.
Can't answer if anything is damaged sorry, a visual of the arm should tell you that.