Sticky Clutch Problem

[waggy]

Griffith 1994 500HC Preserp T5 Gearbox. 52k miles.

Last year I put in a new clutch inc New Arm, Pivot Pin, Release Bearing and new Slave cylinder.
I have done approx 3k miles since and all ok with new clutch.

Last week I noticed the clutch pedal was getting sticky and kept locking up. I assumed it was the master cylinder as that was the only part I didn’t change.
Yesterday fitted new master cylinder and bled system properly. Took it for a drive and after about 2 miles the clutch pedal stuck again. Called my brother in law and he towed me to his mates garage. We put it on a lift and rechecked the Master and slave to see if they were the problem, re-bled clutch and tried it, but again it locked up. He then removed the slave and the clutch was still locked, proving it was the clutch mechanism causing it. After poking around the clutch suddenly released. It turns out the release bearing Carrier is getting stuck on the shaft. Has anyone had this problem. He managed to get some grease on the shaft and now working smoothly again.

My question is has anyone else had this problem and does it mean a new bearing carrier and a gearbox out job. Took me 9 hours last time..

Alex

[Steve_D]

Is the carrier black plastic or steel?

We never put the plastic ones back on a clutch change.
What can happen is the plastic breaks where the release arm acts and the steel blocks that fit on the pins of the release arm jam down the side of the plastic kicking it over to one side and jamming. This also means the release bearing is no longer sitting square on the clutch fingers and will wear them out very rapidly.
Difficult to tell if this is the problem unless you can get a camera in there.

Bottom line is you have already proved it is jamming internally so most likely has to come out.

Did you grease the tube for the carrier when you did the install?

Steve

Just remembered had a pic on my phone


If it is this and it has failed as badly as you see in the picture then from the outside you should be able to see the arm twisted relative to the pushrod.
Steve

Edited by Steve_D on Sunday 19th May 17:38

Edited by Steve_D on Sunday 19th May 22:49

[phazed]

Makes sense.

I didn’t know that there is/was a plastic carrier alternative!

Sounds like a cheap part given the pressures that are exerted on it.

[waggy]

With the T5 gearbox they fit a aluminium carrier,, I was told only the Rover gearbox have plastic carriers.

I didnt grease the carrier when i fitted the clutch, It had oil on it and thought that would be ok, i must admit i didnt realise how important it was.

Would I get away with just putting copper grease on the input shaft,,

[phazed]

Worth a try I guess.

If it works, it works if it doesn't I would try and get hold of steel one and bite the bullet and change it.

[Sardonicus]

T5 release collar is steel and don't use Copper Ease/grease on input shaft splines just a light film of HM grease or ceramic grease is all you need , never known of the stock T5 release mechanism sticking so something is def up , pull the box

[phazed]

My clutch works a treat, (in joke).

[Sardonicus]

phazed said:

My clutch works a treat, (in joke).

Does now ......