Clutch issues?
Discussion
97 400hc, new clutch less than 5000 miles ago. Just recently I’ve detected a fair bit of slip from the transmission. Could anything other than a worn clutch be causing this? My clutch bites fairly high up and I’ve noticed no difference in the bite point over the last year. I’ve managed to get the master cylinder cover off and I’m not losing any fluid but it’s not the cleanest.
My last Chimaera in 2014 started having clutch slip, as well as short pedal travel. It turned out to be a seized slave cylinder such that the actuating rod had bent!.
This can be accessed from underneath without the need for the gearbox to come off although I took it to a specialist because I though it was worn out.
This can be accessed from underneath without the need for the gearbox to come off although I took it to a specialist because I though it was worn out.
Thanks guys, I’ll check the receipt but I think it was the whole clutch assembly, plus the fork was upgraded. I’ve noticed a bit of oil around the back of the sump (did an oil change today) but I’m not losing/using oil at any rate. I’ve also read about thrust bearings causing a slipped clutch type symptom.
Change the clutch fluid 
Mine would slip when the engine was hot because the fluid hadn't been changed in a few years. Peddle felt normal and it would be fine on light throttle, but high revs full throttle would slip it just like the clutch was worn. Heat was expanding the fluid as if I was resting my foot on the peddle.
Mine would slip when the engine was hot because the fluid hadn't been changed in a few years. Peddle felt normal and it would be fine on light throttle, but high revs full throttle would slip it just like the clutch was worn. Heat was expanding the fluid as if I was resting my foot on the peddle.Edited by s p a c e m a n on Wednesday 27th March 20:09
make sure that you have "free play" on the pedal push rod. when your foot is off the clutch pedal the piston in the master cylinder needs to be returned fully which opens a vent hole to the reservoir. if there is no free play the vent hole will be closed and the clutch can't release fully. i have also seen a situation where the thread on the push rod was protruding far enough into the clevis that it was resting against the clutch pedal and so couldn't be adjusted any further. if this is the case you can cut 5mm or so of the thread to achieve free play {clearance} good to see another NZer on here! good luck.
Spaceman read NZ fan's post because what you did to cure yours should not be possible with a fully functioning system , renewing the fluid only masked your problem , when the pedal is released the previously used fluid returns to the clutch res via the master cylinder piston fill port which is now uncovered
Read my post here dated Wednesday 20th February:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Then check your release bearing carrier clearance!
Then fit a proper AP clutch
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Then check your release bearing carrier clearance!
Then fit a proper AP clutch
Thanks for the advice. It would seem that there is indeed no clearance between the release bearing and pressure plate. But also I’ve not been able to make the clutch slip again (probably cursed it now). So is the clearance issue a common fault and is it due to faulty parts, poor installation or bad luck? What’s the fix? Also had the clutch fluid flushed.
Trouble is any clearance you had diminishes with clutch wear the fingers on the cover plate move outwards towards the release bearing so what you have at present is a clutch that is riding itself 
rather than the driver leaving his/her foot on the pedal (bad habit) 
so long term not ideal , no they are not all like it and the problem comes around with moody or incompatible clutch components
rather than the driver leaving his/her foot on the pedal (bad habit) so long term not ideal , no they are not all like it and the problem comes around with moody or incompatible clutch components^^This^^^
According to Mat Smith who finally identified my issue where others (including myself) had missed it, the clearance problem is quite common. He sees it fairly frequently but it's not a consistent thing, Mat explained some have it and others don't which seems to indicate TVR themselves were inconsistent with the parts they used.
Mat's solution is to machine down the carrier on his lathe, he did this with mine along with fitting a proper AP clutch which I should have chosen years ago, after this the system was transformed in every respect, the car became much nicer to drive especially when maneuvering at low speed, gear selection was smoother and easier.
I'm also in no doubt my new AP clutch will last longer now the bearing carrier has been machined down, and it'll will be kinder on my gearbox synchro rings too as it's no longer dragging when hot, as were all my other clutches including the short lived original fitted by TVR themselves when the car was built in 1996.
The rest is covered in detail in my post dated Wednesday 20th February ....
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
According to Mat Smith who finally identified my issue where others (including myself) had missed it, the clearance problem is quite common. He sees it fairly frequently but it's not a consistent thing, Mat explained some have it and others don't which seems to indicate TVR themselves were inconsistent with the parts they used.
Mat's solution is to machine down the carrier on his lathe, he did this with mine along with fitting a proper AP clutch which I should have chosen years ago, after this the system was transformed in every respect, the car became much nicer to drive especially when maneuvering at low speed, gear selection was smoother and easier.
I'm also in no doubt my new AP clutch will last longer now the bearing carrier has been machined down, and it'll will be kinder on my gearbox synchro rings too as it's no longer dragging when hot, as were all my other clutches including the short lived original fitted by TVR themselves when the car was built in 1996.
The rest is covered in detail in my post dated Wednesday 20th February ....
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
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