Finger Followers / Clutch ?

[PascalBuyens]

I know it's been discussed on here before, but can anyone shortly describe how it sounds when either one of these "go"?

A bit busy at work now, but I think I might have had one of these problems yesterday...

[yzf1070]

PascalBuyens said:

I know it's been discussed on here before, but can anyone shortly describe how it sounds when either one of these "go"?

A bit busy at work now, but I think I might have had one of these problems yesterday...

Pascal I am a bit confused as you comment you may have suffered one of the above problems.... but both items are completely remote of one another. I therefore assume that you have a clutch problem and you are actually meaning the clutch pressure plate fingers...?!? If this is the case then the symptoms of failed pressure plate fingers is difficulty (it will progressively get worse) or an impossibility to engage gear. (Not being able to engage gear can also be failed thrust seals but then the clutch pedal generally either feels very spongy or it goes to the floor with little or no resistance. There is often a puddle of clutch/brake fluid on the floor under the car).

The reason for the pressure plate fingers breaking is down to the fact that the thrust bearing mates with the very tips of the pressure plate fingers, this causes excessive wear to the finger tips and exerts maximum load on the fingers which is not ideal. Do a search on the these forums and you will find a link to a company called Clever Trevor, They reportedly offer a modified TVR clutch thrust and pressure plate assembly that is better. You could call them and mail order one and have it fitted at a garage local to you, its a straight forward job.

Having said all that if its your cylinder head valve train finger followers to which you refer..... failure or wear can be indicated by an increase in the audible rattle at the top end of the engine (different to the ticking of correctly adjusted valve clearances but easily confused with excessive valve clearances). This rattle will remain audible even after the engine has been warmed up. A more thorugh chack you can do for yourself is by removing the cam cover and checking one by one the cam lobe contact area of the finger followers by sliding the followers to one side against the rocker shaft springs. With the engine in 5th rock the car to rotate the cams to gain access to the finger followers. Where there exists finger follower wear, also the cam lobes may show signs of scoring or wear. Some of the cams were made from crappy sintered metal.

Hope this helps

Regards
G

[PascalBuyens]

G,

Thanks for the reply!

I was driving the car yesterday pretty normal (friend with Exige was with me, and he hadn't driven it for a few months, so really still warming up the engines), and when entering the motorway the engine started to rattle, at first slightly, then within a minute it got really loud... I slowed down, and try to limp to the first exit. While doing that, the rattle got worse, even at low rpm. Managed to get to the end of the exit, there the engine simply stalled.

Reason I suspect it could have been the clutch: I have been told at the last MOT that it was almost at his end, and while slowly drving, I did experience difficult gear changes.

Car has been towed and is at the dealer now. I'll have to wait and see what he finds...


P

Edited by PascalBuyens on Tuesday 10th April 09:12

[dvs_dave]

Ouch! Almost certainly the finger followers (part of the engine valve gear). Sorry to hear your bad luck.

If you decide to get the engine rebuilt, I would advise getting the new updated Clevor Trevor clutch installed at the same time.

Edited by dvs_dave on Tuesday 10th April 20:46