Clutch

[Terry Horlick]

I just tore off my transmission for replacement... this board is great, a really nice member contacted me and we made a deal for an original transmission. I may still make my long weekend an MG trip. As the tranny is off and I have always replaced pressure plate, clutch, and throwout bearing on any car I strip down to this point I was going to do that. I pulled the clutch out and except for a wee bit o' glazing it looks new. The pressure plate and throwout looks new also. I couldn't find specs to check on the plate to know how far gone it is. My plate is .298" thick. The fiber discs are .117" and .119". This car supposedly only got 200 miles of use in the last 15 years by the PO. I put on about 1300 miles. The second po probably replaced it not many miles ago. It all looks just about factory fresh. Do those numbers worry anyone? Should I just replace it? I have a strong inclination to just put it back in and run it.... it worked very well before the tranny lost it's 2nd and cluster gears. Thanks, Terry TC2285

[Bob Grunau]

Hi Terry, Great news on the TC gearbox replacement. Glad you are sticking with the TC box. Nothing wrong with re-using the clutch disc. Thickness of the disc is 0.300" when new so you have basically no wear so far. Carbon thrust throw out bearing will last for 50,000 miles if the clutch return spring keeps it off the clutch when dis-engaged. If you had no clutch slip before, the pressure plate should be fine. However you might consider rebuilding the pressure plate with heavier springs. Original springs were red and were ( as I recall ) 120 lbs weight springs. MG special tuning recommended a heavier blue spring clutch which had 150 lb springs. You will not notice the difference in pedal pressure but the 25% more holding power of the blue spring clutch is desireable. Of course, there is no way of telling what clutch is now in the car after 60 years of previous owners modifications/improvements. Bob Grunau I just tore off my transmission for replacement... this board is great, a really nice member contacted me and we made a deal for an original transmission. I may still make my long weekend an MG trip. As the tranny is off and I have always replaced pressure plate, clutch, and throwout bearing on any car I strip down to this point I was going to do that. I pulled the clutch out and except for a wee bit o' glazing it looks new. The pressure plate and throwout looks new also. I couldn't find specs to check on the plate to know how far gone it is. My plate is .298" thick. The fiber discs are .117" and .119". This car supposedly only got 200 miles of use in the last 15 years by the PO. I put on about 1300 miles. The second po probably replaced it not many miles ago. It all looks just about factory fresh. Do those numbers worry anyone? Should I just replace it? I have a strong inclination to just put it back in and run it.... it worked very well before the tranny lost it's 2nd and cluster gears. Thanks, Terry TC2285 Yahoo! Groups Links

[Bill Traill]

Hi Terry, Replace both the clutch and pressure plate with 'new' since you have everything apart. Both may look good, but they might be very old rebuilt units with metal fatigue. Years ago, in my TC, a 'freshly rebuilt clutch' torque spring disintegrated and jammed between the clutch and flywheel. I depressed the pedal, snicked into first and was unexpectedly propelled into an intersection, lucky the traffic light just went green for me. I thought I was hit from behind. I pulled everything down, resurfaced the scarred flywheel, and ordered a new disk from Moss, Goleta. The order-taker suggested a new pressure plate to go with the new clutch. I declined as the pressure plate was 'freshly rebuilt'. Just twooooooo weeks later a finger on the pressure plate fatigued. Bill Traill TC5221 Santa Clara, California

[billsoquel]

----- Original Message ----- From Subject: clutch Jeff, i bought my TC restored and it had too much play from top to engage. I ended up bolting 2 or 3 links togetrher to make it all shorter, and so I could use the threaded rod adjustment. The number of links I had, were the same number shown on the moss catalog. MG guru's have seen the bolt-through-links, and said nothing, and nodded in agreement ( I think it was a up and down, not side to side movement of the head). You may get a better answer from someone else. Bill Webb TC 3338 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Bob Sleeper]

I want to thank all of those that responded to my email. As usual the group came through for me. you all make owning one of these cars sooooo much more fun. Again, thanks to those that responded. BOBS

[Dr. Peter Zernial]

Hi all, I have the small size clutch in my TC and want to go to the bigger size, I think 8". Which other brands than MG have this size of clutch? Thanks for the help Peter TC 1514 Von meinem iPhone gesendet

[MANLEY FORD]

George Edney can supply a lightweight flywheel and much more robust clutch assembly if you want to go that route. -Manley Ford ________________________________ From: Dr. Peter Zernial zernial@t-online.de> To: MG mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Tue, March 27, 2012 11:04:52 AM Subject: [mg-tabc] Clutch Hi all, I have the small size clutch in my TC and want to go to the bigger size, I think 8". Which other brands than MG have this size of clutch? Thanks for the help Peter TC 1514 Von meinem iPhone gesendet [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Bob Grunau]

Hi Peter, Standard clutch in a TC is 7 1/4"- 125 pound red springs. Yes this is a bit weak. MG supplied a heavier 7-1/4" blue 150 pound springs clutch, as part of the Special Tuning. If you fit an 8" clutch, I think you will need to change the flywheel to a late TD/TF type. Possibly then also change the starter motor? A better solution is to go to a 7 -1/2" Sunbeam Alpine or Ford Escort diaphram clutch . This clutch will give you more holding power and also heavier clutch pedal pressure. This bolts directly to the TC flywheel, same bolt circle, same throw-out bearing. However the diaphram clutch has three locating pins at 120 degrees apart, so you have to drill two new locating holes and install two new pins. I used this clutch in my 1500 CC racing TC for 10 years with no problems. I also have it installed on my road TC8654 EXU. Works well. Good luck, Bob, Canada -----Original Message----- From: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com [mailto:mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of Dr. Peter Zernial Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 11:05 AM To: MG Subject: [mg-tabc] Clutch Hi all, I have the small size clutch in my TC and want to go to the bigger size, I think 8". Which other brands than MG have this size of clutch? Thanks for the help Peter TC 1514 Von meinem iPhone gesendet [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Bob Grunau]

Peter, I too can supply a very light weight steel flywheel ( approx 10 pound weight ) which can be used on the TC. Flywheel accepts either the TC or TD starter ring gear. Photos available to those interested. Bob Bob Grunau 150 Pinewood Trail Mississauga, Ontario Canada, L5G-2L1 905-274-4136 grunau.garage@sympatico.ca Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] Clutch George Edney can supply a lightweight flywheel and much more robust clutch assembly if you want to go that route. -Manley Ford Hi all, I have the small size clutch in my TC and want to go to the bigger size, I think 8". Which other brands than MG have this size of clutch? Thanks for the help Peter TC 1514 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Charlie Schott]

Peter, I changed a 1950 TD over to an 8" clutch and if I remember correctly, it took a different bell housing because of clearance needed for the throw out bearing and arm. I stayed with all MG parts. Regards, Charlie Schott TC2189 Panama City Beach From: Dr. Peter Zernial Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 10:04 AM To: MG Subject: [mg-tabc] Clutch Hi all, I have the small size clutch in my TC and want to go to the bigger size, I think 8". Which other brands than MG have this size of clutch? Thanks for the help Peter TC 1514 Von meinem iPhone gesendet [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]