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MG TD TF 1500 - clutch issues

Hi All,

I have my '54 TF which we just got running, for the first time in 40 years, last fall. I then started going through the systems to refurbish them. I believe the clutch plate was stuck to the flywheel and pressure plate, but I got everything apart and cleaned up. The pressure plate seemed okay so I reused it and installed a new throw out bearing and clutch disc. I purchased an adjustable clutch rod that Moss sells. I adjusted everything so that I had 3/4" pedal play. When I tried shifting the gears (all gears) clashed like I had not even pushed the clutch pedal in. I have adjusted the linkage where there is no pedal play and I still have the same issue. If I put the car in gear and push the clutch in and crank the engine the car moves. Again as though the clutch is not disengaging. Anyone seen this problem before and know the cause? As always any help and advice is really appreciated. George

P.S.: I used the grease, which came with the clutch plate, to lube the gearbox shaft. Everything seemed to work smooth and still does.
GH Higginson

George, I don't know if this would effect it but did you put the clutch plate the correct way around?

Don TF 4887 "Figaro' TC 1736 "Sibelius'
Don Walker

As said above, that might be an issue, but also a few words on free play of the pedal. My finding is that there is no free play as such, because of the action of the spring. The free play referred to in the WSM is the travel before you can feel the pedal start to actually press the release bearing against the plate. The other thing is that the Moss adjustable rod length should initially be set to 12 7/8", according to my notes.
Dave H
Dave Hill

Look at the clutch rod info sheet on the Moss website, specifically Diagram #8. Make sure it is adjusted that way. If it is still stuck, perhaps the original problem was not a stuck clutch but a bad pressure plate. Also need to check that the outer arm and the inner throwout bearing fork have somehow not sheared the keyway on to the operating shaft. Don's comment correct also. George
George Butz

The new clutch disc was not labeled as to which way faces the engine, however, the old one did. So I installed the new disc like the old one. I will reset the clutch rod to 12 7/8" and reset everything again. According to what I read the clutch should be adjusted to 3/4" pedal play which gives 1/16" clearance between clutch bearing and pressure plate when clutch pedal is not being depressed. As fsr as the pressure plate, all of the springs and hardware were correctly in place and when I press the pedal everything appears to work normally.
George, I do not understand about the clutch fork keyway. The fork slides on and is held by two spring clips. They were in good shape when I installed it. George
GH Higginson

GH
The keyway is on the main shaft and the clutch fork slides onto the key. If that key is sheared then you will never get the clutch to work.
Those two spring clips hold the throwout bearing onto the forkes ends.
Sandy
edith sanders

The length of the rod is not as important as the "clock" position of the lever on the bell housing. Better diagram and explanation here: http://www.ttalk.info/ClutchLinkageFix.pdf
From Bud's' T-Talk. Keyways/keys are present in both the central throwout bearing fork to shaft, as well as the lever outside the bell housing.George
George Butz

George

If you have to remove the transmission to check the clutch make sure that the end of the main shaft that goes into the pilot bushing in the rear of the crankshaft is clean. I had some rust on the end of an MGB main shaft that made the car act like yours. The transmission had been sitting for a week or so while we were waiting for parts and it picked up a bit of rust. Not much but it was enough to give us fits for a bit. After giving it a thorough polishing the problem went away.

Stuart
S Grimm

George
I too had trouble adjusting my TF clutch with the Moss adjustable rod. I ultimately realized that I needed to adjust the clutch rod stop in the pedal box to get good adjustment. Even though there is only about a half inch (or less!) of adjustment on the pedal stop, you get much more adjustment out of the entire system.
Give that a try.

Tom
'54 TF
T Norby

This thread was discussed between 16/05/2017 and 18/05/2017

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