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MG TD TF 1500 - TF Clutch Barrel pin size

Does anyone know the original diameter of the barrel pin in a TF clutch? Are they meant to be 12 mm or 12.7 mm (1/2")? The barrel pin is the thick cross-pin which goes through the fork at the end of the lever which hangs from the driver's side of the sump. It has a 1/4" hole in it for the threaded end of the lower clutch rod where original clutch adjustment was done.

I have seen a few but the forks and pins have been worn or repaired making it difficult to see what diameter they were originally.

Cheers from South Australia.
Bob Schapel
Bob Schapel

Bob,
Smaller!!
The hole in the levers that I have measured average out at ~11.5mm. New levers from Moss are 11.5mm. The barrel pin could be 7/16" (11.11mm) at the closest rounded fraction but that would leave a lot of slack.
Regards
Declan
Declan Burns

Wow!. Thank you Declan.

I have made a few "Emergency Lower Clutch Rods" for our local guys to carry because of the common problem of breakage. I know the major cause is the length of the upper rod, but my temporary rods are designed as a quick fix if breakdown occurs out on the road or an important event is looming before the issue can be fixed properly.

When the lower rod breaks, there is a chance of the barrel pin being lost too. Hence I want to have a spare barrel pin with each emergency rod.

Thanks again.
Bob
Bob Schapel

Bob. Do you know of the O'Conner mod to stop this breakage.
R E J Stewart

Hi R E J.
I am aware of the need for an adjustable upper rod so the idler lever can be set to work through the correct angle. I don't know if that is the O'Connor mod. If not, let me know and I will spread the word amongst our TF group, recognising O'Connor of course.
You might know I am actually a TC man but I have been attempting to help friends with TFs.
Cheers,
Bob Schapel
Bob Schapel

Bob & REJ see Bud's Ttalk.info for a pdf of O'Conner's mod which I have done. pdf is a few pages long and mainly involves a bit of filing.

https://ttalk.info/ClutchLinkageFix.pdf

Cheers Stuart
Stuart Duncan

Bob
Re those who are having breakage issues
Have they converted from early cable to later lower rod linkage and have not added a peddle stop? A peddle stop must be added to the clutch peddle either within the peddle box or a limit block of some sort to the peddle/toe board. If not using a peddle stop one must have a light feel for when the rod and fulcrum make contact to prevent the lower rod from bending or breakage.

As previously mentioned the O’Conner adjustable upper rod modification or Declan’s heim joint setup will alleviate the binding when the throwout or clutch disc wears.

W A Chasser

Thanks Stuart for that. Bob, see Stuart's post,thats the mod I was referring to.Filling the fork.
R E J Stewart

Thanks guys. Sorry I have not responded earlier. Have been so busy that I have not checked this site for many days.
I have filed the appropriate parts and fitted home-made adjustable top rods to all the TF clutches I have worked on over the last few years. However, I have not tried the re-drilling of the hole. That does seem a good idea if sensitivity is an issue. It would result in greater pedal movement, so I guess there must be sufficient distance to the floor-ramp for that.
Cheers,
Bob
Bob Schapel

This thread was discussed between 29/07/2025 and 12/08/2025

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