Hi, Mostyn!
I can push the clutch in with the old shaft (pushrod) just fine. It was
the new shaft that wouldn't work for me, even with all new clutch parts and
bearing. The bent fork theory may be correct, but I have to disagree on
the explanation for why the fork would bend. It would require an overload
on the fork to bend it, and the load would have to be large enough to bend
it all at once. The mechanical properties of metal parts are such that
the fork won't bend permanently due to repeated load, as long as the load
remains under the elastic limit of the metal. If the fork is bent, that
means all it needed to see was one overload. Given that, I don't see where
the one single overload comes from, particularly considering that it's not
just my car with the problem, but apparently several Spridgets out there
with "bent forks".
The effect of repeated cyclic loads below the elastic limit on metal parts
is not permanent bending, but fatigue cracks.
Steve Byers
Havelock, NC USA
'73 Midget GAN5UD126009G "OO NINE"
"Truth is precious. Use it sparingly" -- Mark Twain
----------
> From: Mostyn Faulkner <mostyn_f@email.msn.com>
> To: Spridgets Group <spridgets@Autox.Team.Net>
> Subject: Re: spridget clutches
> Date: Saturday, July 04, 1998 12:21 PM
>
> You know I had the same problem with my clutch...
> My fork was bent.....I went to DR. AH Store and he fixed me up with a new
> fork .... now I feel fine and you know the old shaft works just fine...
> Replace the fork and you too will be able to push your clutch in with the
> old shaft...as long as the clevis hole is not whoppy.
> I also have a roller throw out bearing. Smoooooooth.
> The fork gets bent after many years of stiff clutches and power shifting
> into second while hitting the apex at the corner at the top of your
street.
> @ a blinding 30mph
>
> Mostyn
> AN5L/8625
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Frank Clarici <spritenut@Exit109.com>
> To: Steve Byers <byers@cconnect.net>
> Cc: Paul Bacon <usbacons@ihug.co.nz>; spridget list
> <spridgets@Autox.Team.Net>
> Date: Saturday, July 04, 1998 9:08 AM
> Subject: Re: spridget clutches
>
>
> >Steve Byers wrote:
> >>
> >> I believe the design of the clutch is self-adjusting to some extent
> because
> >> it is intended that wear in the clutch disc friction material and wear
in
> >> the carbon bearing should cancel each other out. The bit about
> lengthening
> >> the push rod is interesting. I replaced the clutch in my '73 Midget,
> >> rebuilt the clutch hydraulics, and included a new pushrod from Moss
due
> to
> >> wear in the clevis pin hole. After getting it all together with the
new
> >> (correct, according to Moss) push rod, the clutch would not disengage.
I
> >> pulled out the new rod and compared it with the old one, and that's
when
> I
> >> noticed the old one seemed to have an extension welded to it, rather
> >> crudely. Put the old one back in, and the clutch worked normally.
> >>
> >> We have had this discussion about the pushrod modification on the list
> >> before, and others have said they had a modified rod also, but no one
has
> >> come up with a good explanation for it. If it compensates for wear, I
> >> don't understand why a new pushrod won't work with an all new clutch
and
> >> release bearing. There was a suggestion that the clutch fork might be
> >> bent, but no explanation of how it gets bent. Since the rod extension
> >> seems to be more than a rare occurrence, I don't think I believe the
bent
> >> fork theory.
> >
> >Steve and others,
> >
> >I have no proof positive on my theory but the various clutch pushrod
> >lengths seem to be directly related to who's brand of clutch you use.
> >I have had to use 2 different rods on the same car/engine/trans but the
> >only difference was Borg & Beck clutch vs Sachs clutch. I think the
> >pressure plates are slightly different thus the need for different rods.
> >
> >There is a certain Jap car which uses an adjustable rod very similar to
> >that of the Spridget, I found one in the junk yard but the car was
> >upsidedown and besides, all them jap cars look the same to me.
> >
> >And fashioning a home made rod is not very difficult even if one does
> >use an acorn nut on it to extend it!
> >--
> >Frank Clarici Toms River, NJ
> >Too many LBCs
> >3 Sprites, an Austin A40, and an Austin Mini all on the road.
> >1 Jaguar XJ6 family car, 1 Racer Midget project , & 2 Parts Spridgets
> >Check out my home page at http://www.exit109.com/~spritenut
>
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> -----------------
>
>
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