[Healeys] Clutch-related noise

[Ed O'Neal]

Bob,

Look very closely and you will see the spring peeking out just behind the piston cup.  I have a set of 6.00 diopters that help me with this.

Ed


From: Bob Spidell [mailto:bspidell at comcast.net]
Sent: Monday, December 12, 2016 3:11 PM
To: Ed O'Neal
Cc: healeys
Subject: Re: Clutch-related noise

I'm looking here--granted, the resolution isn't good--but I don't see a spring in the slave cyl:

http://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=28878&SortOrder=1090

Maybe it's one of the 'Classic Gold,' ahem, 'enhancements?'

________________________________
From: "Ed O'Neal" <Ed at wadsworthoneal.com<mailto:Ed at wadsworthoneal.com>>
To: "Bob Spidell" <bspidell at comcast.net<mailto:bspidell at comcast.net>>
Cc: "healeys" <healeys at autox.team.net<mailto:healeys at autox.team.net>>
Sent: Monday, December 12, 2016 10:15:05 AM
Subject: RE: Clutch-related noise

Bob,

Approximately 15,000 miles after having replaced the carbon release bearing, I noted a similar sound – actually within a little time it turned into more of a grinding sound.  Upon inspection, the release bearing was completely worn out.  I blamed it on a poor quality release bearing.  While replacing the bearing, I noted that the slave cylinder (without depressing the clutch peddle) was pushing the bearing into contact with the clutch plate.  Thus the bearing would be continuously in contact during all driving conditions (mostly70 MPH on I75).  I bled the system several times – no help.  I changed the master cylinder – no help.  Something was pushing the slave cylinder piston out.  I didn’t think there was a spring in the slave cylinder – there wouldn’t need to be one there anyway.  Then I took a very close look at the Moss slave cylinder diagram.  There it was, just barely visible, peeking out of the cylinder – THE SPRING.

I removed the spring.  Now 25,000 miles later everything is still working fine!

When you disassemble things, check for this situation.

Ed

ed at wadsworthoneal.com<mailto:ed at wadsworthoneal.com>

Edward J. O’Neal, P.E., Pte.
Wadsworth O’Neal Associates, Inc.
6418 Commerce Park Drive
Fort Myers, Florida  33966
phone:  (239) 245-8728
cell:        (239) 410-6174


From: Healeys [mailto:healeys-bounces at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Bob Spidell
Sent: Monday, December 12, 2016 10:25 AM
Cc: healeys
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Clutch-related noise

Michael has a Toyota 5-speed.

Anyways, my dad and I were discussing how to keep the graphite disk-type TO 'bearing' from wearing as much.  He suggested putting a return spring from the slave cylinder to the clutch fork, but I thought that would increase pedal travel too much as the cylinder push rod would have to travel farther to overcome the larger gap between the bearing and the clutch cover.  Note this is theoretical, I decided not to do it; we reused a graphite bearing with over 100K miles as it had plenty 'meat' on it (but I'm in the habit of putting the gearbox in neutral at every stop--the downside being possibly greater wear on the pilot bush and input shaft)

The roller release bearing can be found here:

https://www.ahspares.co.uk/austin-healey/performance-parts/Clutch/RELEASE-BEARING-BALL-RACE.aspx

Cheers,
Bob

________________________________
From: "Brian Drab" <bgdrab at eastlink.ca<mailto:bgdrab at eastlink.ca>>
To: "Oudesluys" <coudesluijs at chello.nl<mailto:coudesluijs at chello.nl>>, "healeys" <healeys at autox.team.net<mailto:healeys at autox.team.net>>
Sent: Sunday, December 11, 2016 9:14:27 PM
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Clutch-related noise

Kees, I assume by clutch bearing, you mean the clutch throw-out or release bearing. On a BJ8, these have a solid carbon contact surface and do not move other than in or out depending on the pedal motion. I literally just replaced that bearing on a BJ8. I do realize that there is much more expensive throw out bearing that does utilize ball or roller bearings but I have never actually seen one of these.
I know of no way to increase the pedal travel on a BJ8. The pedal to master cylinder is non adjustable and the slave cylinder to clutch is also non adjustable.
When I mentioned, in an earlier post, the input shaft bearing of the transmission - this shaft is at engine speed with the clutch released, and motionless when the clutch pedal is depressed, which allows one to select gears without grinding them. Road speed has no influence on the transmission input shaft. I had exactly this problem on a vehicle (not a Healey) and that was the problem and was solved by replacing that  bearing.
I certainly don’t know if that is the problem in this case but, to me, it is the only logical thing that is moving at engine speed (not road speed)  with the clutch released and the only thing that would be motionless (relatively speaking) when the clutch pedal is depressed.
Brian Drab




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