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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Clutch slave recommendation

My mate owns a 69 1275 midget. He’s had two new clutch slaves fitted and both have leaked. Over a month it gets harder and harder to change gear. Bleed the clutch and all is well for a while, but gradually gets worse again.


The slaves he’s had are just the bog standard ones on ebay
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MG-Midget-Mk3-1275cc-CLUTCH-SLAVE-CYLINDER-1966-74/192594340898?hash=item2cd7846c22:g:T1oAAOSwhh5Toe9d


Is there a better premium brand worth buying?
Chris Madge

Yes, buy AP Caparo (now known as '920E') which is the original Lockheed. Try calling Powertrack Braking Ltd:
https://www.powertrackbrakes.co.uk

Thanks
Mike
M Wood

Chris,
as the rubber can disintegrate internally, any chance the flexi-hose needs changing too (to fit 'n' forget Goodridge type)?
Nigel Atkins

Nigel - possibly. I'll mention it to him


Mike - thanks for the recommendation. Alex has spoken to Powertrack Braking and ordered a new one from them.


Apparently the cheaper ones use the closest metric seal to an imperial bore. 25mm seal in a 25.4 mm bore. So it holds under pressure, but over time leaks....
Chris Madge

So why not fit a proper repair seal to a cheap slave? The actual seal is between piston and rubber seal and I can't believe the metal parts are much different. That is assumng the AP Caparo is a lot more expensive.
Bill Bretherton

If that's what the cheap ones are doing I would have thought that they would bore the cylinder to 25mm rather than 25.4mm.

Trev
T Mason

Trev - someone would have to think, to do that !
David Smith

Top pic is for a 'quick fit' slave cylinder. This allows the top bolt to be inserted leaving just enough room for the slave to be slid into position and the bolt then only needing a nip to tighten. Use a suitable washer to bridge the slot.

The display bellhousing (I usually display this at major shows at NEC when 'front of house on the Midget & Sprite Club stand) shows a remote bleed that allows for bleeding in a more comfortable position within the engine compartment.

Slave cylinders may come in two types. Some may have a piston, seal, spreader and spring.
The other may come with piston with piggy-back seal then spring.

I prefer to use the former. Seals are easy to change with the slave in situ and I think that the spreader provides a better seal.

The piggy back type cannot have the piston removed with the slave in situ due to the elongated piston necessary to carry the seal piggyback style.





Alan Anstead

This thread was discussed between 01/07/2020 and 03/07/2020

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