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MG MGF Technical - Clutch question for newbie...

Hello, hope you guys can help a newbie...

Had my Sept 03 TF160 for about a year now, and due to me having a company car and spending time out the country working I only get to drive her once every few weeks.

About 2 weeks ago, I got in, turned on !! ;-) pressed down the clutch pedal and it stuck down, had to pull up with foot and then pumped to get working. Drove for 60 miles, returned, working as normal.

Then, last week, did the same, except this time, when I turned on and put in gear, released clutch fully and car would not move. Tried again yesterday and same again.

Friend of mine has replaced master and slave but he noticed the slave is working hard to the point the rod is extending fully and the rubber cover is coming off. He said the whole part is moving quite a bit.

Have replaced all this but still cannot engage gear and clutch pedal is very heavy.

Is this the clutch release level needing WD40 job (stuck in bellhousing) or has the clutch worn like my friend reckons ?? Car has only done 29k and clutch is treated loving ;-).

Can anyone advise next step please...?
Paul Johnson

That sounds exactly the same as mine when the release arm seized. The rubber had popped off the slave cylinder too.
Fixed mine like you said with WD40 on the arm where it goes into the bellhousing and added lubed with gear oil for good measure. Surprisingly it's worked fine for the last year with no re-occurence.

Hope you're as lucky.
ninja

ninja,

I certainly hope so too...will try that tomorrow. However, even after replacing the master and slave, still nothing.

The slave is still working normally and not sticking but on each occasion the rubber is being popped off and the rod being extended fully.

My friend reckons the clutch plate must be worn hence not engaging gear but will try the WD40 trick tomorrow and cross fingers and toes :-)

If that doesnt work am I looking at a new clutch ?? or could it be something else ? :-(

Hard to believe it could be after only 29k miles...

Paul
Paul Johnson

Don’t use WD40 (its not a lubricant) but get some proper penetrating fluid such as Plus Gas and then if that does the trick then follow it up with a proper lubricant such white lithium grease. You may need a small wire brush to clean the crud of the off the arm. This problem seems very common on TF's (more so then on F's)
C Tideswell

Morning ! Ok, will do.

If this is the problem how come this has happened so suddenly considering everything was fine only a month ago ??

I am really hoping this is the problem...

I also noticed the release arm is also bent (shaped) a little. Is this also normal ?

Paul
Paul Johnson

Point to add; the release lever arm is moving, how far should the travel of the arm be ?

Thanks again, Paul
Paul Johnson

This thread was discussed between 09/11/2006 and 10/11/2006

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