MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGF Technical - TF clutch judder

I've recently noticed that when my recently purhased 53 plate TF is first started the first couple of times I move off there's quite bad clutch judder. :( After a couple of minutes it's completely smooth again! I guess it might be down to the very cold weather recently or might just be coincidental that it's just started. It's going back to the dealer (for the third time) on Wednesday for some rattles to be fixed and I'll mention it then, I just want to be armed beforehand if this is a known thing? They're unlikely to be able to replicate it since I will have had to drive the car there in the morning.

I won't be online again until Tuesday night - so if you reply and I don't I'm not being rude! I just wanted some ideas before I go to the dealer on Wednesday.

TIA!
Tim.
Tim Jenner

Forgot to mention, the car's only done 9500 miles so it really shouldn't be a worn clutch!

Cheers,
Tim.
Tim Jenner

May be it's the well know rust at the clutch lever entry bearing to the gearbox.

Clutch lever could stuck for a while if you release the pedal. Meanwile it slips.

Just my 2pence :)
Dieter K.

Interesting - I have the same problem, its not the cold weather as it started happening in the summer, and only happens when setting off in first gear - it is OK when I reverse out of the garage, but judders when I set off forwards. It only happens on the first 'start' of the day.
John Hebb

Tim,

Noticed this on my 53 TF which just seems to come and go. Mentioned it to MGR but they said they couldn't find anything after a day. Would also be grateful for a response to this.

john
J Ip

I have exactly the same problem on my 04 TF160 and have only noticed it since the weather has got cold. I too mentioned it to the dealer but they said they couldn't find anything. I will mention it to them again when it goes in for its first service in April.
Linda

The beancounters took away the clutch damper on later cars. At least all VVC´s had this one up to year XXXX (Dieter to fill in !) / Carl.
Carl

Tim and John, have you been driving my car!! It's a 53 TF135 and does exactly this! It went into B+G last week to be looked at and clutch replaced but they couldn't replicate it. Mine seems worse when it has been driven to work(Stevenage) so I think it is related to when everything gets really hot and then cools - 30 mins on motorway and then 10-15mins crawling in traffic. When I leave it is terrible in 1st for the first couple of pull aways around the carpark and then completly fine - 12k on the clock. B+G were happy to change it but as couldn't replicate didn't as they have to send the bits back to MGR and didn't want to get stung with the bill if no fault found - they did say they had done a couple already though.
Tony

Would be interesting to see if it get´s better by adding the separate clutch-damper found on earlier F-VVC´s. Could be an easy and cheap fix to salvage one from a scrapped car.... / Carl.
Carl

Have you tried cleaning/refacing the clutch by deliberately slipping it for a bit with loads of revs - as advised by Roger Parker
jt
John Thomas

no but I did hang it on the clutch in what is laughingly called a hill in Cambridgeshire to try and replicate the syptoms and it seemed a bit better after that, no sign of any oil leaks around the bellhousing as that was my first thought. Any more details of Roger's technique or should I just get it of the SWMBO for a week and drive it like it has been stolen :)
Tony

Thanks for the replies, all - seems like it's not an uncommon problem then. :( Mine's off to the dealer tomorrow so I'll see what they say - a though that did occur to me is that a few weeks ago another dealer topped up the gearbox oil after I complained about stiff first gear selection when cold. I wonder if they overfilled it and have contaminated the clutch?? Has anyone else who has this problem had the gearbox oil topped up as well??

Thanks,
Tim.
Tim Jenner

Tim,

When I mentioned mine to MGR, I did mention the gearbox oil level to them but the head machanic didn't really seemed to be that bothered with my comments(perhaps I didn't have enough grease on my shirt and tie at the time to gain his attention!!). ANyway, would be grateful to see what your says.

john
J Ip

Tim, any feedback from the dealer on this one?
Tony

For the first time in weeks it didn't do it on the morning that I took it to the dealer so no fault found! Argh! However, it's going back for the 4th time in a couple of weeks so they can fix the things they keep failing to fix and to sort out the things they broke the last time so will mention it again then. The workshop manager has promised to be work on it personally this time after all the trouble I've had so far so we might get somewhere (might...). It's getting to the point that I just book the next visit when I collect the car back from them!

Tim.
Tim Jenner

Tim,

Really sorry to hear. I'm going to try and top up the gear box oil as I'm also finding it hard to get into first at the moment. Will get this done and see if it helps and let you know.

john
J Ip

This thread was discussed between 05/03/2005 and 14/03/2005

MG MGF Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGF Technical BBS now