Wilsons Sandbox

I just tore off my transmission for replacement... this board is great, a really nice member contacted me and we made a deal for an original transmission. I may still make my long weekend an MG trip. As the tranny is off and I have always replaced pressure plate, clutch, and throwout bearing on any car I strip down to this point I was going to do that. I pulled the clutch out and except for a wee bit o' glazing it looks new. The pressure plate and throwout looks new also. I couldn't find specs to check on the plate to know how far gone it is. My plate is .298" thick. The fiber discs are .117" and .119". This car supposedly only got 200 miles of use in the last 15 years by the PO. I put on about 1300 miles. The second po probably replaced it not many miles ago. It all looks just about factory fresh. Do those numbers worry anyone? Should I just replace it? I have a strong inclination to just put it back in and run it.... it worked very well before the tranny lost it's 2nd and cluster gears. Thanks, Terry TC2285

Hi Terry, Great news on the TC gearbox replacement. Glad you are sticking with the TC box. Nothing wrong with re-using the clutch disc. Thickness of the disc is 0.300" when new so you have basically no wear so far. Carbon thrust throw out bearing will last for 50,000 miles if the clutch return spring keeps it off the clutch when dis-engaged. If you had no clutch slip before, the pressure plate should be fine. However you might consider rebuilding the pressure plate with heavier springs. Original springs were red and were ( as I recall ) 120 lbs weight springs. MG special tuning recommended a heavier blue spring clutch which had 150 lb springs. You will not notice the difference in pedal pressure but the 25% more holding power of the blue spring clutch is desireable. Of course, there is no way of telling what clutch is now in the car after 60 years of previous owners modifications/improvements. Bob Grunau I just tore off my transmission for replacement... this board is great, a really nice member contacted me and we made a deal for an original transmission. I may still make my long weekend an MG trip. As the tranny is off and I have always replaced pressure plate, clutch, and throwout bearing on any car I strip down to this point I was going to do that. I pulled the clutch out and except for a wee bit o' glazing it looks new. The pressure plate and throwout looks new also. I couldn't find specs to check on the plate to know how far gone it is. My plate is .298" thick. The fiber discs are .117" and .119". This car supposedly only got 200 miles of use in the last 15 years by the PO. I put on about 1300 miles. The second po probably replaced it not many miles ago. It all looks just about factory fresh. Do those numbers worry anyone? Should I just replace it? I have a strong inclination to just put it back in and run it.... it worked very well before the tranny lost it's 2nd and cluster gears. Thanks, Terry TC2285 Yahoo! Groups Links

Hi Terry, Replace both the clutch and pressure plate with 'new' since you have everything apart. Both may look good, but they might be very old rebuilt units with metal fatigue. Years ago, in my TC, a 'freshly rebuilt clutch' torque spring disintegrated and jammed between the clutch and flywheel. I depressed the pedal, snicked into first and was unexpectedly propelled into an intersection, lucky the traffic light just went green for me. I thought I was hit from behind. I pulled everything down, resurfaced the scarred flywheel, and ordered a new disk from Moss, Goleta. The order-taker suggested a new pressure plate to go with the new clutch. I declined as the pressure plate was 'freshly rebuilt'. Just twooooooo weeks later a finger on the pressure plate fatigued. Bill Traill TC5221 Santa Clara, California

I want to thank all of those that responded to my email. As usual the group came through for me. you all make owning one of these cars sooooo much more fun. Again, thanks to those that responded. BOBS

Hi all, I have the small size clutch in my TC and want to go to the bigger size, I think 8". Which other brands than MG have this size of clutch? Thanks for the help Peter TC 1514 Von meinem iPhone gesendet

Peter, I changed a 1950 TD over to an 8" clutch and if I remember correctly, it took a different bell housing because of clearance needed for the throw out bearing and arm. I stayed with all MG parts. Regards, Charlie Schott TC2189 Panama City Beach From: Dr. Peter Zernial Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 10:04 AM To: MG Subject: [mg-tabc] Clutch Hi all, I have the small size clutch in my TC and want to go to the bigger size, I think 8". Which other brands than MG have this size of clutch? Thanks for the help Peter TC 1514 Von meinem iPhone gesendet [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]