8 replies to this topic

[marie 89]

I have a 1989 mini.
The clutch pedal is up but i cant push it down, it is solid. the car goes into gear fine though and doesn't stall when the engine is running.
We have bled the clutch fluid and topped it back up. This hasn't resolved the problem.
I experienced no prior problems such as clutch slipping before this happened. Could it be my clutch plates sticking.
Thanks

[mk1leg]

has the car been standing idle for a long tims as this could be siezed (plate stuck to flywheel)...............

[secondopsman]

No its been in daily use right up till last night.Have checked the master and slave cyliders and they are fine.Is it posssible for the release bearing to wedge or stick in the engaged posistion as all gears can be selected but there is no drive.
Pete

[R1minimagic]

The plunger will be stuck in the clutch housing, need to free it off with some WD40 and elbow grease.

[mk1leg]

Have you checked the 2 large nuts @ bottom of arm are not tight up against clutsh case sometimes they work loose and stop pedal travel............

[marie 89]

thanks pete, i haven't got a clue about it as you guessed yesterday.
Do you think it is a garage job (£90 labour) or some good old wd40?

[secondopsman]

Personally i cant see how anything can have siezed up as it was fine when you parked it up the night before,Think its going to be a strip down job,But hey its a mini and i could be proved wrong.
Pete

[Ethel]

It's almost certainly just the operating parts.

Undo the bleed nipple on the slave and see if that allows the pedal to move. Close it again before releasing the pedal or it'll suck air in.

If it passes that test, unbolt the slave cylinder. If the clutch lever recoils the cylinder is seized. If nothing moves, try the pedal again. If it's still solid the cylinder has seized without even moving, if the pedal moves the clutch lever or plunger are seized - reach for the penetrating oil and a hammer. If the cylinder is seized you may manage to unseize it by using the hammer to knock the piston back up the bore.

[Pooky]

This probably won't help but this happened to my Mini once. Luckily it freed itself overnight!

I remember a similar post a while ago on the forum from someone else and they said that their's freed itself eventually too!

So my advice would be to leave it overnight before you go stripping the clutch down