23 replies to this topic

[HUBBA.HUBBA]

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Upon an investigation with a problem with my clutch, following a recent installation by an 'A series specialist' I have found they were good enough to only put top half of the 5 bolts and not to put back the 3 most awkward bolts at the bottom of the clutch/flywheel cover (near the engine mount). When I sourced 3 more bolts and fitted them, I found my clutch seemed to go too far and would catch.
It got me thinking what could be the problem and the only thing I could think of was flex in the cover (the WOK) when the bottom 3 bolts weren't fitted, when I dis-engaged the clutch.

I got the misses to sit in the car to engage and disengage the clutch .............I was surprised how much flex there was! About a 2mm gap appeared!

The moral of the story is check your bolts at the bottom of the clutch housing cover (oh and make sure an 'A series specialist' is a proper 'A series specialist' when you use them)



Any comments appreciated. Cheers.

Edited by HUBBA.HUBBA, 17 February 2011 - 09:19 PM.

[Cater_Racer]

Upon an investigation with a problem with my clutch, following a recent installation by an 'A series specialist' I have found they were good enough to only put top half of the 5 bolts and not to put back the 3 most awkward bolts at the bottom of the clutch/flywheel cover (near the engine mount). When I sourced 3 more bolts and fitted them, I found my clutch seemed to go too far and would catch.
It got me thinking what could be the problem and the only thing I could think of was flex in the cover (the WOK) when the bottom 3 bolts weren't fitted, when I dis-engaged the clutch.

I got the misses to sit in the car to engage and disengage the clutch .............I was surprised how much flex there was! About a 2mm gap appeared!

The moral of the story is check your bolts at the bottom of the clutch housing cover (oh and make sure an 'A series specialist' is a proper 'A series specialist' when you use them)

[attachment=108046:IMGP1702.JPG]


[attachment=108047:IMGP1703.JPG]

Any comments appreciated. Cheers.

Yeah can I borrow your Misses, mine refuses to go near the b***dy thing.

[HUBBA.HUBBA]

Upon an investigation with a problem with my clutch, following a recent installation by an 'A series specialist' I have found they were good enough to only put top half of the 5 bolts and not to put back the 3 most awkward bolts at the bottom of the clutch/flywheel cover (near the engine mount). When I sourced 3 more bolts and fitted them, I found my clutch seemed to go too far and would catch.
It got me thinking what could be the problem and the only thing I could think of was flex in the cover (the WOK) when the bottom 3 bolts weren't fitted, when I dis-engaged the clutch.

I got the misses to sit in the car to engage and disengage the clutch .............I was surprised how much flex there was! About a 2mm gap appeared!

The moral of the story is check your bolts at the bottom of the clutch housing cover (oh and make sure an 'A series specialist' is a proper 'A series specialist' when you use them)

[attachment=108046:IMGP1702.JPG]


[attachment=108047:IMGP1703.JPG]

Any comments appreciated. Cheers.

Yeah can I borrow your Misses, mine refuses to go near the b***dy thing.

Sorry, perhaps I should have said 'any constructive comments appreciated'

[HUBBA.HUBBA]

[attachment=108046:IMGP1702.JPG]


[attachment=108047:IMGP1703.JPG]



Upon an investigation with a problem with my clutch, following a recent installation by an 'A series specialist' I have found they were good enough to only put top half of the 5 bolts and not to put back the 3 most awkward bolts at the bottom of the clutch/flywheel cover (near the engine mount). When I sourced 3 more bolts and fitted them, I found my clutch seemed to go too far and would catch.
It got me thinking what could be the problem and the only thing I could think of was flex in the cover (the WOK) when the bottom 3 bolts weren't fitted, when I dis-engaged the clutch.

I got the misses to sit in the car to engage and disengage the clutch .............I was surprised how much flex there was! About a 2mm gap appeared!

The moral of the story is check your bolts at the bottom of the clutch housing cover (oh and make sure an 'A series specialist' is a proper 'A series specialist' when you use them)



Any comments appreciated. Cheers.

Anyone else?

[HUBBA.HUBBA]

I've found leaving 2 bolts out to be perfectly ok, i've been leaving the 2 out (7 & 8 o'clock) of my wok for about 3 decades.

The 6 o'clock on mine was missing as well, and I suppose that's what must make a difference

[tommy13]

I have often thought that they wouldn't have put all those bolts in if they were not required. That being said I often leave the one out at 8 o'clock which is the real pig, with no problems. sometimes if I am not pressed I shorten it and put it back. Shift the battery cable and use a bent combi on the bottom two.

[bmcecosse]

I think that's the problem - the bolts are not tight! I never fitted these difficult bolts and never had the slightest problem.

[L400RAS]

I think that's the problem - the bolts are not tight!

Take a look at the first picture when the clutch is not pressed (no gap between the wok & housing) - Is it me or is there a gap between the wok and washer under the head of the bolt? OP - can you spin this washer with your fingers? If so - tighten this bolt, as the specialist has probably forgotten to...

Edited by L400RAS, 18 February 2011 - 08:34 AM.

[Guess-Works.com]

You can usually 'get away' with the odd one or two, however, newton's thrid law states that for every force there's an equal and opposite force, so when you press the clutch pedal the plunger is forced in under hydraulic pressure to act on the pressure plate of the clutch... if it takes less for to move the clutch cover, then that will move instead of the clutch...

As has been demonstrated...

The 'difficult bolts' are not that difficult, to remove the clutch cover you need to remove the engine mount... when undoing wait until the engine mount is undone then lift the engine which provides ample room to the bolts, and vice versa, when refitting do them up before you attach the engine mount...

Missing them out is just lazy.

[SolarB]

The photos show the bolts Hubba.Hubba sourced and fitted later, they aren't tightened because he wanted to see any movement.

[minimat]

No one puts all the bolts in unless the engine is out because they are such a sod to reach,as long as the others are tight you'll be fine!

[adam_93rio]

No one puts all the bolts in unless the engine is out because they are such a sod to reach,as long as the others are tight you'll be fine!

i got them all in just fine with my engine in after finding out the engine i had put in didnt have the bolt in the middle of the flywheel

[cooperrodeo]

Sounds like you are lucky to be still with us.

[Gazza211]

As Guessworks says, with every force there is a resultant force, the clutch release load is quite high on a mini (even higher on uprated or turbo clutches) the only place for this load to react is on the"wok" bolts, if these are loose / missing it can cause a couple of issues, the clutch release bearing will not be square against the clutch fingers and cause unequal lift on the pressure plate which can cause clutch judder also if the "wok" is loose enough there will not be enough pressure plate lift so the clutch will not disengage, obviously if some bolts are loose or missing the others are overloaded which can cause the alloy casting to crack.
Manufacturers do not over specify the amount of bolts required, it is worked out mathematically and in the most cost efficient manner.
Another point, you wouldn't leave a head nut off would you??

Gary

[HUBBA.HUBBA]

I think that's the problem - the bolts are not tight!

Take a look at the first picture when the clutch is not pressed (no gap between the wok & housing) - Is it me or is there a gap between the wok and washer under the head of the bolt? OP - can you spin this washer with your fingers? If so - tighten this bolt, as the specialist has probably forgotten to...

That is one of the bolts I put in that was missing. I slacked it off to show the difference with the clutch engaged and disengaged. Out of interest really.
I would always put the bolts in no matter how awkward. They are there for a reason afterall.