21 replies to this topic

[77LeylandMini]

Hello! I recently had a metro 1275 rebuilt and re bored out to 30 over, replaced the orig. 850 when we went to fit the clutch parts, which came off of another working engine, no dice! The lever opperates but you cannot put it in gear. with the engine off you can go from gear to gear easily. We thought it was the bolts binding on the springs of the clutch, reamed out the holes slightly, same problem. tried switching out the pressure plate, same problem. You can start it in any gear, and with the car on a lift you can go thru the gears, bit it clutchless.. Any help at all would be appreciated!! IM GOING CRAZY!!!!!! :gasp: :saywhat:

[Dan]

Which parts have been used from each engine/gearbox unit? And which clutch mechanism parts are you using?

[77LeylandMini]

The same slave and master are being used, the flywheel is the same, the throw out bearing, clutch pressure plate, both orange and blue are off of a 1275. We even tried to actuate the arm full travel using a spanner, no luck. without the pressure plate on, you can work the clutch by hand, the disk spins freely, when it is all together, it just doesnt dissengage. the car is currently in the hands of one of the top mini mechanics in the southern US, Dion Jardine. I know he is tearing out his hair over it. All of the gears in the tranny are the same including the gear box from the 850, the only gear we changed was the diff gear, so it would have lower rpm's on the highway. Could it have anything to do with the idle gear- being that we went form an a to an a+?? Thanks for the help!

[Pavel]

Right the 1275 is A+ and your old engine was 850, so the 1275 has a verto clutch arrangement and your old engine was a pre-verto clutch engine.

You have to use all verto components relating to clutch (including slave cylinder if I'm not mistaken) for it to work properly.

[77LeylandMini]

But we still have a non verto clutch on the metro engine?? I wouldnt think that the non verto clutch simply would not opperate on a metro? I could be wrong.

[Dan]

Yes, Pavel is right. You need to tell us which parts are verto, pre verto, A series or A plus etc. I am actually quite surprised that you've been able to bolt a gearbox from a US spec 850 to a 1275 as there were two different size gearbox casings back when cars were exported to you over there.




A short while later....


OK, just read your update.

Tell us which bits came from which engine in detail please.

It sounds like you are using the very early clutch with the loose coil springs, is this the case?

Edited by Dan, 09 June 2005 - 06:55 PM.

[77LeylandMini]

I had the car imported from the Motherland last year, I am 99% sure that all of the clutch parts on there now are non verto. Like I said the only thing changed in the gearbox was the diff gear. The engine runs great, and will change gears on a lift but it is shifting without the clutch. the only part on the engine left over from the A series is the gearbox and the gears within. all the rest is A+.

[Dan]

Well if the flywheel housing is original to the gearbox and you are using the original idler then that should all be fine. Are you using a 1275 primary gear? And if so is it a 1275 primary with the correct teeth for the rest of the drop gears?

If it's just a lack of travel then it normally needs a new slave, but the release arm can also cause issues as the ball on it and the hole through it wear out. Try new ones of these and all new pins. Well that's what I'd suggest over here but I don't know what parts availability is like over there. Also get plenty of graphite grease onto the mechanism, it makes a lot of difference.

[77LeylandMini]

I am looking at the Haynes manual now, by coil spring do you mean as haynes calles them driving straps mounted on the flywheel, if thats it then we have tried both the original and one off of a 1275 a+. The entire block, pistons, head, carb, crank shaft, cam, and clutch assembly are all from an A+, However the gearbox and the gears, all but the diff gear are off of the 850 A series. Thank you guys for your patience with me, and your help!

[77LeylandMini]

Also replaced the release arm and the pins, We thought about the slave, but even with a faulty slave it should have worked when we pried the arm over with the prybar. we also tried to adjust the stops from both maximums..

[Dan]

You said in the beginning that there were bolts binding in springs, so I thought you had the original flywheel with six coilsprings around the outside instead of a diaphragm spring.

So did the primary gear (the one the clutch slides onto) come from the 1275 or the 850?

[77LeylandMini]

we have tried both, the gear from the 1275 is in it now. The bolts were binding on the holes in the straps.

[Pavel]

This may sound a bit silly alongside dan's technical knowledge, but have you tried adjusting it? I didn't suggest this earlier as I thought you had a verto system (self adjusting). Pre-verto systems need to be adjusted, and are prone to failure due to slave cylinder and plunger rod failures. That will give the exact symptoms you are experiencing.

[77LeylandMini]

We have gone from stop to stop on the adjustments and everywhere in between. I know it shouldnt matter much, but with the 850 in the car the clutch always engaged VERY close to the floor. Its a mystery...

[Pavel]

Then I'd definitely suspect failed slave cylinder... It's actually the rod that wears but easier to replace the whole cylinder to avoid future problems.