Been having a looong overdue cleanout of the garage, finally sorting through stuff that's been boxed and forgotten for years.

Have come across two different types of (pre verto) clutch plunger. I am familiar with the change over of bearing types, the shift from the 'flat' one to the floating held on by a speed clip, however I have a plunger that has a groove around the end of the shaft where the spped clip sits, I guess to give it something to grip on. Also the bearing end of the plunger is a little hollow (ie it has a hole going into the shaft.

Did the shafts themselves change as well?? Or has this one been modified?

Only reason I noticed was I have recently changed a collapsed thrust bearing, so had a couple laying about on the bench anyway. Even found an original 3W jobby in good condition.

I've only ever heard about the later types with circlip grooves, never actually seen one - mind posting a pic for my curiousity?

the new thrust bearing carrier (plunger) are the same as the original type, no grooves, the bearing is a press fit

I had a good number of 3W bearings and sold them off through here and ebay. I need to see if I can track down some more

OK so I overstated it when I said groove (stoopid crap memory)....more of a raised ridge.

that`s the later type "self centering" bearing carrier

the raised section is for the "speed nut" (it`s a clip that holds the bearing on)

the shaft is also a bit thinner so the bearing can flog around & 'self center" itself

lots of the later minis had clutch covers & primary case alignment issues & were not very central so the factory increased the clearance on the clutch cover "spiggots" (the machined ring around the inside of the cover where it meets the primary case) some were doweled from the factory & some were not but probably should have been

these "self centering" carriers were meant to help stop the clutch shudder from these miss-aligment problems

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No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.

there is even a factory "clutch cover alignment tool" but not many people have ever even seen one , let alone used one

_________________
No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.