I'm replacing the diaphragm type clutch cover - new blue coded cover.
What are the pros and cons of putting a smear of grease on the spring and/or flywheel ridge the spring seats against?
Had to replace the orange coded one as the spring actually had a groove worn in it and it was slightly off centre and causing clutch shudder.

Regards
RonR

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68 build Mk1 Cooper S
72 Clubman GT project. Total restoration required

Probably wouldn't hurt to lube but it'll get flung off.

Please check the thrust plate face for hardness and runout, there have been some shockers sold lately.
Some of the race guys have been taking springs out of new ones and fitting into their old covers.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

I've been using the same thrust plate for a long time, but didn't know about swapping the spring, that's a bit scary!

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

Hi Kevin,

I've checked the thrust plate and it seems OK.
Tried to scratch it with a scriber and can't mark it and it seems to be symmetrical. It came in an AP box.
My thinking was that a smear of grease might help the spring to centralise properly. Clutch drive straps and bolts look OK.

Original problem dates back to day one in Jan 69 when I picked it up.
Clutch wouldn't release properly etc. Not enough throw or so I thought.
Welded up and redrilled the clutch pedal clevis pin hole 1/8" further out and that helped but didn't eliminate the problem.

Finally found the problem many years later during a rebuild.
Original flywheel clutch spring seating ridge had been machined incorrectly and wasn't parallel to the flywheel face.
Another flywheel almost solved the problem but by then the orange spring had the wear marks slightly off centre.
I reused it but it didn't solve the problem completely and I finally decided to fix the problem with a new cover.

Regards
RonR

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68 build Mk1 Cooper S
72 Clubman GT project. Total restoration required

GR showed me a new orange dot diaphragm last week that munched the hard thrust plate and the bearing in a couple of laps.
I swear the thrust plate had 4mm radial runout and well over 1mm of wobble. P!ss poor metal pressing....! No wonder they swap springs into better covers.
[edit] Don't worry Chong, yours spun OK on the balancer.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

the same clutch diaphragm for 47 years!!??

they're a consumable, the ridge that wears on them is normal & unavoidable!

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

I love hearing stories about a one owner Cooper S.

true!

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

Simon,
The orange diaphragm wasn't the original so it hasn't lasted for 47 years, only about 35 years.
It replaced the original blue coded one at the first rebuild after approx. 120K miles.

RonR

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68 build Mk1 Cooper S
72 Clubman GT project. Total restoration required