Just a question for you all, Im new to Mini's and learning alot by fixing things on oy myself, I have a question, (this will prob be the first of many to come)

Im having problems with my clutch, every few days I need to turn back the Adjustable Stop next to the Release Lever, (page 57 of myt service manual) I was wondering do I need to keep doing this because it neds a new clutch or is it another problem that is easier to fix???

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Mini Less at the moment Broken Again

Short answer is no.

This whole thing about adjusting the clutch is fairly confusing at first. I have told people in the past, to read the manual a couple of times and then have a friend read it and explain to you what they think it says - quite often two people read two different things.

Now, the clutch has a fairly fine thresh-hold of where it works and where it doesn't. So set up the bottom adjustment first as per the book - ignore comments about throwing away the outer nut for the minute. Once that is done and locked with the outer adjustment lock nut - then - you can set the adjustment nut on the top of the throw out arm as per the manual. It should be a longish bolt with a nut - set the clearance, then screw the lock nut hard against the body and then the long bolt a tightening turn - it wont turn enough to upset the clearance and it will then stop it undoing again.

How is your clutch misbehaving, Slipping, dragging?

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Dog Food! Most kids like it more than Broccoli.

It doesnt slip. well I cant feel it anyway, but every few days it gets really hard to change gears, almost to the point where I have to force it in gear and grind the gear box (which I dont like to do) and when I press the clutch all the way in the car shudders like it is about to stall.

But once I pull the release lever out and turn the adjustable bold out its all good again, then a few days depend on how heavy the traffic is and how much I need to use the clutch depends on when I need to adjust it again.

I just want to check if it is a sipmle fix before I attemt to replace the clutch.

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Mini Less at the moment Broken Again

How easy is the bolt you adjust to turn with the clutch pedal pushed to the floor?

Has it got a locknut on it as it may be turning itself in when you push the clutch in. It would need to be really loose to do this.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

I dont know cause I pull the lever out and adjust it by turning it with just my fingers I havent tried it with the clutch pushed in...

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Mini Less at the moment Broken Again

Nope, that's exactly what i meant.

It sounds like it is screwing itself in when you are driving. Get a locknut onto it and tighten it up nicely once that is done.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

there is alread 2 nuts on the adjustable stop, I only ever unscrew the one next to the leaver, no the one that is directly on the cover boss

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Mini Less at the moment Broken Again

Yeah the two large nuts seem to be fine in this instance, the one next to the cover needs to have one on it as well, especially if you can unscrew it by hand.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

sounds more like dodgy hydraulics to me. once you have adjusted the mechanical bits properly, it should be okay for ages.

the whole thing about adjusting a clutch and what wears ans why it makes a difference then read this

http://www.minimania.com/web/SCatagory/CLUTCH/DisplayType/Technical%20Information/DisplayID/153/ArticleV.cfm

which you can find by doing a search here on ausmini and find the references like this
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=28166&highlight=clutch+marcel

http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=17344&highlight=clutch+marcel

http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=13486&highlight=clutch+marcel

good luck
michael

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the world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page
66 Mini Minor sponsored by http://www.lifeonthehedge.com.au/ The Dog Harness Specialists
It was a pleasure ausmini. I'll miss all you misfits and reprobates

Check the clutch fluid level- mine did this, I found it had a slow leak out bottom of the MC.
A $10 seal kit fixed it.

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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.