Hi guys,
Steve (Drexxle ) has just rung me and he has suffered some clutch problems and the mini is stuck in Silverton. (just out of Broken Hill) If anyone is near there, ( he was on the way to HAY for the mini nationals) could they please give the Silverton Hotel a Ring on 0880885313. TO have a chat and see what assistance he requires.

Thanks Brett Nosse

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Silverton ??? It's in the middle of no where - looks like the Birdsville Pub and featured in one of the Mad Max films and Pricilla Queen of the Dessert

Last time I was there the pub had no licence and couldn't sell grog

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

Poor Steve, hope he gets sorted soon

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UPDATE

He is now getting a tow to Broken Hill and will be there in a little while
If anyone can help please call Steve on 0488080086

If he cant get it fixed there hes going to get it trucked to Adelaide!!

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if the clutch won't disengage (IE the pedal does nothing, but the engine drives the gearbox) then he can drive it to Hay - He can get a clutch kit delivered to Hay - I'll volunteer to change it over if no-one else does

I've driven back from Hay with no clutch

when you need to stop, slip it out of gear, turn off the ignition, then stop the car with the brakes

when you need to start again, put it in gear, turn the key and floor it, changing gear is a matter of slipping it out of gear, then giving it a little rev with slight pressure on the gearstick, and it should just slip straight in

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

that is awesome!

dunno about awesome, but gets you out of trouble.... little bit of practice and the gears won't crunch - don't make a habit out of doing it

he's got 588km of basically open road, as long as it drives, it'll be fine.

Give him a ring Brett

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

I'm very impressed Simon. that's one of the best little tricks I've ever heard.

(to get you out of Trouble)

I think Brett might need some one to call him via the looks of the post.

Ok heres the update: I made it to Maccas for free wi fi.

I got a tow from Silverton and am now in Broken Hill.

Dammit Broken Down in Broken Hill. And yes the Silverton pub is the area where Mad Max 2 was filmed, i have photos of a replica XB Interceptor, the black V8, Sh sh sh sh shes a V8, sh sh sh she sucks nitro.

And also the scene of many other films, (up to 40) including a town like alice.

I was on my way up the mundi mundi range, when BANG, crunch crunch crunch. No forward no reverse. Got back to silverton and took clutch apart. ALOT of oil in the clutch housing and two slightly curved pieces of metal fell out.

I still had a clutch pedal, so i think ive either stripped a drive gear or shredded the bearing and possibly the inner housing.

Chris the publican at the Silverton Hotel, towed me back to Broken Hill, and crunch crunch crunch, in neutral, without clutch hooked up so its got to be an inner gear.

Funny thing was that after about 1km of towing, the noise went away and its been silent since. Havent put the clutch backtogether yet, its sitting in the car, so its just a clutch housing on the motor.

SOOOO. Its got to be one of the three gears. Question is what would the slightly curved piece of metal that came out of the dry housing. The gear seal should stop any metal from the inner housing getting to the outer housing.

So im on phone 0488 080 086, and would appreciate anybody in the area to help.

I have pics of the whole lot, even though im stuck, im not stressed, all part of the holiday. At least i got to meet some of the locals.

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Aussie Leyland, Aussie Factory, Aussie Mini S.

sounds like you're going on a truck to Adelaide - where's the hole in the flywheel housing?

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

If i could get this flywheel off, i could drain the oil, and have a look inside the second housing. Given that the noise is gone, im not sure whats going on.

Id also like to know what the metal is in the flywheel housing, i cant think what it could be, besides the end of the main gear, where it meets the c ring.

I got the flywheel nut off, but i cant crack the flywheel off the shaft, its stuck solid, gave it a bash from the starter motor hole, and nope stuck solid.

if ive cracked the end off the main gear, that means its floating back and forth. Which then means that its crunch the backing ring against the gear, and who knows what else is fubar in there.

So, i need a cheap truck to Adelaide i think. Any ideas on a trucking company.

Are there any AusMini members between Broken Hill and Adelaide that can help with the offer of a workshop. Happy to do the work myself, just need a place to pull the motor out.

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Aussie Leyland, Aussie Factory, Aussie Mini S.

I drove home from Mini Automotive without a clutch, that was when i broke the clutch arm in Goondiwindi.

Ok, im leaving Macca's to find local mechanics and see if there are any mini owners in the area. If anyone can give me some leads for help, please call 0488 080 086.

Im in main area of town now. Im going to try and put this thing back together and see if i get any movement from the thing.

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Aussie Leyland, Aussie Factory, Aussie Mini S.

Years ago my clutch slave cylinder blew the seal, so it was clutchy-no-disengagey. I drove from Caulfield (Uni) to Frankston (home) in traffic and managed to stop completely only twice. If you can match revs well then you don't need a clutch, except when stationery in which case you can start it in first on the starter motor as Simon suggests.

Not recommended if you want to remain friends with your gearbox, but not rocket surgery either.

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Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges

Steve - been trying to get onto my mate in Broken Hill - no answer - will try later

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

I am now parked in the CrapDonalds car park, and am again leeching free wifi.

Ok, second look at the motor, definately not the clutch, and definately in the second housing. I have a feeling, that ive stripped the bearing from the casing, it sounds like the gears tumbling over each other.

When i was being towed, i reckon the rest of that bearing has fallen into the bottom of the housing, because now there is hardly any squeeling noise, and only a tumbling noise.

Im not going anywhere, i guess even if i did get help, i would first have to take it apart, find out whats fubar, then order, then wait for a few days for postage and then still put it back together.

SO, im going to have to find a trucking company, get the car to someone who will loan me a workshop to get this motor out. The only way to really know whats wrong with it is to open it up.

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Aussie Leyland, Aussie Factory, Aussie Mini S.