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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Clutch Cover Removal

Ok, I've pulled the engine and box (1970 midget - 1275, ribcase 4 speed), and I want to trial fit my Toyota 5 speed before I rebuild the motor. Problem is I can't loosen the clutch cover bolts as the crank just spins, and I don't have anyone around to hold a spanner on the crank pulley, in fact I'm at home by myself for the next few days and would really like to make some progress mounting up the gearbox. Anyone have a trick to secure the crank to remove the clutch cover bolts? I had a quick search through the archives but without success.

Thanks in advance.
AndrewF

Either use a large flat blade screwdriver to wedge between a couple of teeth on the flywheel and the backplate.
Or wind a few turns of rope around the crank pulley and attach to a long bar or piece of timber that will wedge against the floor.

You can also buy or make a sort of locking plate that slots into the flywheel teeth and bolts through one of the backplate /bell housing bolt holes.

Guy
Guy Weller

You can also remove the sump and stick a piece of wood between a crank throw and the block.

-:G:-
Gryf Ketcherside

you don't need to secure the crank - just work on each bolt when it's at 3 o'clock position, with the spanner or breaker bar horizontal across to the left, and give it a sharp tap. Same principle as used for wheelnuts.
David (davidDOTsmithAT stonesDOTcom)

Thanks guys. Davids method worked well for the clutch bolts - made me feel a bit stupid, but I guess it was latish last night after a long day. It didn't work for the flywheel bolts though. For anyone elses future reference, to remove the flywheel bolts I used a large piece of angle, with one side against the floor and the other side sticking into the teeth of the flywheel.

Now I have tried to do a trial fit with the box and have struck a new issue, but I'll start a new thread for that.
AndrewF

Guy,
i've one of those locking plates, nice bit of kit, it would be even better if both bolt holes lined up with the starter holes, used it last night & had to use mole grips on one side, still it worked enough to get the clutch off.
Brad (Sprite IV 1380)

Brad,
I have never actually seen one,- just heard of them. I imagined that they would be designed to pivot on a single fixing bolt so that they locked into the ring gear teeth , and further effort to turn the flywheel would just make them lock tighter. I can sort of visualise how it might work and have thought of making one - just never got round tuit.

Guy
Guy Weller

When I wasn't able to get the flywheel bolts undone I actually started cutting some metal to make a tool as described by Guy, when I spotted the piece of angle and decided to give that a shot instead. Honestly it worked perfectly, and worked in the same manner except it was locking the flywheels position relative to the floor instead of a gearbox bolt.
AndrewF

Guy,
perhaps your right, i just thought with two bolt holes it would fit on the starter mounts, being impatient i just used a pair of vice grips to hold it in place on the other side. I got mine from evilbay, it wasn't expensive.
Brad (Sprite IV 1380)

I sort of visualised that the two holes might be to allow it to be fastened by either one such that the cam-action could be used both for tightening and for loosening the flywheel bolts. But then as I said, I have never actually seen one!

Guy
Guy Weller

just for you

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MINI-FLYWHEEL-LOCKING-TOOL-BMC-BL-ROVER-MINI-COOPER_W0QQitemZ310179920725QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item483829fb55
Brad (Sprite IV 1380)

Thanks Brad. Sort of what I imagined!
Guy Weller

Or


bill sdgpm

Guy,
you were right, one bolt is sufficient, with my welded up 1/2" breaker bar it took all of 2 minutes to remove the crank pulley & trial fit my MED one.
Brad (Sprite IV 1380)

Brad, that Mini tools looks interesting, but won't work on a Spridget - the starter motor mounting bolts are further apart.
Dave O'Neill 2

Dave,
I believe that you only use one of the bolt hole fixings and rely on the "cam" action to locate it into the ring gear teeth.

Guy
Guy Weller

Dave uses a bit of bent steel bolted to the backplate, however
bill sdgpm

And it works a treat.

Flip it over for tightening/loosening and the cam action does the rest.
Dave O'Neill 2

This thread was discussed between 24/11/2009 and 25/11/2009

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.