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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Clutch M/C: what were they thinking of?

Into my clutch hydraulics.

Cranked the little beast yesterday to go for a drive & surprise...no clutch! No fuid in the master...plenty of fluid on the garage floor under the slave!

Ordered a new master & slave, started dissassembly...went to the slave first (thought that would be the hardest), had it off in about 15 minutes. Up top to the master, looked like a cake walk, until I went for the lower mounting nut...couldn't for the life of me get a wrench or socket on it!

What were they thinkig of?

An easy job turned hard!

Does anyone out there know a trick other than removing the whole brake & clutch master cylinder mounting box?

Help!

Dave

Dave Rhine

my "trick" has always been to remove the entire pedal box (sorry).
While is it off is a good time to rebuild the M/C too?

Norm "no help" Kerr
Norm Kerr

What you'll need is a small socket ratchet wrench system. I tend to use a 1/4 to 3/8 inch drive setup on there and you'll need a corresponding universal joint for the extension. The universal make it a lot easier.

Sure saves pulling the pedal box off each time.
Clive Reddin

Dave,

I am getting to be an expert on removing the clutch master on my 76. (not by choice). It is easy with a 1/4 inch drive with a small extension going from the inside. If you don't have an EZBleeder you might want to look at my last post titled CLUTCH BLEED METHOD before you put the master back in. Good Luck .......AL
AL MILLER

What year is your car?
It's a PITA no matter how you do it.
On my '63, the one bolt that goes through is in the cabin. I loosen it there but have to raise the whole pedal box up and finish from the engine bay, it's a pain.
Then I undo the lines when I have better access (MC is moving freely other than hydro lines).
J Van Dyke

The car is a '78.

It has the old style Lockheed master cylinder...the reservoir is right in the way of any attempt with socket or wrench!

I went ahead & removed the pedal box today & gained easy acess to the nut.

Yes, it is a PITA, now I'll have to bleed both clutch & brakes systems.

You've got to love these little cars!

Dave
Dave Rhine

on my 71, its a peice of cake....then agian, I did throw out the entire system and went to a 3 M/C tilton racing set up...Saddly, I havent even had to take the cap off the resiovore in like ...well scence I installed it several years ago. Im SOOooo bored now thaat Ive got so much free time due to not messing with my brakes and clutch hydro.

Prop...YEAHnnnnn,zzzzzzzz!




http://www.tiltonracing.com/content.php?page=list2&id=13&m=b
Prop

You might have something there, Prop, while goofing around with the clutch hydraulics, I found the brake master leaking too!

It would be nice to have a modern set up.

Neither system was leaking before I decided to change the the 32 year old fluid with fresh stuff.

I think I'll just go ahead & bite the bullet & replace all hydraulic components with new...I'll look into my options.

Dave(if it ain't broke, don't fix it)Rhine.
Dave Rhine

Hey Dave,

Instead of replacing with "New" (as thats an odd term for rebuilt), Id send the clyinders off and have them resleaved an rebuilt. but Id give it some thought 1st. you will probably spend close to the same amount for a tilton set up...with stainless steell braided hoses, AN hardware, and everything else it cost around $700 but its by far my favorite modification...

Apple Hydrolics is the only place I can think of off the top of my hat, but others can make a better recommendation.

If you decide to go the tilton set up, let me know,,,Ill help however I can.

Prop
Prop

Prop

I checked the Tilton website...very nice stuff!

Not sure which way I'm going, probably back original, I'll see.

Thanks
Dave

Dave Rhine

White Post Restorations also do MC rebuilds.
J Bubela

I found this intriguing tip at LBCarco:

Helicoils, An Easy Way to Remove Master Cylinders
Our Tech Tip this week is from Dave DuBois.
Tired of trying to articulate your fingers in six different directions at once to remove the brake or clutch master cylinders from a MGB? The next time you have reason to remove them, install helicoils in the holes in the mounting flanges. You will use a kit to install 5/16 - 24 helicoils. The holes in the mounting flanges are close enough to the proper size that they don't need to be drilled, just tapped for the helicoil. After installation of the helicoils, the mounting bolts are just screwed in from the front of the pedal box and tightened with a 1/2" 1/4 drive socket. I ground off the 1/2" socket I use to make it shorter and getting it onto the lower bolt somewhat easier. From there on all the bolt turning can be done from under the hood, without having to reach in from inside the passenger compartment (except for the brake and clutch line connections).
Norm Kerr

I was just getting ready to write about the use of helicoils in the mounting flanges of the brake and clutch master cylinder. Forgot that I had sent that into LBC some years back. That really makes removal and installation of the master cylinders a snap.
Cheers,
David DuBois

Helicoils, now that's an idea!

Hadn't thought about that.

Got it all disassembled now, so it would be easy to do.

Thanks for the tip!

Dave
Dave Rhine

This thread was discussed between 03/01/2010 and 12/01/2010

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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