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MG MGA - Slipping Clutch

My friend 58 MGA clutch slips very badly. I'm not sure what is causing it to slip. The engine leaks oil from the rear but I don't smell burnt oil. The master cylinder was rebuilt couple of years ago and seam to work ok. The slave cylinder is working properly. The clutch assamble has less than 5000 miles on it.

Can a engine oil leak cause the clutch to slip without smelling burnt oil? We drove 4 hours to John Twist last weekend and barely made it home.

I read in the BBS all about the engine leaking but never saw anything about causing the clutch to slip.

Thanks Paul 59 MGA
P.D. Stewart

Get under the car and check if you have any free play at the clutch release arm/slave cylinder. If there is no free play you have a hydraulic problem and it is holding the pressure plate partialy depressed. If you have play, the clutch is likely worn out. Normally some oil on the cluth will cause a strong shudder when releasing the clutch, if it was full of oil and slipping you should be able to smell it as well as see smoke if it slips badly.
John H

A clutch can last a very long time in the hands of someone who drives it properly. Allowing someone to drive who doesn't know how to treat a clutch can burn it out in very little time.(I learned this the hard way!)
Gdawgs

The clutch master needs to have free play otherwise the pressure continues to build with each aplication of the pedal. this will cause the clutch to stay disengaged. If it has freeplay the clutch is toast. The lowest mileage I ever saw was 12 on a brand new car. Someone had stolen it off the dealer lot. It was found in the middle of a muddy field where the thief had been spinning do-nuts in the mud till the clutch gave out. Your left foot determines the livespan of the clutch.
Good luck Randy
R J Brown

The original clutch in my '58 finally died in 1999. I replaced the disc and it's worked fine since. It's hard to tell what's wrong without inspecting the three consumables. Since it's been slipping, the flywheel and pressure plate are likely glazed and/or warped and that means they must be resurfaced at the least.
Kemper

I check for freeplay on both the master and slave cylinders. They both had freeplay. I check all the normal stuff and I was hoping it was something I missed.

I guess we just need to remove the engine/tranny and see whats going on with it. I just hate to pull the engine because he has a beautful paint job and I know I will put a big scratch in it.

Paul
P.D. Stewart

This thread was discussed between 31/08/2005 and 01/09/2005

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