MG Car Repair: clutch adj. 1975 mg midget, clutch pressure plate, clutch pedal

Question
i seem to have more than three inches of free play in the clutch pedal. system is fully bled. can the slave unit be moved forword in the bracket to decrease the free play. shifts into one two three and four gear ok, grinds in reverse. Jim Kent, ohio

Answer
Hi Jim,
With that much free play you must have a hydraulic problem (unless you did not get all of the air out)

There is 100% test of the master cylinder. You need a brake bleeder valve that fits the master cylinder clutch line hole. Most auto parts stores have a brake bleeder assortment for sale.

In the assortment find the bleeder valve that fits the threads of the master cylinder line hole and put a plastic hose on the bleeder valve and the end in a jar or can and pump the master cylinder up and bleed the air out of the master with the bleeder valve. This should be able to be done with just one or two bleeds. You should get a rock hard pedal with almost no free play. If you don't, then you have a bad master cylinder.

If you do have a rock hard pedal then connect up the line again and remove the slave cylinder from it's mount and open the bleeder valve on the slave (keeping it at the top) and just let the fluid drip out a while then close the valve and force the slave cylinder piston all the way in to it's bottom. (you may want to first take about half of the fluid out of the reservoir so it won't over flow and be sure to leave the filler cap loose just in case the air bleed hole is not free.

Once you have forced the slave piston all the way in put the slave back into it's mount and fill the reservoir if it is not full. Slowly pump the pedal to get the slave piston out to contact the clutch pressure plate. BE SURE TO RELEASE THE PEDAL VERY SLOWLY EACH TIME YOU LET THE PEDAL UP. This is important!

This is a method to be sure the master cylinder is good and to be sure to get all the air out of the system.

Howard