MG Car Repair: Clutch slipping MGB, clutch plate, clutch pedal

Question
hi- I have a 74 MGB with OD. The clutch has shown intermittant slipping - that is, starting out cold and driving immediately up to highway cruising speed for awhile, and I let off gas in 4th, it comes out of gear, I can rev the engine but it is coasting. Then, when I stop and shift into 1st - no issues - it starts out again although I detect a bit of slip as I go thru the gears. Seems when engine is fully hot the problem goes away....Is this a full clutch plate and hydraulic correction required? thanks!

Answer
Hi Paul,
It could be a clutch hydraulic problem not releasing the clutch but it sounds more like an overdrive problem. To isolate the problem you need to unplug the overdrive solenoid wire and try it again. If that don't change the symptoms you need to note the free play in the clutch pedal. It should be about one to one and a half inch and then have a firm pedal all the way to the floor.

Then have the car on a lift or jacked up and on stands and have some one pump the clutch pedal and release it and you check the clutch arm to see if it is tight and then take a pry bar and pry it toward the slave cylinder just a very small amount and check to see that it is then loose. If you have to pry it very far to get it loose then you may have a hydraulic problem.

If removing the OD solenoid wire does correct the problem you have an overdrive problem and you need to first check the oil level in the transmission. If that is ok then you have an internal problem or a solenoid problem.

Howard