QuestionQUESTION: Hi, I'm doing a few repairs on my Dad's 1980 Triumph Spitfire 1500 (with only 21K miles on it!). My Dad died in the early 90s' and the car has been sitting in my Mom's garage with very little use other than occasional trips around town since the late 80's. The clutch is slipping badly and I've purchased the 3-In-1 Clutch Kit and alignment tool from Victoria British.
I'd like to know if I can reach the rear main seal once the clutch is out. If so, is it a good idea to replace that at the same time? If the clutch is covered in oil, I understand this would be necessary, but if it's just worn should I replace the seal anyway? I don't yet know if it was my Mom/Sister's clutch work, or an oil leak that's causing the slippage.
Are there other preventative steps I should take while I've got the car apart for that job?
Thanks.
ANSWER: Hi Aron,
If the rear main seal is leaking it will not usually get on the clutch as it is on the other side of the flywheel. Sometimes a front transmission seal leak can migrate down the first motion shaft and get slung out on the clutch.
Either seal leakage can be replaced when you pull the trans to get to the clutch. If you have oil dripping from the bell housing it could be either one. The engine rear seal is behind the flywheel and engine backing plate. The seal retainer is part of the block to pan seal so it is sometimes difficult to replace the seal without replacing the pan gasket too.
If you don't have oil dripping from the bell housing, you just have a clutch problem which may have existed before or from rust on the flywheel and pressure plate. You should expect to have the flywheel resurfaced when you open it up. You should inspect the pilot bearing too while in there. If you don't have any oil dripping from the bell-housing, don't fix the seals.
Clean the trans first motion shaft spline also so the disk slides freely on it.
Read my tech tip on how to make a British car transmission and clutch last.
http://mg-tri-jag.net/tech4.htm
Howard
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thanks for the prompt and thorough response.
There is no oil on the outside, It just seems like 21K miles is not much life for a clutch. On the other hand, 30 years is a long time no matter how you look at it.
When you say "resurface" the flywheel, does that mean take it to a shop to be machined like a brake rotor, or just clean it up with some steel wool or sandpaper?
When inspecting the pilot bearing, what am I looking for?
AnswerIt is good that there is no oil dripping from the bell-housing. If it is rust that has caused the slipping, it can sometimes be just sanded off but if the clutch was burned up then you have to examine the flywheel for ware or scars and if it is scared, you will need to take the flywheel to a auto machine shop and have it surfaced.
The pilot bearing is in the back of the crankshaft and the input shaft (1st motion shaft) of the trans rides in it and it must be checked for ware. It is "Oilite" Bronze. If you don't have any way to measure it you should find a shaft or bar the same size as the end of the 1st. motion shaft and do a fit check.
Howard
