Triumph Repair: front shakes when letting out clutch, clutch disk, slipping the clutch

Question
Spitfire 1500 (1978) I find in Serbia (LHD) and want to repair shakes when I let out clutch. Also I have a problem to put it in second gear. More than 7 years she has not been driven. What I need to do first to establish the problem?
Thanks!
Ivan

Answer
Hi Ivan,

Usually when a drive line chatters when you let the clutch out, it is a sign that the clutch disk is glazed or burned. However, when a car is set for 7 years it may just be rust on the flywheel and pressure plate.

To find out if it is just rust you can try slipping the clutch a lot when taking off. If it is a glazed disk, it is already bad and you can't hurt it any more. Try taking off in 2nd gear several times and then note if it is any better. If it improves, it is probably just rust and should ware off with a little use.

If not, you need to replace the clutch disk, pressure plate and release bearing anyway. Also inspect the pilot bearing and clutch fork while in there. Also have the flywheel resurfaced.

Most mechanics remove the transmission tunnel and transmission to put in a clutch.

Howard