Triumph Repair: getting into gear, clutch disk, clutch cylinder

Question
Howard, I'm having trouble getting my 71 Spitfire into gear. It does go into gear, but not very easily, have to use a little more force than I'd like. I just replaced the the master clutch cylinder and there is no fluid loss of any kind. I havn't checked the slave yet, think that's the problem or do you think my gear box and/or transmission needs work?

Thanks, Nate

Answer
Hi Nathan,
You need to separate the problem a little. "Hard to get into gear" meaning shift lever hard to move? Or grinds gears when you try to shift into a gear from neutral?

If it grinds when trying to put it into gear from neutral. You first need to confirm that the idle is correct (700 to 900 RPM). Be sure you wait a second or two after you depress the clutch pedal (all the way to the floor)before you try to put it into a gear. Be sure there is no added carpet under the pedal. Note the free play in the clutch pedal is not more than about an inch or so. Be sure the pedal is firm feeling as soon as the free play is taken up and the pedal feels the same amount of resistance from then all the way to the floor.

Put the car on a flat surface and start the engine and let it idle, then depress the clutch pedal all the way to the floor and hold it for two seconds and put it into 2nd gear with the brake off. then put it into 1st from 2nd and wait a couple of seconds and note if the car tries to creep forward. If it does you have a dragging clutch which can be caused by several things.
1. air in the clutch hydraulic system.
2. A warped clutch disk.
3. A bad pressure plate.
4. A bad pilot bearing in the flywheel.
5. A rusted clutch disk / input shaft spline.

Any one or combination of these can cause a clutch to drag. The Spitfire is noted for not having enough travel in the release system even when they were new which adds to the problem. TR-6 had the same problem.
Howard