Triumph Repair: slippery clutch, clutch disk, clutch system

Question
QUESTION: Dear Howard,

Ten years ago I completely rebuild a Spitfire Mk2 from 1965.  Since then I drove it no more than 8'000km and the clutch is badly slippery.  I suspect that oil may be leaking from the engine or the gear box, but before taking it apart, I wonder if there is a way to adjust the clutch system that I missed.  For information, I had to change the master cylinder and thus bled the system without any influence on the slippery clutch.

Thank in advance for your answer,

Yours sincerely,

François

ANSWER: The clutch release system can cause the clutch to slip but only if it is holding pressure on the clutch arm. Check first for the little free play in the clutch pedal. It should have a small amount of free play. If there is not free play, check to see that the clutch pedal is not in a bind then open the bleeder valve on the slave cylinder to see if there is pressure in the system. If so, you need to check the master cylinder as it may be at fault.

If you have free play in the pedal the problem is in the bell housing and you will need to remove the transmission to gain access. Inside it can be a worn out clutch disk, a weak pressure plate or the clutch release system may be at fault.

Howard

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Howard,

Thank you so much for your helpful answer.  I have a follow up request.  Do you think that the origin of my problem could be a small oil leak from the gearbox or the engine that spill oil on the clutch and make it slippery?

Once again thanks a lot for the quick reply.

François

Answer
Engine oil can hardly get to the clutch as it would be thrown off by the flywheel into the bellhousing. Trans oil can get on the disk by running down the first motion shaft after being parked in a front down position.
The most likely is the clutch is worn out or been overheated.
Howard