The 'E' Type Forum

Hi all help needed please.

I have an S1 4.2 and after a small ride the clutch pedal only goes half way done , with the result it will be hard shifting gears . So I put it up on a car lift and noticed that the slave cylinder is hitting the gearbox. Picture attached. Any idea how I can solve this problem please. thank u

Are the return springs in place, or in good order?
I can’t see the slave/fork return spring in place in your pic. I think it should look like this?

If the clutch release lever is able to move all the way rearward until it hits the bell housing, without disengaging the clutch, then something is wrong within the clutch mechanism itself. For example, a worn thrust bearing, a broken clutch diaphragm, a cracked or bent clutch release lever, or wear in the release lever or thrust bearing pivots etc.

Put a lamp to see the problem into the bell housing and have somebody in the car to push the pedal.
You'll see what happen but it "smell" an engine out of the car to repair the clutch...

I have the same feeling, something wrong in gearbox , is there need to take off engine to take of gearbox?

Its a pity but yes.
I don't think it's the gearbox. The first idea is the clutch and around.
To see the positif things, it's better to do this now instead of stayind on the road during a week-end !
You'll take the opportunity to change some parts witch are used du to the age.

You say it only starts doing it after a short drive, and that the pedal only goes down half way?

The “hard changing gears” part of your description suggests the clutch isn’t disengaging fully. This would also support the theory that something has failed in the bell housing. The lever bottoms out on the bell-housing before the clutch is disengaged.

What’s puzzling though is that the pedal is only going down half way to achieve that. For the slave cylinder to move as far as your photo shows, I’d expect the clutch pedal to be on the floor!

Is this a new fault, and the car worked fine before? Are both the clutch cylinders the correct size? I wonder if something is failing hydraulically that’s allowing the master cylinder to pump out fluid, but preventing it returning. Eventually you’d have completely pumped up the slave cylinder, and would then have limited pedal travel. What this doesn’t explain, though, is why you can’t change gear. By this point the clutch should be fully disengaged.

I had similar problems a few years ago. It started by being difficult to get into reverse, such that I had to stop the engine first. Then first to second was difficult. Eventually, I gave in.

It was a completely worn out, as in down to the metal, clutch release bush/bearing.

As I don’t have the correct tools (lift, hoist, etc) I had to pay someone else to do the job. My annual holiday that year was shorter and cheaper than usual.

hi thanks for your replies , so for taking of the gearbox does this mean I would also need to take of the engine?

Yes..engine and gearbox out as one unit