Forum:
Can anyone arm me with some knowledge before I approach a garage? My wife's K reg 1.6 Sportrak has had an iffy clutch for some time with it slipping a bit. The other day it really went belly up and you can only get about 15mph out of it before the revs shoot up and then drop right off again.
I have had various suggestions ranging from hydraulics, cable adjustment, to new clutch needed.
Any likely causes and costs? Need to know if it is worth fixing or not. Would be prepared for some work but have little knowledge.
1st off, if it's a Sporti,
1st off, if it's a Sporti, it's a 1600. As for changing the clutch, it's not a hard job, but will take you a day, if you've not done it befor. You will also need either a 2 / 4 post ramp, or an engine hoist, or other heavy lifting araingment.
To get the clutch out you need to split the engine and gearbox. It's easiest to drop the gearbox out the bottom of the car, but only if you have a set of ramps. I'm guessing you don't.
So the aulternative is to lift the engine out, and replace the clutch plate and it's ancilaries on the deck. This is not a hard job, but does take time. it's just a mater of disconecting everything that joins to the engine at one end, and anouther part of the car at the other. Then remembering where to reatach it when you put the engine back in.
The only 'hard' parts tend to be getting the engine to slide off (and back on) the splines on the gearbox primary shaft, and making sure the clutch plate is alined properly. You can get a tool for this, but eyeball and a screwdriver will usually surfice.
Any veiws expresed in this thread by me are purely from my own experience, and (sometimes) falible memory. Hope my comments help, but please don't take them as gospel.
Top tip - soak the bolts
Top tip - soak the bolts securing the crossmember supporting the 'box about a week B4 removal. They can give probs.
Gotta do mine soon-ish, all that caravanning over the last 5-odd years is taking it's toll..
Dave with a Sporty
Dave with a Sporty
Sporty clutch
Sounds like the clutch has well gone. Not a difficult job and suprisingly a small clutch and bell housing.
Provided you have a decent set of ramps to get the car up and you can support the engine removal using another trolly jack or better gearbox jack is easy once you have removed all the bits ie Props, which should be marked to ensure replacement as they came off, gear stick etc. I emptied the gearbox of oil before dropping it away.
Replace the complete clutch assembly including the thrust bearing. Watch how that bugger comes off so you can place the spring retainer which is a bit flimsy in the same place on the new one.
Replacement is reasonably straight forward povided you can move it forward on the trolly jack. Provided the lay shaft hasn't moved then it should line up with the splines, perhaps I was very lucky but usually a little twist will marry the two up. I think it is all achievable in a day but i took a few as i didn't need the car.
The gear box with transfer box is quite heavy but not impossible to handle. My wife helped with pulling the trolly jack forward but that was all, thank god.
Refill with oil and attach cable allowing end float on pedal as in manual and replace all the bits and the job is done.
My advice is take your time, use good strong supports and jacks if you have them. If you don't then find a clutch clinic if they still exist or a trustworthy mechanic. who has the right gear.
Clutch kits do appear on ebay but Milners will provide one or PARTCO.
M J Young