Thread: Clutch Slip?

So... I went on another several hundred kilometre camping trip - which was mainly on the hwy getting there and back - and there was no clutch slip at all!
I even put in in 4th or 5th and gave it a bit of throttle and it didn't slip like it did last trip

Any theories? Last trip I could make it slip every gear change in 4th of 5th??

Originally Posted by Finnius

So... I went on another several hundred kilometre camping trip - which was mainly on the hwy getting there and back - and there was no clutch slip at all!
I even put in in 4th or 5th and gave it a bit of throttle and it didn't slip like it did last trip

Any theories? Last trip I could make it slip every gear change in 4th of 5th??

Oil on the clutch plate? slave cylinder not retracting properly?

Thrust bearing not sliding freely?

Who knows...

Originally Posted by shack

Oil on the clutch plate? slave cylinder not retracting properly?

Thrust bearing not sliding freely?

Who knows...

I though it might be oil, but if it was a leak it should leak all the time not intermittently?

The oil may not necessarily leak all the time. For example, it could perhaps leak from the gearbox - but only when it is parked on a steep nose down slope after a run to get the oil nice and hot and fluid. Or there was slight leak that left the inside of the clutch housing oily, and then you waded deep water and got water in that washed the oil onto the friction surfaces.

Originally Posted by JDNSW

The oil may not necessarily leak all the time. For example, it could perhaps leak from the gearbox - but only when it is parked on a steep nose down slope after a run to get the oil nice and hot and fluid. Or there was slight leak that left the inside of the clutch housing oily, and then you waded deep water and got water in that washed the oil onto the friction surfaces.

Yep, wading without a plug in DEFINITELY affected my Series 3 - also once sticking the clutch together! Left overnight whilst still wet (Freed by starting in gear, stomping clutch and applying hand brake so force NOT through the half shafts. Still I guess a risk of strain on gearbox but it worked).
The water certainly picks up all the muck in there.
Good idea to not change gear through water crossings I guess, giving things a chance to be flung of by centrifugal force before you release the clutch after leaving the water.

I have a theory that the release bearing is pushing a little bit on all or some of the time. I can hear a whine every now and then whilst driving that sounds like a bearing whine but seems to originate from the clutch 'area'.

Anyone know how to find out if this is the case?
Why would a new clutch I fitted a couple of years ago (including release bearing) push on the plate fingers whilst the old clutch didn't (same slave cylinder and rod)?

It shouldn't - but swollen seals (from contamination) or corrosion in either cylinder could cause it, as could debris in the connecting pipe or hose.

When the clutch was replaced, was the fork replaced too? They were notorious for wearing through on the pivot point which lead to all sorts of trouble. Hope it’s not a gearbox out job!
Good luck,
Woolly.