Phil C

Definitely go for it Iain, you'll love it! Difficult agreed! I have fitted heated MX5 seats which can recline about 45 degrees, a couple of soft pillows, ear plugs and an eye mask (for daylight sleeping).....but definitely no beans! On the motorway sections it was just possible to sleep 😴 but elsewhere dozing/resting eyes was more likely.

Thought I would follow up having now successfully completed the RBRR. The Vitesse didn't miss a beat covering 2148 miles of (almost) continuous running over 48 hours......and still no sound of a budgie 😊. So just to repeat my thanks to all who helped get the car back together in time. I know it's a rival club but for anyone considering entering the next RBRR I would certainly encourage you to do so. Its a challenge but great fun. Of course we had to contend with that horrendous Scottish weather of the Friday/Saturday which certainly added a little jeopardy to the occasion and took its toll with a number of retirees. By contrast the sun was out at Lands End and most of Sunday was top down motoring. 😎 We also raised over £1200 for the Huntington's Disease Association and I think around £70,000 as group..... not bad for a bunch of old codgers in equally old cars! The start is a glorious place. Wall to wall Triumph's of all models. After 13 hours driving through Friday night/ Saturday morning we enjoyed a full Scottish at JOG. .....and another at Lands End some 24 hours later.

You’d think so eh? From the comments it would appear that quite a few of us are unaware of this. Looking closely at my back plate, the hole in question looks like it may once have been threaded. I was thinking may be the 3/8 dowel bolt fixed into the plate and remained there when removing the gearbox. This could explain it not being mentioned in the WSM?

😳 will be interesting to see if anyone bids!

and you Ian, and a massive thank you for your generosity. Thought I would post an update to conclude this issue. Although originally the squeak was the problem it soon became apparent that the issue was a little more serious with the clutch diaphragm run-out exceeding 150 thou and also the alignment of the gearbox - 3/8 dowel bolt. I replaced the clutch (kindly donated by Ian) and the measured run-out reduced to 48 thou. I also replaced the spigot bush as this may have been affected by the previous misaligned gearbox. I put a new pin in the carrier to overcome the wear. On reassembly I ensured I used a 3/8 bolt in the correct hole and tightened it before the remaining 5/16 bolts to ensure correct gearbox alignment. For any doubt I show its location below. I can report the lever no longer oscillates and the slight clutch judder I had on start up has gone. The clutch feels smooth and no squeaking.......although I have only done a 15 mile test run. Very happy 😊 Again a big thank you to everybody who contributed and a special thank you to Ian for donating the replacement clutch! Phil

Ian, PM'd contact details.

Ian, Flywheel is spot on. The cover sounds very generous and a good plan. Can I come and collect?

Checked the clutch run-out with dial gauge. Varies by 156 thou. It’s only done 1500 miles but I bought it over three years ago! I was going to ask what an acceptable Tolerance would be but I’m guessing this is causing the oscillation of the clutch fork? Could the lack of the dowel bolt have caused this by not loading the clutch evenly??

Thanks Ian, that is the page I was looking at and concluded the same.

Two dowels for the engine plate. one short DP0612 one long DP0616 the longer locates the plate and bellhouse.

Ignore all that. I’ve worked it out. panic begins 🥴

Ah. Does the bellhouse locating dowel double as the second plate locater as well? ie go through the plate to the block? 🤓

Sorry not too clear I am now referring to the engine back plate. If the bell house alignment is crucial then the location of the engine plate must be too. the parts book lists two dowels but I only see one. 8 o’clock on photo.

Ian, Not done yet, flywheel still off. Just replaced spigot bush…as I was there. thinking about alignment - the back plate has only one locating dowel and there is no dowel bolt listed. How can I be sure this is aligned correctly? Some of the retaining bolts are fully threaded - should they be shouldered for better locating? As I am in a position to deal with this now it would be good to confirm or otherwise. phil

Tell me about it…..😫 Clever stuff! Makes me feel like I don’t know what I’m doing!! Found and 3/8 shouldered bolt awaits reassembly 👍 Silly question but should the thrust bearing be greased? It looks like a sealed bearing but the WSM talks about pressing in grease? thanks all

Correct. In my case the o/s of the two lowest engine plate holes suits a 3/8" bolt/dowel rather than the 5/16" for all other fixings.

Ian, Thanks for the generous offer, Ive had a day away from the garage today so no progress. Will check the fingers tomorrow and see what I find. Following everyone's advice I now have a number of things to check/change/repair before reassembly and I am hoping together they will address the problem.

Will the split pin not restrict the carrier movement towards the gearbox?

Thanks both. Pete, they didn't help! It's like when you look up the cause of an ache or pain on the internet - it always concludes you are going to die!!! I think Iain is right. Given the time pressures I will reassemble with the 3/8 dowel bolt and taking care everything is as it should be. Hopefully that will sort the noise/jiggling, but if not, at least get me around the RBRR and to be sorted later!! With regard to pinning the carrier, not something I have done before. Advice as to how to do this to ensure the pin doesn't fall out would be welcome. Thanks.

Thanks for your input Pete. Good to know the jiggling lever is not normal but not sure what the solution is. Do you think the missing 3/8 bolt could be the problem? The bearing thickness is 19mm. I attach photos of carrier and lever showing condition/wear. Would you consider this significant to the problem? Phil

Thanks Johny. Your search skills are far better than mine!! Very interesting/clever solution and to be adopted here.😊

Dave, no luck finding your earlier post! Did your spring tension the thrust bearing towards the clutch cover or away from it?

Thanks again Iain, every day is a school day 😊

No, all 5/16

Didn’t know that. It’s not mentioned in the manual either but I’ve just checked and I have the oversized hole. I didn’t have any vibrations previously so may be I just got lucky? Anyway I know now, thanks.