Nick Whitehead

Thanks. Road tested with the cover on and off. I’ll keep checking for unwanted touch point. Nick

I will check the oil. I had drained and replaced it. Maybe a massive leak? No sign of oil on the garage floor though…. ill have a good look for fouling around the gearbox. hope it’s not the new clutch…. NicK

That’s what I thought initially. But I can’t see where, and it’s doesn't sound to me like that sort of noise. But on your suggestion I will double check. Thanks. Nick

Help please. Am I missing something stupid? My Vitesse 2L Mk2 gearbox has suddenly become noisy in all four forward gears. The car had been laid up for 20 odd years but I recently put it back on the road with a new clutch, housing and release bearing. I have driven it satisfactorily for about 30 odd miles, just locally road testing various replaced brake bits (and the clutch) etc. Sounded great, considering its age. I disconnected the drive shaft to jack up the gearbox (block of wood under the sump) to replace the rear gearbox mounting bushes. Reconnected the drive shaft (matching the holes as before between gearbox and driveshaft). Went for a road test and experienced very noisy transmission noise. I disconnected the drive shaft again and started the engine, went through the gears with no load on the gearbox; it seemed quieter, but I'm not certain? Has my gearbox suddenly failed somehow? I'm more used to a gradual degradation with gearboxes (but it's been a while since I did this sort of thing...) Anything obvious I'm missing? And what's my next move in diagnosing my problem? (I could try posting a sound file..) Thanks in advance for your wisdom. Nick

I think I’m sorted. Most of the issue appeared to be a huge amount of wear in the coupling between the pedal and the master cylinder pushrod, meaning that for about half of the length of travel of the pedal, nothing was happening. The clevis pin was badly worn and the hole in the pedal it goes through was oval. So after laying up for 20 years this car just completed it first 10 miles on the road. Brakes pulling badly, so that’s the next job..... Thanks to to all who contributed to help me. Nick

Ah.... bleed nipple was on the lower port. Now fixed, thank you.

Thanks DanMi. I checked the new bearing to make sure it matched the thickness of the old one. Nick

Thanks. Good point. I’ll try the spacers on the slave and see if it works. If not, gearbox out! At least it’s now nice and clean… Nick

Thanks Johny. That’s clear. I suspect that’s my problem. I thought the clutch was stuck hard to the flywheel (after being laid up for 20’years) so I replaced it. But this wear would have the same affect - unable to disengage the clutch). Putting an additional ident in so it sits in a different place sounds a good idea (except I’d have to take the gearbox out again!)

Thanks Nigel. Such an obvious and easy fix. And no gearbox out! Any view on question 1. Should the release bearing disengage from the clutch cover, or is it constantly rotating? Nick

Help and advice please. I have a Triumph Vitesse 2 litre Mk2. I’ve replaced the clutch master and slave (p/n GMC205 516788). And the clutch cover and release bearing (GCK282 CLUTCH KIT 3 PIECE GT6/VIT - OEM). The clutch is working but it’s a real crunch to get it into gear and the clutch bite point is very low. Question 1. Should the clutch release bearing disengage completely and stop when the clutch pedal is not depressed? (It doesn’t) And if so, what makes it return back towards the gearbox away from the clutch cover? Question 2. The collar which the release bearing is drifted on to and has a flange to engage the clutch release fork appears a bit worn. There is a ‘semi-circle’ worn in the flange where the clutch release fork goes. So the fork is always in the same place and collar does not rotate at all. Is this normal? Question 3. I’m pretty certain that the clutch hydraulics are bled correctly. No air. How can I tell the clutch fork has the correct amount of movement when the clutch pedal is depressed to disengage the clutch? Thank you.

Phew! Thanks for the advice. [yes, it is an optical illusion]. Nick

Help please! I'm in the process of replacing the clutch in my Vitesse 2 Litre Mk2. After 20 years being laid up, the old one was stuck to the flywheel and none of the usual tricks would free it. In the process, I've found the clutch fork is damaged - picture supplied. It was working fine when I last drove it. And visually, it seemed to work with the correct amount of movement of the release bearing when the clutch is depressed (all new hydraulics fitted). But could this cause me problems? I note that the part is hard to replace? Normal Triumph suppliers (e.g Rimmers) no longer carry it. So I would have to find a way to repair it? Thanks for your advice. Nick