Irish Mini Owners Club

Was reaching the end of my first mini project and had just put my rebuilt engine back into the car eventually got it running and wanted to bring it on a test drive but when I pressed the clutch pedal I could hear the clutch make a god awful squealing sound and the engine just cut out immediately. It's a verto clutch and I followed the Haynes instructions to the letter just not sure where I've gone wrong has anybody on here got any ideas ?? Thanks, Andy

sounds exactly like what happened to me last year on the Mizen to Malin,
start the engine, no problem, put your foot on the clutch, blood curdling squeal and the engine dies!
Although mine has a Pre Verto clutch (long arm) it has to be the same thing,
Clutch release bearing!

for Verto clutch - http://www.minispares.com/Product.aspx? ... 421&title=

for Pre Verto clutch - http://www.minispares.com/Product.aspx? ... 305&title=

Hi macker thanks for the reply it's a brand new clutch kit got a new release bearing aswell, it's a turbo clutch not just a standard verto clutch and it's pretty much the first clutch I've ever had to change in my life. It must be a much heavier clutch the pedal is no easy job to press and the second I press the pedal even just in a little the revs drop and the engine cuts out so I tried starting the engine with the pedal fully pressed ant it makes grinding and squealing sounds so do you think I should replace the release bearing anyway ??

Have you adjusted the clutch throughout? Sounds like the clutch is setup wrong and is putting enough pressure on the system to stall the engine, this is what I would check first, not sure what the settings are for a Verto clutch though.

Yea it said the throw out adjustment should be 6.5mm from the clutch housing and that's what I have it at, maybe I should try play around with the adjustments because I can't think of anything else wrong ??

mine old engine done that but it was the fact there was no thurust washers in the engine

When you say " my rebuilt engine back into " Did you rebuild the motor or was it built Professionally,

I think you problem lies with the Crank thrust Washers either there not there or there in backwards,

The only problem that can cause this is, Failed Clutch release bearing, Incorrect end float set in the crank clearances, or as had been said problem with the crank thrust washers,

I put the engine back together so it wasn't done by a professional I guess the problem must be those trust washers I must have put it back in the wrong way round or something. I should have just given you that bloody engine in the first place paul

First thing came to my mind was thrust washers.With the engine turned off use a lever to push the crankshaft pulley in towards the engine then have somebody press the clutch and see if the pulley moves out.
The turbo clutch shouldn't feel much heavier than a standard clutch.

Thanks for all the advice lads I'll give that a try woody and see how I get on but I'll most likely have to pull it all out again and check those thrust washers.

Andy don't lose fait You have done very well so far give me a call Monday and I'll drop out to you at some stage next with a borascope and I'll be able to look in to the engine and see if there in the right way or not,
regards
Paul.

nutterboy wrote:Hi macker thanks for the reply it's a brand new clutch kit got a new release bearing aswell, it's a turbo clutch not just a standard verto clutch and it's pretty much the first clutch I've ever had to change in my life. It must be a much heavier clutch the pedal is no easy job to press and the second I press the pedal even just in a little the revs drop and the engine cuts out so I tried starting the engine with the pedal fully pressed ant it makes grinding and squealing sounds so do you think I should replace the release bearing anyway ??

I'm still betting it's the release bearing but let Paul have a look at it for you and then you'll know for sure,
It was a brand new release bearing that went on mine too

I hope that's what the problem is Macker
Paul I sent you a pm