MG Midget J1 1933 Instruction Manual page 34

Clutches are correctly adjusted at the Works before the car is delivered
In the early life of the car, honever,
n
certain amount of bedding down of the
friction surfaces takes place, which will permit the pressure plate to take up
a position nearer the withdrawal mechanism, and thus reducse the necessary
clearance between the withdrawal levers, the withdrawal race and the lever
restraining springs. If this clearance is completely taken up and the with-
drawal levers actually bear either against the restraining springs o r against the
withdrawal race, i t will be realised that a great deal of the spring pressure
which should be forcing the friction surfaces together will be dissipated at
these two points, thus preventing the clutch springs from exerting their full
pressure on the clutch plates. When this occurs, slipping of the clutch will
take place, and it will be necessary to readjust the clutch withdrawal
mechanism in order to obtain the required clearance.
Removal of the small rectangular plate in the top of the clutch housing
will dive access to th'e adjustment for the withdrawal levers. T h e withdrawal
lever restraining springs are for the purpose of preventing the withdrawal
levers from being forced against the withdrawal race under the influence of
centrifugal action and thus produce undue wear of the race itself and the ends
of the levers. They are carefully positioned at the Works and should not be
interfered with. If on inspection it is found that there is no clearance at
3 1 1
between the levers and their springs, the lock nut on each lever should be
released and the adjusting screw slackened back by means of a screwdriver
until at least a 10-thousandths feeler gauge can be inserted between the end
of the adjusting screw and the pressure pin beneath it, and there is a clearance
of
3/32
of an inch between the end of each lever and the face of the clutch
withdrawal race.
It is
of
itm most
ivzportancc that each
of
these levers should
he
so
adp~sted that they all haile cractly the same clearance between their
inner ends and the face
of
the clutch withdrawal race.
Any clean piece of strip metal
3/32
inch thick can b,e inserted and used
as a gauge betwreen the two to ensure correct adjustment.
If difficulty is experienced in obtaining the n,ecessary clearance between
the adjusting scr,ews and their pressure pins when the clearances at the ends
of the withdrawal levers are correctly set, the withdrawal lever restraining
springs should be gently opened out by inserting a screwdriver behind them
Tighten up the adjusting screw lock nuts, taking care not to disturb the
setting just obtained, the clutch adjustment is complete. If this procedure
has been correctly carrimed out, each lever should have an appreciable amount
of play when the clutch is fully released.
T h e clutch plate is carried on the splined end of the driven shaft, and
may stick when the fabric facings are allowed to b'ecome much worn.
A
drop
or two of paraffin on the spline will r,ectify matters, but care must be taken
not to use too much o r allow any to reach the fabric facings.
When replacing the inspection covser do not straighten out th,e lip at the
end. This cover-plate is intended to function as a h e a t h e r for the clutch
housing.
J / A
PAGE TWENTY-SEVEN