Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Drive someone else`s car before you do anything, to see if your`s is unusually heavy. When I first had the Voight 5 speed fitted, I got in the car, pressed the clutch, and asked if it was actually connected. It was so light in comparison, not that that helps. It does show, though, that the clutch needn`t be so heavy but most cars of that period tend to have heavy clutch pedals. Maybe better design wasn`t a priority then.
Jim

Not much help but never noticed a heavy clutch on my 5 speed. When I had it apart the clutch was basically brand new with no wear.

Is there a particular point if travel the peddle is hard? At the top, during disengagement?

Jon,
There is an all new clutch in Toad. Would you like me to measure the pedal pressure needed?

(I was thinking a strong stick, holding the pedal down, pushing back against some bathroom scales?)
Crude, but it would give you an idea.

Vince

Yes please, Vince!

@MarkDa: I'll combine it all in one engine out job, I think. The oil leaks are getting worse!

@jimj: I have tried another car and it seemed pretty heavy, too. However, I'm thinking that there are good 'uns and bad 'uns out there, and I want to make mine a good 'un.

I've had a good morning with the car, though - fitted new air horns and repaired the washer bottle bracket. Really awkward down there as I left the radiator in place. But the payback comes when someone cuts me up on a roundabout - instead of the anaemic wheeze I used to get, I'm now getting 110DB so it is REALLY LOUD. Should put the wind up Mrs Oblivious in her huge 4WD!

Also went out for a nice drive with the Mrs, to a pub for a light lunch and back. Lovely and sunny with cool air. However, I got back and found a huge splat of bird poo on the bonnet which has actually damaged the top coat, so I had to go at it with the T-cut to restore it. Needs a wash too... again...

Jon

Just a bit of light humour.

But as it happens i just checked mine. Its not exactly heavy. A bit of resistance but nothing major.
Certainly not caused issues previously.
I hope i dont bugger it up when zetec goes in.

JonB wrote:Yes please, Vince!

The nearest I can get is 3.5 > 3.8 Kilos. The scales where nearly at 3 kilos but I could only
get a single contact point which under reads. Which does not sound that bad!

Thanks Vince.

I used a hand held luggage scale (the sort of thing you check your suitcase weight with) hooked over a piece of 2x4 wood. Put the far end of the wood on the clutch pedal and pressed down on the scale.

19 Kilos before the pedal moved - blimey Guv'nor!

Definitely something going on...

pauljones wrote:Jon

Just a bit of light humour.

Bring it on! We need a laugh round here.

pauljones wrote:But as it happens i just checked mine. Its not exactly heavy. A bit of resistance but nothing major.
Certainly not caused issues previously.
I hope i dont bugger it up when zetec goes in.

You'll be OK, I'm sure. PM me about your Zetec conversion, I'd be interested in how it is going.

JonB wrote:19 Kilos before the pedal moved - blimey Guv'nor!

they're part of the charm of the thing. Errm. Sort of!

Yeah, alright, you got me there...

I think there are a number of different pressure plates that fit the no platen style plate used by the 5 speed. Some of these seem to be heavier than others . Of course there is also all the issues around the rest of the linkage and how well it has been set up, plus whether the cylinders are the correct size etc etc.

However in general the 5 speed is heavier than the 4 speed clutch all other things being equal.

cheers
Rohan