LRO: Dealing with old cotterpins and other clutch fun

From: Keith Tanner (keith@miata.net)
Date: Mon May 14 2001 - 09:45:29 EDT

  • Next message: NADdMD@aol.com: "Re: LRO: Dealing with old cotterpins and other clutch fun"

    I'm halfway through a clutch swap on my IIa. Overall it's going fairly
    well, considering the history of the truck and the apparant level of
    frustration the PO developed with respect to this particular mechanism. I'm
    down to the clutch release lever, then the bellhousing bolts come off.

    I'm having trouble dealing with the cotterpins used in various places,
    primarily with the ones attached to the clutch lever and relay arm. Every
    one of them is rusted in place and brittle, meaning that I can snap the
    heads off and pull then out, then drill the part. Am I missing some
    fundamental Old Car Trick for dealing with these, or is it a fact of life?
    How can I make it easier for myself next time?

    Any tips for clutch replacement would be appreciated as well. I'm
    installing a 9.5" clutch and pressure plate, so I know about removing the
    one dowel in the glywheel. The floorboards are out (now THAT was a fight)
    but the seatbox has stayed in place. The relay lever for the clutch is
    still in place because it appears I'd have to drop the gas tank in order to
    remove it - I'm hoping to manouver the tranny around it. I'm going to try
    to support the tranny on a trolley jack - how much does it weigh?

    Keith Tanner



    This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Mon May 14 2001 - 12:09:12 EDT