Skizzer's SD1: Tomorrow's Car, Yesterday. Fixerations, with mixed results

[EssDeeWon]

I cannot recommend Past Parts highly enough. It sent the master cylinder to them and IIRC it was returned within about 2 weeks like new!! Re-bored, new sleeve, new rubber seals etc etc and it was nice and shiny 

[trigger]

Good old boys at Past Parts, we used to get specialist parts of them when I worked at the motor factors. They are based in Bury St Edmunds.

[Skizzer]

So, I have FINALLY got around to fixing this.  The bits arrived back about 5 weeks after I sent them off for refurb, but I was busy then went on holiday so the poor Rover has been sat on ramps on the drive since the end of June.

 

Past Parts did a grand job, remanufacturing both the master and slave cylinders so they looked like new.  Thanks to all above for the recommendation.

 

Before:

Clutch master cylinder - before refurb by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

After:

Clutch master cylinder - after refurb by Past Parts by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

Cost was a smidge more than NOS replacements including the postage and stuff, but as others have said there's every chance that the 'new' parts have been sitting in various warehouses for 40 years so may not be much better than the knackered old ones.  Anyway, Past Parts = recommended.  Rimmers, to their credit, cancelled my order for NOS ones over the phone with no quibble and gave me my money back.

 

Refitting was the reverse of removal, basically, except a lot easier for the bolts not being rusty any more.  I sourced a new gasket for the cast aluminium master cylinder/steel bulkhead join, but made my own from trim tape (double sided sticky foam) for the slave cylinder;  might order a proper one as I'm not sure what the respective castings are made of and don't want any chance of them reacting.

 

It might have taken the best part of two months but, for once, I did a job on the car that worked: the clutch pedal now feels lovely and the car now has all four feet on solid ground.  Quite pleased. Fingers crossed I don't find a puddle of clutch fluid on the drive tomorrow.

[Skizzer]

I finally got around to showing the SD1 a little love today. It's been sitting patiently at the back of the shed since driving up there at the end of last year, and apart from some new number plate lights and a quick turn over in early spring I've rather ignored it.

 

It started up fine enough and idles happily with a smooth yet perky V8 thrum. Excellent. Good and loyal car, I don't deserve you.

 

However... The clutch is stuck. The pedal feels normal (see above for recent renewal of the hydraulics) but it won't disengage; I can change gear as normal with the engine off and get drive to the wheels, but can't change gear with the engine running. If you start it in first with the clutch pedal pressed down it lurches forward on the starter. Maybe I do deserve you after all.

 

Any suggestions? Is this a fix with a wooden hammer? If so, where (other than my own head) should I point it?

 

I'm seeing an engine crane and a gearbox drop in my future. Was probably going to have to do this anyway at some point to fix the non-functioning speedometer.

 

 

I need fewer cars so this happens less. Anyone want a badly running Vauxhall Victor or an Audi 80 with a broken windscreen?

[Rocket88]

Try and start it [on the starter] then take it for a run.......................will probably free itself

[HillmanImp]

I need fewer cars so this happens less. Anyone want a badly running Vauxhall Victor or an Audi 80 with a broken windscreen?

I would be very happy to take the Victor off you, just to help your current predicament.

 

I can't give you any actual money for it but just think of the relief of having less cars to worry about. You can't put a price on that.

 

When should I collect it?

[Skizzer]

Try and start it [on the starter] then take it for a run.......................will probably free itself

That's what I thought, but to get it to turn over and start, I have to be in neutral. Having started it, I can't then get it into gear - so it ain't going anywhere.

[Skizzer]

I would be very happy to take the Victor off you, just to help your current predicament.

I can't give you any actual money for it but just think of the relief of having less cars to worry about. You can't put a price on that.

When should I collect it?

Catch me on a bad day and I'll go for that deal. Give it another weekend of pointless new parts and swearing, that should be enough to break me.

[billyboy406v6]

7 and 33 please.

[Skizzer]

Having done a bit more Googling, there are some promising-sounding tips here: http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/clutch/ct_104.htm

 

Will give them a go later and report back.

[cort16]

try bumping it on the starter in 2nd or 3rd. I'm sure I read joey spud started a golf with a stuck clutch in 4th in his thread and it free'd off.

[M'coli]

I've done it to an Imp engine that hadn't been used for 3 years, started it up in first with the clutch pedal on the deck and then held it back on the handbrake in 2nd.

[D Spares & Tyres]

jack up one rear corner so one wheel just spins when you try to drive it. Then `drive` it on the spot but with the pedal depressed. Jerk throttle on and off if this doesn`t work straight away

[Skizzer]

Thanks chaps, I'll give these a try tomorrow. One of them is bound to work, even with my recent luck, right?

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I freed the stuck clutch on Breadvans SD1. Just push it out the shed and warm the engine so it will fire up and drive away in 1st. Set off driving it abusively on and off the throttle with the clutch pedal down. It will pop free in 100yds.

[mouseflakes]

My old R16s used to do this a lot. Similar to what Mr B says, with them I used to run the car along in first on the starter with the clutch down the whole time, then apply the brakes (handbrake if the servo has no vacuum). Engine would usually fire up in the process and help. Sometimes makes a bit of a loud 'thump' noise as it frees.

[Skizzer]

Thanks to all for the advice... In the end the clutch proved embarrassingly easy to unstick: I just turned the key with it in gear with the clutch pedal down and let it bounce along on the starter. By the time we'd reached the (open) shed door it was running happily and the clutch worked fine, so off we went on a tour of the farm. Did three point turns and everything.

 

Here is an outdoors picture to prove it.

 

 

Emboldened, I replaced the manky and broken rear number plate lights and tidied up the tailgate wiring a bit - not a proper job (heated window still disconnected) but enough to pass an MOT. The new lights worked first time, to my astonishment.

 

Sadly the brake lights don't light up, though. The bulbs are fine and the bulb holders look like new, so I'm suspecting the switch. It's either suffered from classic SD1 under-dash dampness or I disturbed something when I removed the clutch pedal and master cylinder.

 

It was time to come in for tea by then and I'd been promised potato croquettes, so further investigations will have to wait.

 

Not far off having the handsome old dog back on the road

[EssDeeWon]

Lovely!  but please ditch those 2001 plates 

[Skizzer]

Lovely!  but please ditch those 2001 plates 

Funnily enough I was thinking just the same and perusing Tippers' website.

[Skizzer]

In the post today came two parcels - a little one that contained one of Mr Lucas's finest brake light switches, and a bigger flat one with a Cornwall postmark.

 

What's no longer wrong with this picture?

 

 

Brake lights are now working after about a minute's work to fit the new switch - I'm getting gradually better at this shite fixing lark - so the MOT is now booked for Tuesday. Progress!

[HMC]

Top work skizzer, the plates look fab BTW and suit the car perfectly!

[worldofceri]

I'm fighting the urge to replace the number plates on all my cars rather than fix what is actually  wrong with them, and this is not helping.

[Braddon81]

A chap round the corner from my parents gaff has got a field full Sd1s,including a few series 1s. Might be worth enquiring if your after a few odds and ends for her.

[Skizzer]

A chap round the corner from my parents gaff has got a field full Sd1s,including a few series 1s. Might be worth enquiring if your after a few odds and ends for her.

That's very good to know, thanks. I've got some spare panels and I don't think it needs much else that won't also probably be shagged on any likely donors, but I'll let you know.

 

 

MOT day tomorrow and I'll be away on a collection mission, so I dropped it off this evening.

 

Good luck tomorrow, old pal.

 

[Skizzer]

It's only gone and passed, straight off!

 

Good day today.

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

These early ones look just wonderful.

[Braddon81]

Papped it this afternoon obviously basking in its Mot'd finery!

[Skizzer]

Sunny day

+

Wales

+

a V8 in need of a shakedown

=

grin

 

 

[scruff]

I had a good look at this when it was at Breadvan's and it really is a gem, ace car.

[Cleon-Fonte]

Not only do you have a Rancho, but you also have a working SD1 and the weather in which to enjoy it.

 

Can I be you?