sd33 clutch problem

i have a series 3 109 with a nissan sd33 engine and box that i bought recently. the clutch has started acting up over the past while, changed the master cylinder, cos it looked a bit past it anyway, and just changed the piston seal on the slave cos they're hard to find!

anyway, problem still remains, if i start up in gear it'll go in and out of gear fine and drive fine (for a while anway) but if i start up in neutral usually the clutch drags badly and won't go into gear. im confident its not a hydraulic problem as it can go from working to not working to working again without so much as looking at the hydraulics, even if it's been sitting up for a week. i presume if it was a hydraulic problem it'd stay not working.

sometimes sitting in traffic, in gear with the clutch to the floor, the clutch will randomly start chattering and dragging too.

fairly certain its the pilot bearing/bushing or a problem with the fork or pivot ball, just thought i'd throw this out there and get a few opinions

if anyone can think of anything i could try that does not require removing the engine/gearbox i'd love to hear it!

Still sounds like hydraulics to me but try this, set off quite hard in 2nd gear and make the clutch work hard, may be a bit of plate contamination and by doing that it may burn it off. See how you get on.

Soloby Rob said:

Still sounds like hydraulics to me but try this, set off quite hard in 2nd gear and make the clutch work hard, may be a bit of plate contamination and by doing that it may burn it off. See how you get on.

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thanks rob, had to drive it for a few minutes the other night after the clutch went on me completely, fairly burned the clutch then and it hasn't done it any good!

the master cylinder is brand new, do you think it could be the slave? i took it out for a good look and neither the piston or chamber are damaged in any way.. replaced the piston seal anyway and put it back in.. i just dont want to waste more money on a new slave cylinder if thats not whats at fault..

does the fact it can go from working to not working with the bat of an eye not verify its not the hydraulics?

besides, the problem is dragging, not slipping so i don't really see what burning the clutch plate would do..

dubmess said:

besides, the problem is dragging, not slipping so i don't really see what burning the clutch plate would do..

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Slight oil contamination can cause a clutch to drag, if you are confident the hydraulics are ok and you've given the clutch some hard work then it's the clutch it's self at fault, gearbox out now.

ok cheers