361
Replacing
clutch and brake return springs
A
useful note from a V8 Bulletin Board thread launched by Peter
Garton. (June 12)
Peter Garton posted a note on the V8BB saying "I
was contortioning my way around in the footwell on the driver's
side this morning and saw something hanging down. It was the
clutch pedal return spring. The pedal end had broken off. I
managed to repair it with a piece of galvanised wire. Both return
springs for the brake and clutch pedals are identical Part No.
ZKC6704. The moral of this thread is that I didn't even
notice the spring had broken and cannot imagine how long I'd
been driving without it!! One is thus forced to deduce that
the spring might be superfluous?"
Victor Smith responded "I recall some years ago
sitting in my MGBGTV8, having just fired it up and about ready
to select first gear to move off, when on pressing the clutch
pedal down something shot into the waistband of my trousers
and dropped down! I stopped the engine and got out and rumaged
around and found the clutch pedal return spring on the mat with
one of the hooked ends missing. The lower hooked end had broken
off allowing the spring to be shot like a rocket upwards! Having
a broken spring flying around at high speed in the legwell is
not a welcome prospect, particularly if it were to strike the
uncovered leg of a lady driver as the broken spiked end could
cut the flesh quite easily. At the time I thought of wrapping
the return springs in a tailored cloth gaiter or doing preventative
replacement say every 10 years but, as with many bright ideas
like that, I simply opted for replacing the spring. In the subsequent
10 or 15 years I have never had another sping fail.
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Photo: Peter Garton
Whilst the clutch works without the return spring I think the
benefit of the clutch pedal return spring is just that - it
does ensure the clutch pedal is returned to the end of its travel.
If you are driving in conditions where a great deal of clutch
action is needed, for example in town or in slow moving traffic,
the firm pedal return provided by the action of the spring does
resist the effect of a left foot hovering over or on the clutch
pedal and depressing the pedal a little when not intended."
Peter Garton replied "Many thanks for your reply
and its information - in fact I've now ordered up two new springs
from B&G since I needed two wiper blades anyway. The springs
have a sort of rubber gaitor around their middle on the RV8
and the hooks are somehow shaped so that the spring cannot shoot,
like a missile, around the interior if a bit breaks off!"
Peter later sent in this note adding "B&G supplied
me with two replacements since the springs are identical for
both the brake and clutch pedals. The attached photo illustrates
the spring. The simple 'U' formed end slots into the pedal shaft
and the other more complex curvy end fixes into one of the bracket
holes undeneath the steering column."
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