Krismuss Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Having managed to 'smoke' my clutch on a rather eager start at Wings & Wheels this year I though my clutch was on it's way out. However, I've not noticed an slipping at all though on fast getaways I'm still getting and awful smell in the car (not from me either!) - from the clutch (though no smoke this time). Is this time for a clutch replacement? Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie_pank Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 If it works, I'd not bother. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheds Moderator Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 As Charlie says. I overheated the clutch in the old Astra, when towing a friend's car that she had left in gear. I thought I might have fried it but they are made of sterner stuff than that. It's been normal ever since, a year or so on. My parents tow a caravan (I know, I'm sorry) and after hill starts and the likes my Dad quite often reports a stinking clutch. They last fairly well though. The acid test is to get the car going uphill at 30 in 4th gear, then floor the accelerator. If it spins up, the clutch is done. You can provoke this by stabbing the clutch pedal briefly while accelerating, if it's still good you'll get a momentary rise in revs and the clutch will stop it again when released. If it's marginal, once it starts slipping it doesn't pick up again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krismuss Posted January 12, 2012 Author Share Posted January 12, 2012 Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Richard Price Posted January 12, 2012 Area Representative Share Posted January 12, 2012 My (22k mile) clutch has had plenty of torture with warming sticky tyres for sprints and hillclimbs. It's out of the car at the moment, and there is no wer evident at all! As other have said. Don't worry about it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Is the 'bite point' on the pedal travel in the right sort of place ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krismuss Posted January 12, 2012 Author Share Posted January 12, 2012 All seems to work fine, just stinks if I ever 'nail it' (ahem!) away from the lights. I've not noticed any slippage at all, just this god awful smell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Does sound like it is slipping if it smells every time ? Could there be an oil leak that is getting on to the clutch ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myothercarsa2cv Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 My clutch test is done stationary, 4th gear, let clutch out slowly. If it stalls, all is well. I go through clutches on the 2CV (and gearboxes... ). But then if you want a good get away in the traffic light drags when you have only 30bhp, you need a bit of aggression Oil on the clutch will be bad news, but it will at least stop the flywheel from rusting In the Caterham, I have lots of smells. Diff oil, engine oil, gearbox oil, the outside world, the passenger's fear, coppaslip and exhaust fumes. If the clutch was smelly, I daresay I wouldn't notice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gavin H Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Is the clutch operated by cable or hydraulic? If cable, it's worth checking it is releasing properly. I fried a clutch in 20k miles on my first cat as the nylon sheath had worn and the cable was not releasing the clutch fully... The guy who replaced it for me said I must have been riding the clutch *mad* Cheeky sod. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Deslandes Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 A burnt clutch can stink for ages. I always overheated the wife's Freelander clutch towing the seven/Minno trailer up our steep drive and every time it was started up for a week afterwards it would smell of fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Hughes Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 My clutch (Sigma 125) smells of rotten fish when it get's hot. Nothing like the smell of old fashioned asbestos based hot clutch / brakes. Works fine though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krismuss Posted January 12, 2012 Author Share Posted January 12, 2012 Paul, John, that's the smell 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Hughes Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 I think it's coz the plates are now "organic" based and not asbestos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul McKenzie Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 John's right -they use an amine based hardener to set the resin which forms the clutch lining material. The smell you get from rotten fish is due to amines. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now