paisesmediterraneos Posted August 21, 2018 Share Posted August 21, 2018 Hello, first of all, I want to introduce myself, I am David from Granada (south of Spain), I was looking for a Caterham in the last years and finally I am the happy owner of one, last month I bought a 2003 1.6 K Roadsport with 16.700 miles.When I depress the clutch I feel it´s very hard; also when I am driving and engage a gear, at the moment of move up the foot from the clutch pedal I feel a "clonk"; and finally when the car is warm and at neutral I can hear noise from the clutch bearing that disappear when I depress the clutch pedal.Because all of these things I think I must replace the whole clutch kit, but here Spain we don´t have Caterham dealer and when I will bring the car to a mechanic to change the clutch, for sure it will be the first time in his life that he will see and work in a Caterham. Must I tell to the mechanic some special advise about changing the clutch for him not to damage my Caterham??, or it´s an "easy" job that any general mechanic can do.Of course I will buy at UK the spares and I will bring them to the mechanic. I found the Helix kit with cover, plate and bearing for selling at some UK webs. Thank you very much, best wishes from the warm south of Spain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted August 21, 2018 Member Share Posted August 21, 2018 Welcome.Have you already got an Assembly Guide? Let me know if not.I recommend reading John Vine's essay on clutch release bearings.Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted August 21, 2018 Share Posted August 21, 2018 Consider buying the parts from Redline Components. Contact Chris Mintoft. Phone +44 1883 346515. Email sales@redlinecomponents.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative paul richards Posted August 21, 2018 Area Representative Share Posted August 21, 2018 The noise you hear in neutral that disappears when you press the clutch is the gearbox layshaft. It is nothing to worry about. They all do it especially if you have a lightened flywheel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted August 21, 2018 Share Posted August 21, 2018 Is the clutch operated by a cable or an hydraulic cylinder ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paisesmediterraneos Posted August 21, 2018 Author Share Posted August 21, 2018 Thank you for your answer Jonathan, I downloaded from the club web the assembly guide of the Caterham kit.I will go right now to read the John Vine´s link. Regards, David. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paisesmediterraneos Posted August 21, 2018 Author Share Posted August 21, 2018 Hello SM25T, the clutch is operated by cable, the previous owner gave me a replacement clutch cable, so I think that being so hard of depressing the clutch pedal, maybe the cable was broken at least once with the previous owner and he was always with one of replacement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted August 21, 2018 Share Posted August 21, 2018 Take the cover off the pedal box and check that the cable runs straight from the top of the pedal arm to the hole at the front of the box. If there is too much of the outer cable adjusting thread inside the box it may be forcing the inner cable to make a sharp turn. If this is so .. move the outer cable towards the front of the car to reduce the bend on the cable inside the box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted August 21, 2018 Share Posted August 21, 2018 When I depress the clutch I feel it´s very hard; also when I am driving and engage a gear, at the moment of move up the foot from the clutch pedal I feel a "clonk"; and finally when the car is warm and at neutral I can hear noise from the clutch bearing that disappear when I depress the clutch pedal.First of all, welcome! You live in a beautiful city, and in a spectacular part of Spain. Lucky man!If the CRB (clutch release bearing) is failing, you're more likely to hear noises (squealing, typically) when you depress the clutch. I'm inclined to agree that the noise you can hear in neutral is the gearbox layshaft. This is entirely normal, and should disappear as soon as you apply gentle pressure to the clutch pedal.Follow SM25T's advice re checking and setting the cable adjuster in the pedal box. The Assembly Guide (with luck, the one you have from JK) says:36 The clutch cable is fitted with adjusters at both ends so that it can be adjusted at both the bell-housing and pedal box. Set the pedal box end so that a minimum length of outer cable protrudes past the locating bush into the pedal box then adjust at the bell-housing end until a satisfactory clutch pedal position is achieved (4 threads showing through the yellow bush is a good starting point). The clutch 'bite' point should be set according to personal preference ensuring that it is not adjusted so as to prevent the clutch from fully engaging or disengaging.Try removing the clutch cable altogether and check that the inner operates smoothly. If it's stiff or rough, it's likely that some of the cable strands are broken.Also, at the bellhousing, detach the clutch cable and check that the clutch fork moves freely.Once everything is operating smoothly, consider setting up extra springs in the pedal box to increase the CRB pre-load. (The article JK mentions explains how to do this.)Good luck!JV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted August 21, 2018 Share Posted August 21, 2018 I downloaded from the club web the assembly guide of the Caterham kit.Just to point out that the current Assembly Guide won't apply to your car. If you send your email address to Jonathan Kay via the "Send author a message" link, he'll be sure to send you the right Guide.JV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil G Posted August 21, 2018 Share Posted August 21, 2018 Bienvenido al club. My 2016 Superlight Twenty 6 speed makes a hell of a row until clutch depressed. Thought it was CRB but general consensus is gearbox. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paisesmediterraneos Posted August 22, 2018 Author Share Posted August 22, 2018 Thank you John, I will check all these things in the next days, but I think the clutch is extremely hard because the cover clutch is not right.I sent a message to Jonathan Kay asking him about the right assembly guide. Thank to all of you for your answers and your help, regards, David. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthonym Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 which CRA Clutch Release Arm does this car have? The compliant sounds uncomfortably familiar, but maybe that's just the effects of trauma (on me).In other words please confirm the car does NOT Have the integral dry sump tower. Anyone know as I guess our new man (welcome David!) may not. Also I can confirm from very recent (last week) experience that : Consider buying the parts from Redline Components. Contact Chris Mintoft. Phone +44 1883 346515. Email sales@redlinecomponents.co.ukcan ship overseas no problem and quickly, at very reasonable prices AND the right parts - I too am overseas.Anthony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paisesmediterraneos Posted August 22, 2018 Author Share Posted August 22, 2018 Hello Anthony, I don't know which clutch release arm the car have, why??.I don't know what is the integral dry sump tower, I think my car has the standard wet sump. Regards, David. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim 123 Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 Welcome David. As you are a new member you may not know that you can upload photos to this site and this might help you to get more specific advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthonym Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 Hi David, WET SUMP? Ignore me. Not a dry sump CRA problem.anthony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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