SPA Posted December 16, 2018 Share Posted December 16, 2018 I have just disassembled my 20 year old clutch. First time since being supplied by Caterham. I noticed that the clutch cover is retained by the 6 bolts but that there is a washer between the cover and the flywheel. Is that normal? The VX guidance suggests there should just be a spring washer under the head of the bolt - of which there were none on mine.Intrigued whether the 'spacer' washer is a common thing, and whether I should change my intentions of reassembling as I found it..Ta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECR Posted December 16, 2018 Share Posted December 16, 2018 No, not normal .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Deslandes Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 I had the same with mine years ago, although I've long since changed to race clutch and lightened flywheel and forgotten the details. I would definitely check with Caterham if you can find someone who knows about the Vx 2.0 as I'm pretty sure that you'll have problems without the washers as they space off the cover and alter the allowable travel of the pressure plate. I seem to remember that without them the cover release fingers hit the driven plate boss.Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECR Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 I stand corrected.... I've never seen it though and certainly never used it on the many different clutch configurations that I've tried. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyseven Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 Yes use the washers or you won’t have the right clearance-tried without years ago and couldn’t get enough adjustment Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 wonders of the world Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 That sounds like a fine piece of engineering ....... I'd be looking at the source of the problem... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Deslandes Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 As I recall, there were two types of Vx flywheel, one of which was known as the 'pot' type. This is what I had and that needed the washers which, by the way, although not ideal or particularly elegant, were a perfectly good way of adjusting the correct clutch cover spacing. I don't know whether the other, non-pot flywheel, was used on 7s and whether they also needed the spacers. Again, I'd ask Jason at Caterham Dartford, if he's still there.Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPA Posted December 18, 2018 Author Share Posted December 18, 2018 Thanks PaulVery useful. It's functioned for a long while so was reticent to do any different when going back together, but I will check with Caterham. Sounds as if a function of the flywheel rather than the clutch though - so a new clutch of same spec will require same spacers..I'll report back with any learnings.Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Deslandes Posted December 19, 2018 Share Posted December 19, 2018 Sorry, it's Darren Phillips at Caterham Dartford, not Jason. The original clutch cover supplied with my car kit by CC was a Quinton Hazell unit.Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECR Posted December 19, 2018 Share Posted December 19, 2018 As I have always had the lighter non "pot" flywheel that explains why I have never seen it .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David aka Blue7 Posted December 19, 2018 Share Posted December 19, 2018 Fitting a spacer washer between pressure plate and flywheel used to be a work around if you were fitting a clutch plate with thicker linings, which were usually supplied by third party parts dealers and cheaper than the authentic component. Without the spacer washers, these clutch plates wouldn't release fully. Maybe it was a non standard thicker clutch plate?OT - Did you manage to extract the sheared engine mounting bolts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mavic82 Posted December 20, 2018 Share Posted December 20, 2018 Mmm, I have a lightened flywheel. Standard vx cover and helix friction plate. No washers and no problems. Seems a right bodge putting washers in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyseven Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 The washers are used on the pot flywheel/clutch set up -but I would check with whoever the distributor is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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