how to adjust the clutch?

[pas]

Since having clutch problems a la red tube / hot weather, I got maidstone sports cars to check out my clutch and replace with a braided cable. However, for various boring reasons, they kindly replaced my clutch fluid which was apparently full of cr*p.

Anyhow, I now have a problem in that as I'm 5ft9inches I have to point my toe to fully depress the clutch, and in traffic this is becoming painful. I have two solutions: (1) attach a wooden block to my left foot, or (2) adjust the pedal travel and/or clutch slave.

I know this is supposed to be easy, but just how do I adjust the travel? The book reads as if I should instead adjust the clutch slave but it also warns of not allowing the requisite 22 ml of 'slack'.

Anyone got experience to share?

I've had several trawls through the forum, and lotusespritworld.com, and am surprised not to find this topic already. If anyone knows of links, I'd appreciate a quick link here.

Series 3 na 1982. Top-mounted clutch slave.

[hilly]

Since having clutch problems a la red tube / hot weather, I got maidstone sports cars to check out my clutch and replace with a braided cable.  However, for various boring reasons, they kindly replaced my clutch fluid which was apparently full of cr*p.

Anyhow, I now have a problem in that as I'm 5ft9inches I have to point my toe to fully depress the clutch, and in traffic this is becoming painful.  I have two solutions: (1) attach a wooden block to my left foot, or (2) adjust the pedal travel and/or clutch slave.

I know this is supposed to be easy, but just how do I adjust the travel?  The book reads as if I should instead adjust the clutch slave but it also warns of not allowing the requisite 22 ml of 'slack'.

Anyone got experience to share?

I've had several trawls through the forum, and lotusespritworld.com, and am surprised not to find this topic already.  If anyone knows of links, I'd appreciate a quick link here.

Series 3 na 1982. Top-mounted clutch slave.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The clutch is adjusted using the threaded bolt on the clutch release arm, screwing in the bolt will effectively raise the pedal.

It should have 3mm of free play, ie you should be able to grab hold of the arm and move it back and forth 3mm. Without the free play you will pre-load the release bearing and it won't last too long.

The early cars didn't have a lock nut so it may have moved (though if a garage has looked at it then it should be OK) so worth looking at.

Interestingly when I rebuilt my car I found that the bolt wasn't long enough to get a decent pedal travel so I had to make a longer one.

Andy

1981 S3