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Singer Le Mans Clutch pressure plate adjustment - Help please!

Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2016 3:52 pm
by James
I have had to dismantle my clutch after finding that the thrust mechanism on the back of the cover plate was badly damaged. I have reconstructed a decent back plate using parts from three old ones. However I'm not sure how far to tighten the three bolts that hold and adjust the pressure plate. Clearly the tighter they are the further back they pull the pressure plate. If I tighten them too much, presumably the centre plate won't be held tight and the clutch will slip. If I leave it too far forward I am concerned that I will reassemble it all and the clutch won't disengage. Can anyone guide me? Should it be level with the internal flange on the back plate (which is roughly where the old one seemed to be) - or should it be flush with the front and get pushed back by the centre plate when I bolt it to the flywheel. (Or is there a process for adjusting once bolted to the flywheel?)
Any guidance gratefully received!
Pic of clutch
Pic of clutch
clutch.JPG (119.34 KiB) Viewed 2005 times

Re: Singer Le Mans Clutch pressure plate adjustment - Help please!

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2016 6:37 pm
by mikeyr
Come on guys, someone has to know the answer to his problem !!!

Re: Singer Le Mans Clutch pressure plate adjustment - Help please!

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2016 8:41 pm
by Peter McKercher
Seems like the perfect question for our pre war registrar.

Re: Singer Le Mans Clutch pressure plate adjustment - Help please!

Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2016 7:59 am
by casadecabra
I set up my clutch a few years ago but I did not make notes and my memory is a bit hazy. As far as I can remember....

Start by measuring the distance from the pressure plate to the inner part of the flange on the clutch housing (where the screw holes are) using a straight edge and steel rule (or ideally a depth mike) and adjust so that the distance is equal all over. Now measure the distance from the flywheel face to where the clutch housing locates. You can now calculate the amount the pressure plate will be compressed when assembled, taking into account the thickness of the linings. Adjust this distance by turning the three adjustment screws evenly. Unfortunately I can't remember the compression I used; Borg & Beck recommended 9/16 in for a similar sized clutch but I've a feeling this is a bit on the high side.

Bolt on the bell housing/gearbox assembly and adjust the pedal travel to give at least 1.5 in free play (the Singer manual figure) and check the clutch operation. After the free play the clutch should free completely after another couple of inches or so. If it only needs slight adjustment this can be done slowly and tediously (a sixth of a turn at a time on all three screws) through the clutch housing inspection cover but if it needs substantial adjustment it is easiest to remove the bell housing/gearbox. Don't forget to peen over the locking tabs on the screws when you are satisfied.

Hope this makes sense but let me know if I can be of any more help.

David

Re: Singer Le Mans Clutch pressure plate adjustment - Help please!

Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2016 9:15 am
by James
Thank you very much David, I think that helps.

When you talk about 9/16 in compression, do you mean that if I rest the centre plate on the adjusted pressure plate it will protrude 9/16 of an inch forward of the housing, before being bolted to the flywheel?

I don’t want to end up doing any more than I have to, head down in the foootwell, blindly reaching through the inspection plate!

Re: Singer Le Mans Clutch pressure plate adjustment - Help please!

Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2016 1:19 pm
by casadecabra
Hi James, yes that seems to make sense. In any case it is just a starting point - as long as the adjusting screws are turned by equal amounts the pressure plate should remain parallel to the flywheel face.

I have to confess I haven't yet tested it properly as the car is some way from being completed. Perhaps there are readers out there with a fully functioning car who can give us an idea of the travel of the pedal to the 'biting point'.

Re: Singer Le Mans Clutch pressure plate adjustment - Help please!

Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2016 5:13 pm
by James
Further to my previous request, thank you for all your responses. I also had some help from some of the UK singer club members and thought I would update.

It seems the thing to do is assemble the clutch together with the plate on a clutch aligning tool (or old input shaft) and bolt it to the flywheel.

Then adjust the 3 adjusting bolts so that the back of the withdrawal collar is parallel and 0.25 inches behind the level of the cups that hold the retaining springs.

I attach a photo that I have taken in the hope that it makes more sense also a diagram that Mike Hyman sent to me form a previous mASCOt article.

This seems to have worked well and I now have a working clutch :D