Ask the expert

“We’d let the bodyshop do their job and eradicate all the rust completely”

FLEXIBLE CLUTCH

Q I’ve just bought a 1982 Mini City which has a 1380 MED engine fitted with a verto-type clutch, but I can’t get the clutch to work. I’ve fitted the correct pushrod but when the clutch pedal is pressed, the bracket to which the slave cylinder is attached flexes by about 20mm.

I’ve tried attaching a bolt through the hole at the bottom of the plate into the clutch housing (into the hole where the throw-out stop goes) without luck. The car has stood for over two years. Could the clutch plate be sticking?

I can’t find these symptoms in my Mini and Metro manuals.

Karl

A A part could be missing. The slave cylinder bracket shouldn’t flex anywhere. Remove the slave cylinder, then the mounting bracket — check this is whole, with no cracks or breaks. It should be fixed to the flywheel cover by two 3/8 inch UNC (9/16 inch headed) bolts on the top, under the engine steady rod area and a 7/16 inch headedbolt that goes through the bracket into the ‘throw-out stop’ threaded hole. There should be a long tube spacer between the bracket and cover for the bracket to tighten down on to. You must get the spacer fitted. If it isn’t there, it will allow the bracket to flex a lot.

CHOICE CAM

Q I have recently acquired a