The Triumph 2000 / 2500 / 2·5 Register Forum

Glad it worked, it's never failed me!

Aha freeing off clutches!!

I found out the hard way back in Classic Components days when we fitted a Laycock kit to a 2000 which was not used very often and it got stuck and it had been fitted properly before you wise guys say we didn't know what we were doing!!

The furious lady owner demanded that I visit her in Radstock to free it off. I drove it around for about three quarters of an hour and used all the Alan tricks and it eventually came free.

I then learnt the easy way - which is run up the engine in neutral obviously and get it really good and hot. Turn it off and then turn the starter with your foot hard down on the clutch pedal and bingo.

After that I never had to worry about a stuck clutch ever again!!!

Regards,
Richard Symonds

Richard, I wonder if that Laycock clutch came from the same source as one I had trouble with in 1998. I bought mine from an autojumbler who had a number of them at a time when they were becoming quite rare.

I fitted the clutch kit during a conversion from auto to manual transmission. The car then stood unused, in a dry garage, until the following weekend when I completed the conversion. I found the clutch to be seized when I first tried to operate it after just those seven days, and none of the usual (and unusual!) tricks would part it.

Out came the gearbox again, to reveal that the force applied by the pressure plate had squeezed water out of the friction plate and the whole assembly had become rusted solidly together. A lot of effort was needed to free the friction plate from the flywheel, and the latter in particular then needed a severe de-rusting. The friction plate was heated in a warm oven for 20-30 minutes and a surprising amount of steam emerged.

Everything was then re-assembled and all has been fine since. If ever again I fit an 'new, old stock' clutch, the friction plate will first be given the warm oven treatment!

As I read your post David I was thinking about 'cooking' the plate in an oven, I can't remember who suggested that to me with an NOS clutch.

Colin.

Well, still no actual progress although I have managed to tidy the garage a bit to allow more space to move around. Another session should do it.

It seems as though the Tax ran out in 29 Jan 1996 (according to the DVLA website https://www.vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/Default.aspx) which with a little research into the the weather from then leads me to speculate if the amount of rust is associated with the road salt that was undoubtedly left on it when it was parked up. Still I don't suppose it was meant to sit there for 18 years...

and so it begins. Work space is cleared and car is up on blocks. Left it on its wheels for now until I get some proper strength back in the shell.



Think I'll start here.



I have relented a bit on my original plan of making panels, some bits I will but for starters I will be purchasing a floor panel for sure. This is helped somewhat by my dad saying he'll go 50/50 on the cost

I may lift it some more but have to take the seat and carpets etc out yet. Is the area under the seat double skinned? I kind of expected to see a captive nut or something underneath for the seat bolt but none are apparent. I thought I'd try some plusgas on them to perhaps help with removal but can't see where to get to. Are they prone to shearing?

cheers, Steve

Hello Steve,

like most of the Triumph shell the seat plinths are a double skin with captive threads for the seat runner fasteners. I haven't had problems undoing those. It is difficult to get any Plus Gas to the threads unless they are loosened a few turns.

Alec

Thanks Alec. tbh I didnt actually try to undo them, I left my sockets at home and despite all the tools in my Nans garage there are no sockets sets. I'll give it a go and hope all is ok.

cheers, Steve

It looks like you'll need a front outrigger as well as the floor!

I have restored an estate before that was as bad as that when I started. Apart from external panels, I tended to make my own - after all, they are hidden - but it does take time.

Good luck with the work. I'm sure it'll come out well, but do be prepared for the rust to be worse than you originally thought - and for it to take twice as long!

Cheers,
Mike.

Thanks for the encouragement Mike. I have had a couple of Range Rovers which had seen better days when I bought them so am quite prepared for the rust creep; I think ?!?!?